[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 149 (Tuesday, August 4, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41423-41427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20715]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 917

[SPATS No. KY-191-FOR]


Kentucky Regulatory Program

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

ACTION: Final rule; approval of amendment.

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SUMMARY: OSM is announcing approval, with an exception, of an amendment 
to the Kentucky permanent regulatory program approved pursuant to the 
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). This 
amendment provides that areas reclaimed following the removal of 
temporary structures such as sedimentation ponds, roads, and small 
diversions are not subject to a revegetation responsibility period and 
bond liability period separate from that of the permit area or 
increment thereof served by such facilities. The amendment is intended 
to clarify ambiguities in the State regulations and to improve 
operational efficiency.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 4, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William J. Kovacic, Director, Lexington Field Office, Telephone (606) 
233-2894.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background on the Kentucky Program
II. Submission of the Proposed Amendment
III. Director's Findings
IV. Summary and Disposition of Comments
V. Director's Decision
VI. Procedural Determinations

I. Background on the Kentucky Program

    The Secretary of the Interior conditionally approved the Kentucky 
regulatory program effective May 18, 1982. Background information on 
the permanent program submission, as well as the Secretary's findings, 
the disposition of comments and a detailed explanation of the 
conditions of approval can be found in the May 18, 1982, Federal 
Register (47 FR 21404). Subsequent actions concerning the conditions of 
approval and program amendments are identified at 30 CFR 917.11, 
917.13, 917.15, 917.16 and 917.17.

II. Submission of the Proposed Amendment

    By letter dated June 28, 1991 (Administrative Record No. KY-1059, 
Kentucky submitted revisions to section 1(7) of the Kentucky 
Administrative Regulations (KAR) at 405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200 as part 
of a larger rulemaking. OSM announced receipt of the proposed amendment 
in the July 22, 1991, Federal Register (56 FR 33398), and, in the same 
notice, opened the public comment period and provided opportunity for a 
public hearing on the adequacy of the proposed amendment. The public 
comment period ended on August 21, 1991. Since no one requested an 
opportunity to testify at a public hearing, no hearing was held.
    By letter dated January 22, 1992 (Administrative Record No. KY-
1107), Kentucky revised the proposed amendment in response to changes 
made during its promulgation process. OSM announced receipt of the 
revised amendment in the April 13, 1992, Federal Register (57 FR 
12775), and, in the same notice, reopened the public comment period and 
again provided an opportunity for a public hearing. The public comment 
period closed on May 13, 1992. As with the previous submittal, no one 
requested an opportunity to testify at a public hearing; therefore, no 
hearing was held.
    OSM subsequently announced its decision on most provisions of the 
proposed amendment in the June 9, 1993 Federal Register (58 FR 32283). 
Like the corresponding Federal regulations at 30 CFR 816/817.116(c)(1) 
and (c)(2), proposed sections 1(7) of 405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200 require 
that the revegetation responsibility period begin after the last 
augmented seeding, fertilizing, irrigating or other work and continue 
for a minimum of 5 years. However, proposed subsections 1(7)(b) would 
exempt haul roads, areas from which sedimentation ponds and associated 
diversion have been removed, and disposal areas for accumulated 
sediment and sedimentation pond embarkment material from the full 
revegetation responsibility period, provided vegetation established on 
all these areas has been in place at least 2 years before final bond 
release. In its final decision, OSM stated at 58 FR 32285 that it was 
deferring a decision on section 1(7)(b) of 405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200 
until additional opportunity for public comment was provided in a 
separate Federal Register notice. That commitment was fulfilled by the 
notice published on September 15, 1993 (58 FR 48333), which opened the 
public comment period until October 15, 1993. Since no one requested an 
opportunity to testify at a public hearing, no hearing was held. This 
notice also included similar proposed revisions to the Illinois and 
Ohio regulations as well as a discussion of OSM's proposed policy 
concerning restart of the revegetation responsibility period every time 
a small portion of the permit area requires reseeding or replanting. 
Subsequent to this notice, on May 29, 1996, OSM approved similar 
proposed revisions to the Colorado regulations (61 FR 26792) and on 
October 22, 1997, the Illinois regulations (62 FR 54765).

