[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 26, 1997)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 63044-63045] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-31096] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 30 CFR Parts 773, 778, and 843 RIN 1029-AB94 Ownership and Control; Redesign AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior. ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of public comment period and notice of public meetings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), United States Department of the Interior (DOI) published a notice that it would hold public meetings in order to solicit comments, concerns, and new ideas regarding the drafting of new ownership or control, permit information, and improvidently issued permit regulations to implement certain provisions of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. The notice invited written comments regarding the drafting of these regulations and advised that a concept/issue paper has been prepared to assist those interested in commenting or preparing for the meetings. The notice also stated that OSM would meet with interested persons and accept written comments through December 15, 1997. OSM is now extending the time during which written comments may be submitted and announcing the dates and locations for public meetings. DATES: Written comments: The date for submitting written comments is extended until 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time on January 16, 1998. Public Meetings: The period in which to request a meeting is unchanged. Requests for meetings should be made prior to December 1, 1997. Public meetings have already been scheduled for seven locations. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the dates, times and locations. ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests for concept/issue paper: Hand deliver or mail to Earl Bandy, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, AVS Office, 2679 Regency Road, Lexington, Kentucky 40503. Telephone: (800) 643-9748. E-mail: [email protected]. Telefax: Copies of the concept/issue paper may be obtained from FAX ON DEMAND by calling 202-219-1703 and following the instructions on the recorded announcement. The concept/issue paper document code is 3009. [[Page 63045]] Public meetings: Upon request OSM staff will be available to meet with interested persons, individually or in groups, during the comment period. In addition to public meetings scheduled by request, OSM has scheduled meetings at seven locations. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the dates, times and locations. For planning purposes, participants must call 1-800-643-9748 to confirm their attendance. If no confirmations are received for any location where a meeting has been scheduled, that meeting will not be held. Any individual who requires special accommodation to attend a meeting should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Earl D. Bandy, Jr., Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 2679 Regency Road, Lexington, Kentucky 40503. Telephone: (606) 233-2796 or (800) 643-9748. E-mail: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 29, 1997 (62 FR 56139), OSM published a notice that it would hold public meetings in order to solicit comments, concerns, and new ideas regarding the drafting of new ownership or control, permit information, and improvidently issued permit regulations to implement certain provisions of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. The notice also invited written comments regarding the drafting of these regulations and advised that a concept/issue paper has been prepared to assist those interested in commenting or preparing for the meetings. The re-design of these regulations is underway in order to fulfill the commitment made in the publication of the interim final rules on April 21, 1997 (62 FR 19450). The commitment was to seek public comment on proposed regulatory changes that would precede final rules adopted to reflect the January 31, 1997, decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that invalidated previous ownership or control and related rules. Public meetings have been scheduled at the following locations on the dates specified. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date Time Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12/2/97........................ 9 a.m.-12 noon..................... Holiday Inn South, 5332 Athens-Boonesboro Road, Lexington, KY. 12/3/97........................ 9 a.m.-12 noon..................... Heart O Town Hotel, 1000 Washington Street, East, Charleston, WV. 12/4/97........................ 10 a.m.-12 noon.................... OSM Conference Room, 10 Parkway Center, Building #3, Pittsburgh, PA. 12/5/97........................ 10 a.m.-12 noon.................... OSM Conference Room 220, 1951 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. 12/8/97........................ 10 a.m.-12 noon.................... OSM Conference Room, 2nd Floor, 530 Gay Street, Knoxville, TN. 12/9/97........................ 10 a.m.-12 noon.................... OSM Conference Room, 1st Floor, 501 Belle Street, Alton, IL. 12/10/97....................... 10 a.m.-12 noon.................... OSM Conference Room, 34th Floor, 1999 Broadway, Denver, CO. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dated: November 21, 1997. Mary Josie Blanchard, Assistant Director, Program Support. [FR Doc. 97-31096 Filed 11-25-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-05-M