[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 147 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40871-40872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20505]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Parts 707 and 874

RIN 1029-AB89


Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation Program; Enhancing AML 
Reclamation

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

ACTION: Proposed rule, reopening and extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) 
is reopening and extending the comment period for the proposed rule, 
Enhancing AML Reclamation, published on June 25, 1998 (63 FR 34768). 
The comment period closed on July 27, 1998, and is being reopened and 
extended for 15 days.

DATES: Written comments: We will accept written comments on the 
proposed rule until 5 p.m., Eastern time, on August 11, 1998.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, you may mail or hand deliver 
comments

[[Page 40872]]

to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 
Administrative Record, Room 101, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20240. You may also comment via the Internet to OSM's 
Administrative Record at: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
D. J. Growitz, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 
U.S. Department of the Interior, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20240; Telephone: 202-208-2634. E-Mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to a telephone request from a 
member of the public, OSM is reopening and extending the public comment 
period on the proposed rule, Enhancing AML Reclamation, published in 
the Federal Register on June 25, 1998 (63 FR 34768).
    OSM is proposing revisions to its rules regarding the financing of 
Abandoned Mine Land reclamation (AML) projects that involve the 
incidental extraction of coal. Projections of receipts to the AML fund 
through the year 2004, when the authority to collect fees will expire, 
strongly indicate that there will be insufficient money to address all 
problems currently listed in the Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System. 
Given these limited AML reclamation resources, OSM is seeking an 
innovative way for AML agencies, working with contractors, to maximize 
available funds to increase AML reclamation.
    The first revision would amend the definition of government-
financed construction to allow less than 50 percent government funding 
when the construction is an approved AML project under the Surface 
Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The existing 
definition requires a minimum government contribution of 50 percent to 
exempt government-financed construction from regulation under SMCRA.
    The second revision would add a new section which would require 
specific consultations and concurrences with the Title V regulatory 
authority for AML construction projects receiving less than 50 percent 
government financing. These consultations and concurrences are intended 
to ensure the appropriateness of the project being undertaken as a 
Title IV AML project and not under the Title V regulatory program.

    Dated: July 28, 1998.
Richard G. Bryson,
Acting Assistant Director, Program Support.
[FR Doc. 98-20505 Filed 7-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M