III. Director's Findings

    Set forth below, pursuant to SMCRA and the Federal regulations at 
30 CFR 732.15 and 732.17, are the Director's findings concerning the 
deferred revisions at sections 1(7)(b) of 405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200.

A. OSM's policy concerning the term of liability for reclamation of 
roads and Temporary Sediment Control Structures

    The following discussion of the rules in 30 CFR Part 816, which 
applies to surface mining activitities, also pertains to similarly or 
identically constructed sections in 30 CFR Part 817, which applies to 
underground mining activities.
    Section 515(b)(20) of SMCRA provides that the revegetation 
responsibility period shall commence ``after the last year of augmented 
seeding, fertilizing, irrigation, or other work'' needed to assure 
revegetation success. In the absence of any indication of Congressional 
intent in the legislative history, OSM interprets this requirement as 
applying to the increment or permit area as a whole, not individually 
to those lands within the permit area upon which revegetation is 
delayed solely because of their use in support of the reclamation 
effort on the planted area. As implied in the preamble discussion in 30 
CFR 816.46(b)(5), which prohibits the removal of ponds or other 
siltation structures until two years after the last augmented seeding, 
planting of the sites from which such structures are removed need not 
itself be considered an augmented seeding necessitating an extended or 
separate liability period (48 FR 44038-44039, September 26, 1983). Such 
areas would include sediment control structures and associated 
structures and facilities such as diversion ditches, disposal and 
storage

[[Page 41424]]

areas for accumulated sediments and sediment pond embankment material, 
and ancillary roads used to access such areas.
    The purose of the revegetation responsibility period is to ensure 
that the mined area has been reclaimed to a condition capable of 
supporting the desired permanent vegetation. Achievement of this 
purpose will not be adversely affected by this interpretation of 
section 515(b)(20) of SMCRA since (1) the lands involved are relatively 
small in size and either widely dispersed or narrowly linear in 
distribution and (2) the delay in establishing revegetation on these 
sites is due not to reclamation deficiencies or the facilitation of 
mining, but rather to the regulatory requirement that ponds and 
diversions be retained and maintained to control runoff from the 
planted area until the revegetation is sufficiently established to 
render such structures unnecessary for the protection of water quality.
    In addition, the areas affected likely would be no larger than 
those which could be reseeded (without restarting the revegetation 
period) in the course of performing normal husbandry practices, as that 
term is defined in 30 CFR 816.116(c)(4) and explained in the preamble 
to that rule (53 FR 34636, 34641; September 7, 1988; 52 FR 28012, 
28016; July 27, 1987). Areas this small would have a negligible impact 
on any evaluation of the permit area as a whole. Most importantly, this 
interpretation is unlikely to adversely affect the regulatory 
authority's ability to make a statistically valid determination as to 
whether a diverse, effective permanent vegetative cover has been 
successfully established in accordance with the appropriate 
revegetation success standards.
    However, nothing in this interpretation of section 515(b)(20) of 
SMCRA should be construed as exempting such lands from meeting the 
revegetation requirements of section 515(b)(19) of SMCRA prior to final 
bond release. As required by 30 CFR 816.46(b)(6) and 816.150(f)(6), 
when siltation structures and roads are removed, the land on which they 
were located must be regraded and revegetated in accordance with the 
reclamation plan and the requirements of 30 CFR 816.111 through 
816.116, with the exception of 30 CFR 816.116(c), which requires a 
period of extended responsibility for successful revegetation on 
reclaimed areas (September 15, 1993, 58 FR 48335).

