[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 6 (Friday, January 9, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 1399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-531]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 936

[SPATS No. OK-017-FOR]


Oklahoma Regulatory Program

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal of proposed amendment.

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SUMMARY: OSM is announcing the withdrawal of a proposed amendment to 
the Oklahoma regulatory program (hereinafter the ``Oklahoma program'') 
under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). 
The proposed amendment concerned protected activities. Oklahoma is 
withdrawing the amendment at its own initiative.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael C. Wolfrom, Director, Tulsa 
Field Office, Telephone: (918) 581-6430.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By letter dated February 21, 1996 
(Administrative Record No. OK-973), Oklahoma submitted a proposed 
amendment to its program to SMCRA. Oklahoma submitted the proposed 
amendment at its own initiative. The provisions of the Oklahoma 
regulations that Oklahoma proposed to amend were at Oklahoma 
Administrative Code (OAC) 460:20-15-7 concerning permit conditions. 
Specifically, Oklahoma proposed to revise OAC 460:20-15-7 by adding a 
new permit condition at subsection (5) concerning protected activities.
    OSM announced receipt of the proposed amendment in the March 5, 
1996, Federal Register (61 FR 8536) and invited public comment on its 
adequacy. The public comment period ended April 4, 1996.
    During its review of the amendment, OSM identified concerns 
relating to Oklahoma's proposed addition at OAC 460:20-15-7(5). OSM was 
specifically concerned that the existing state enforcement and citizens 
complaint regulations did not contain the procedures necessary to 
implement the requirements of the Federal regulations dealing with 
protected activities at 30 CFR Part 865. OSM notified Oklahoma of the 
concerns by letter dated June 25, 1996 (Administrative Record No. OK-
973.06). Oklahoma responded in a letter dated August 28, 1996 
(Administrative Record No. OK-973.08), by submitting a revised 
amendment. Oklahoma proposed the addition of a new subchapter at OAC 
460:20-16, concerning protection of employees, to replace the changes 
originally proposed for OAC 460:20-15-7.
    Based upon the proposed revision to the program amendment submitted 
by Oklahoma, OSM reopened the public comment period in the September 
19, 1996, Federal Register (61 FR 49282). The public comment period 
closed on October 4, 1996.
    On December 12, 1997 (Administrative Record No. OK-973.14), 
Oklahoma requested that the proposed amendment be withdrawn. Oklahoma 
has decided not to add the provisions contained in OAC 460:20-16 
concerning protection of employees to its approved program at this 
time. Therefore, the proposed amendment announced in the March 5, and 
September 19, 1996, Federal Register is withdrawn.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 936

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: December 31, 1997.
Brent Wahlquist,
Regional Director, Mid-Continent Regional Coordinating Center.
[FR Doc. 98-531 Filed 1-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M