[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 20138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10771]



[[Page 20138]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Parts 740, 745, 761, and 772

RIN 1029-AB42 and 1029-AB82


Rulemaking and Environmental Impact Statement; Valid Existing 
Rights and Prohibitions of Section 522(e); Public Hearings

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: On January 31, 1997, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation 
and Enforcement (OSM) of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) 
published proposed rules which would implement and interpret section 
522(e) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 
(SMCRA). OSM has received several requests to hold public hearings on 
the proposed rule and the supporting environmental impact statement and 
economic analysis and is announcing that public hearings will be held.

DATES: Public hearings are scheduled for: May 15, 1997, in Athens, Ohio 
at 7:00 p.m; May 20, 1997, in Whitesburg, Kentucky at 7:00 p.m.; May 
20, 1997 in Washington, Pennsylvania at 6:00 p.m.; and May 21, 1997, in 
Billings, Montana at 7:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public hearings will be held in: Athens, Ohio at the 
Ohio University Inn, 331 Richland Avenue, Athens, Ohio 45701; 
Whitesburg, Kentucky at the Appalshop, 306 Madison Street, Whitesburg, 
KY 41585; Washington, Pennsylvania at the Ramada Inn, 1170 Chestnut 
Street, Washington, PA 15301; and Billings, Montana at the Sheraton 
Billings, 27 North 27th Street, Billings, Montana 59101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andy DeVito, Office of Surface Mining 
Reclamation and Enforcement, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1951 
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240; Telephone (202) 208-
2701; E-Mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 31, 1997 (62 FR 4836-72) OSM 
published two proposed rules dealing with the interpretation and 
implementation of section 522(e) of SMCRA. The first rule, RIN 1029-
AB42, would amend OSM's regulations to redefine the circumstances under 
which a person has valid existing rights (VER) to conduct surface coal 
mining operations in areas where such operations are otherwise 
prohibited by section 522(e) of SMCRA. The second rule RIN 1029-AB82, 
is a proposed interpretative rulemaking to address the question of 
whether subsidence due to underground mining is a surface coal mining 
operation and thus prohibited in areas enumerated in section 522(e) of 
SMCRA. On January 31, 1997 (62 FR 4759), OSM also made available for 
public comment an Environmental Impact Statement analyzing the impact 
of the two proposed rules and the alternatives under consideration.
    OSM has received requests to hold public hearings on the proposed 
rule and supporting documentation. As a result, OSM has scheduled four 
public hearings on the proposed rules. Refer to DATES and ADDRESSES for 
the times, dates and locations for each hearing. The hearings will 
continue until all persons wishing to testify have been heard. To 
assist the transcriber and ensure an accurate record, OSM requests that 
persons who testify at a hearing give the transcriber a written copy of 
their testimony, if possible.

    Dated: April 22, 1997.
Gene E. Krueger,
Acting Assistant Director, Program Support.
[FR Doc. 97-10771 Filed 4-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M