B. Comparison of Kentucky's Proposed Regulations at 405 KAR 16:200 and 
18:200 Sections 1(7)(b) With OSM's Policy Clarification

    Kentucky's proposed provisions would exempt haul roads, areas from 
which sedimentation ponds and associated diversions have been removed, 
and disposal areas for accumulated sediment and sedimentation pond 
embankment material from the full revegetation responsibility period, 
provided vegetation established on all these areas has been in place at 
least two years before final bond release.
    Except for the reference to haul roads, the Kentucky provision is 
consistent with the OSM policy stated above. As interpreted in the 
policy statement above, the removal of sediment ponds and related 
structures such as diversion ditches, disposal and storage areas for 
accumulated sediments and sediment pond embankment material, and 
ancillary roads used to access such areas, is a nonaugmentative 
practice that does not restart the five-year responsibility period. 
However, Kentucky's reference to haul roads renders the proposed 
provisions less effective than the Federal regulations as interpreted 
in the OSM policy statement above. As stated above, the purposes of 
SMCRA at section 515(b)(20) concerning the five-year revegetation 
responsibility period would not be adversely affected by this 
interpretation of SMCRA if: (1) The lands involved are relatively small 
in size and either widely dispersed or narrowly linear in distribution 
and (2) the delay in establishing revegetation on these sites is due 
not to reclamation deficiencies or the facilitation of mining, but 
rather to the regulatory requirement that ponds and diversions be 
retained and maintained to control runoff from the planted area until 
the revegetation is sufficiently established to render such structures 
unnecessary for the protection of water quality. Haul roads do not meet 
these requirements. Haul roads facilitate mining and can encompass a 
significant amount of the permit area. And, haul roads are not retained 
and maintained for their use in support of the reclamation effort of a 
planted area. Haul roads are ``used for transporting coal or spoil'' 
and are considered primary roads. 48 FR 22110, 22113 (May 16, 1983). 
Primary roads have a greater potential for environmental harm than 
ancillary roads. 53 FR 45190-45198 (November 8, 1988). In addition to 
meeting the performance requirements of 30 CFR 816/817.150, primary 
roads must meet the requirements of 816/817.151. In Illinois, OSM only 
approved those roads necessary for the maintenance of sediment ponds, 
diversions and reclamation areas. 62 FR 54765 (October 22, 1997). OSM 
and Illinois agreed that the amendment did not include haul roads or 
other primary roads.
    Kentucky's proposal to require that vegetation be established on 
areas where sediment control structures and associated structures and 
facilities have been removed for two years before bond release does not 
render the Kentucky program less effective. As discussed above, the 
Federal regulations and Kentucky's regulations (405 KAR 16:070 Section 
1(1)(b) and 16:090 Section 5(17) provide that sediment ponds be 
retained and maintained to control runoff from the planted area until 
the revegetation is sufficiently established to render such structures 
unnecessary for the protection of water quality. Therefore, when the 
sediment control structures are removed, the surrounding drainage area 
has already been effectively revegetated. Following this, the entire 
revegetated area (or increment thereof), including the reclaimed area 
where the sediment control structure was located, is subject to the 
full Kentucky program requirements concerning final inspection for bond 
release. Any inadequate revegetation on the reclaimed sediment control 
structure and related facilities will be detected during the inspection 
for bond release. That is, the proposed two-year criterion in no way 
reduces or eliminates any of Kentucky's standards for reclamation 
success for bond release. The Director finds that the two-year 
criterion is sufficient to establish a permanent and diverse vegetative 
cover as is required by SMCRA section 515(b)(19), especially since the 
lands typically involved will be small in size, widely dispersed, and 
surrounded by revegetated lands.
    Therefore, and except for the proposed reference to haul roads, the 
Director finds that Kentucky's proposed provision is consistent with 
and no less effective than the Federal regulations at 30 CFR 816/
817.46(b) (5) and (6), 30 CFR 816/817.116(c) and sections 515(b) (19) 
and (20) of SMCRA, as clarified by OSM in the September 15, 1993, 
Federal Register (58 FR 48333). In addition, the Director is requiring 
that Kentucky further amend the Kentucky program to delete the term 
``haul roads'' at sections 1(7)(b) of 405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200.

