[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]


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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.

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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.

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              Date                               Time                                  Location                 
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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.                    
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    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