[[Page 41425]]

IV. Summary and Disposition of Comments

Public Comments

    The Director solicited public comments and provided an opportunity 
for a public hearing on Kentucky's proposed regulations and OSM's 
proposed policy. Because no one requested an opportunity to speak at a 
public hearing, no hearing was held.
    Comments were received from the Illinois Department of Mines and 
Minerals (now the Illinois Department of Natural Resources--Office of 
Mines and Minerals), the Western Kentucky Coal Association, the 
Kentucky Coal Association, the Lignite Energy Council, the National 
Coal Association, the Ohio Mining and Reclamation Association, the 
North Dakota Public Service Commission, and the Kentucky Resources 
Council. Except for the Kentucky Resources Council, all of the 
commenters were in favor of the policy.
    In its comments, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources 
supported the inclusion of the reclamation of roads along with the 
reclamation of sediment control structures that would not restart the 
revegetation responsibility period. On October 22, 1997 (62 FR 54765), 
OSM approved Illinois regulations concerning reseeding that is 
considered to be nonaugmentative of areas from which temporary features 
such as sedimentation ponds, roads, and diversions have been removed 
after vegetation has been established on the surrounding area. In its 
review of those regulations, OSM reviewed and commented on an 
accompanying policy document that explains how the State intends to 
implement these regulations. Illinois' reference to roads in its policy 
document was interpreted by OSM to mean those roads necessary for 
maintenance of sediment ponds, diversions, and reclamation areas. 
Ancillary roads used for maintenance do not include haul roads or other 
primary roads which should either have been removed upon completion of 
mining or approved to be retained for an approved postmining land use. 
On April 11, 1997 (Administrative Record Number IL-1243) OSM discussed 
the above interpretation of roads with Illinois. Illinois agreed with 
OSM's interpretation of the meaning of the term ``roads'' as used in 
its policy document.
    In response to the Directors' proposed clarification of OSM policy, 
the Kentucky Resources Council initiates its comments with the premise 
that OSM has proposed to treat the initial seeding and restoration of 
areas disturbed by diversions, roads and sedimentation ponds as 
``normal husbandry practices.'' It then argues that the initial seeding 
of such areas is not normal husbandry practice, and any revegetation 
other than ``husbandry practices'' as defined by 30 CFR 816.116(c)(4) 
constitutes ``augmented seeding'' and would therefore require extension 
of the full liability period for the establishment of permanent 
vegetation. First, the Director did not base not restarting the 
liability period on the contention that revegetation of such areas is a 
normal husbandry practice. Second, the Director does not agree that any 
revegetation other than ``normal husbandry practices'' constitutes 
``augmented seeding.'' The legislative history of the Act reveals no 
specific Congressional intent in the use of the term ``augmented 
seeding.'' Accordingly, OSM's interpretation of augmented seeding is 
given deference so long as it has a rational basis. OSM would not 
consider the seeding of small areas, such as ponds and their associated 
diversions and roads, as augmented seeding. However, only the 
reclamation and reseeding of ancillary roads and not haul roads would 
be considered nonaugmentative. For further discussion of such 
rationale, see the Director's Finding above. Areas reclaimed following 
removal of temporary sediment control, and associated structures such 
as diversions, disposal and storage areas for accumulated sediments and 
sediment pond embankment material, and ancillary roads used to access 
such areas would not be subject to a separate or extended bond 
liability period apart from the applicable permit area served by such 
structures. The seeding of sedimentation ponds and their associated 
diversions and roads is not the result of reclamation failure, but 
because 30 CFR 816.46(b)(5) prohibits the removal of temporary 
sedimentation ponds until two years after the last augmented seeding.
    The Kentucky Resources Council overlooks the fact that for the vast 
majority of the reclaimed area the revegetation responsibility period 
will be at least five years. Neither Congressional history nor the 
language of the statute distinguishes between initial overall 
reclamation of a mined area and the subsequent restoration of temporary 
structures like sedimentation ponds and their associated areas. In the 
absence of such distinction, the Secretary is delegated discretion to 
determine whether a proposed state amendment is no less effective than 
the Act and consistent with the counterpart Federal regulation. The 
Director's stated interpretation of Section 515(b)(20) is that the 
period of revegetation responsibility applies ``to the increment or 
permit area as a whole, not individually to those lands within that 
area upon which revegetation is delayed solely because of their use in 
support of the reclamation effort of the planted area.'' See 58 FR 
48333-48335, September 15, 1993.
    OSM has taken a consistent position in approving an amendment to 
the Colorado (61 FR 26792, May 29, 1996) and Illinois (62 FR 54765, 
October 22, 1997) surface mining programs which provided that reclaimed 
temporary drainage control facilities shall not be subject to the 
extended liability period for revegetative success or the related bond 
release criteria. The Director, therefore, does not agree with the 
commenter's interpretation of Section 515(b)(20) of SMCRA.
    The Kentucky Resources Council also asserts that OSM's position 
violates 30 CFR 816.133. Section 816.133 requires that disturbed areas 
be restored in a timely manner to the premining uses of land or higher 
or better uses. In response, the Director notes that the Kentucky 
amendment does not eliminate this requirement.

Federal Agency Comments

    Pursuant to 30 CFR 732.17(h)(11)(i), the Director solicited 
comments on the proposed amendment from various Federal agencies with 
an actual or potential interest in the Ohio program. Comments were 
received from the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The U.S. Forest Service 
commented that it had reviewed OSM's proposed rule to clarify its 
policy towards revegetation success and agreed with the proposed rule.
    The U.S. Bureau of Mines suggested that OSM consider the 
significant differences in the reclamation of sediment structures and 
roads, since sediment structures generally possess characteristics 
necessary for successful reclamation, while roads generally require 
significant initial work to develop a necessary growth environment. The 
Director agrees with the commenter. OSM's policy and regulations 
require that when haul roads are removed, the land on which they were 
located must be regraded and revegetated in accordance with approved 
plans and the requirements of 30 CFR 816.111 through 816.116, or State 
counterparts. Although the proposed Kentucky regulation would have 
included haul roads in the proposed exclusion to restarting the

[[Page 41426]]

five-year revegetation period, OSM has not approved the provision to 
the extent that it includes haul roads (see Findings above). OSM's 
policy as stated above, limits the proposed exemption to small, lightly 
traveled roads used to access the sediment control structures. OSM's 
policy excludes roads posing significant potential for reclamation 
problems (such as haul roads).
    The USFWS commented and recommended that the proposed provisions 
remain unamended. The USFWS stated that requiring only a two-year 
revegetation responsibility period following the removal of sedimentary 
structures and associated facilities will not be sufficient to 
guarantee adequate revegetation and prevent erosion. The Director 
disagrees. As stated above in the findings, Kentucky is proposing that 
the five-year revegetation responsibility period not be restarted when 
small areas containing the required sedimentary control structures are 
reclaimed when no longer needed. The five-year revegetation 
responsibility period will still be required for the overall permit 
area or increment thereof. In addition, the approved Kentucky program 
requirements concerning bond release, including the revegetation 
standards, remain in place. Therefore, Kentucky will continue to assess 
whether or not there has been established within the permit area (or 
increment), including the areas where sediment control structures were 
removed, a diverse, effective permanent vegetative cover in accordance 
with the appropriate revegetation success standards. That is, not 
restarting the revegetation responsibility upon removal of sediment 
control structures will not diminish the requirements to meet the 
revegetation standards.
    The USFWS also stated that sedimentary control structures are often 
constructed on steep slopes, involve loose and erosive materials, and 
are located within or upslope of environmentally sensitive areas 
associated with streams and wetlands. Reduction of the vegetation 
monitoring from five to two years would unjustifiably increase the 
potential to impair the quality of Kentucky's waters. In response, the 
Director disagrees with the commenter. The areas from which the 
sedimentary structures are removed, including any in steep slope areas, 
and any with nearby environmentally sensitive areas, are required by 
Kentucky regulations to be surrounded by revegetated lands with 
vegetation already sufficiently established as to render such 
structures unnecessary for the protection of water quality and effluent 
limitations. Following this, the entire revegetated area (or increment 
thereof), including the reclaimed area where the sediment control 
structure was located, is subject to the full Kentucky program 
requirements concerning final inspection for bond release. In addition, 
the Director finds that the two-year criterion proposed by Kentucky is 
sufficient to establish (as is required by SMCRA section 515(b)(19)) a 
permanent and diverse vegetative cover on the reclaimed sediment 
control structure areas, especially since the lands typically involved 
will be small in size, widely dispersed, and surrounded by revegetated 
lands.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

    Pursuant to 30 CFR 732.17(h)(11)(ii), OSM is required to obtain the 
written concurrence of the EPA with respect to those provisions of the 
proposed program amendment that relate to air or water quality 
standards promulgated under the authority of the Clean Water Act (33 
U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) or the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). The 
proposed Kentucky amendment does not pertain to air or water quality 
standards and, therefore, EPA's concurrence is not required.
    Pursuant to 732.17(h)(11)(i), OSM solicited comments on the 
proposed amendment from the EPA. The EPA responded and concurred 
without comment on October 18, 1993 (Administrative Record No. KY-
1246).

V. Director's Decision

    Based on the above finding, the Director approves, except for the 
reference to haul roads, Kentucky's regulations at sections 1(7)(b) of 
405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200. In addition, the Director is requiring that 
Kentucky further amend the Kentucky program to detele the term ``haul 
roads'' at sections 1(7)(b) of 405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200.
    The Federal regulations at 30 CFR Part 917, codifying decisions 
concerning the Kentucky program, are being amended to implement this 
decision. This final rule is being made effective immediately to 
expedite the State program amendment process and to encourage States to 
bring their programs into conformity with the Federal standards without 
undue delay. Consistency of State and Federal standards is required by 
SMCRA.

VI. Procedural Determinations

Executive Order 12866

    This rule is exempted from review by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) under Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and 
Review).

Executive Order 12988

    The Department of the Interior has conducted the reviews required 
by section 3 of Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform) and has 
determined that, to the extent allowed by law, this rule meets the 
applicable standards of subsections (a) and (b) of that section. 
However, these standards are not applicable to the actual language of 
State regulatory programs and program amendments since each such 
program is drafted and promulgated by a specific State, not by OSM. 
Under sections 503 and 505 of SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1253 and 1255) and 30 
CFR 730.11, 732.15, and 732.17(h)(10), decisions on proposed State 
regulatory programs and program amendments submitted by the States must 
be based solely on a determination of whether the submittal is 
consistent with SMCRA and its implementing Federal regulations and 
whether the other requirements of 30 CFR Parts 730, 731, and 732 have 
been met.

National Environmental Policy Act

    No environmental impact statement is required for this rule since 
section 702(d) of SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1292(d)) provides that agency 
decisions on proposed State regulatory program provisions do not 
constitute major Federal actions within the meaning of section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 
4332(2)(C)).

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule does not contain information collection requirements that 
require approval by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 
3507 et seq.).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Department of the Interior has determined that this rule will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). 
The State submittal which is the subject of this rule is based upon 
corresponding Federal regulations for which an economic analysis was 
prepared and certification made that such regulations would not have a 
significant economic effect upon a substantial number of small 
entities. Accordingly, this rule will ensure that existing requirements 
previously promulgated by OSM will be implemented by the State. In 
making the determination as to whether this rule would have a 
significant economic impact, the Department relied upon the data and 
assumptions for the corresponding Federal regulations.

[[Page 41427]]

Unfunded Mandates

    This rule will not impose a cost of $100 million or more in any 
given year on any governmental entity or the private sector.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 913

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: July 20, 1998.
Allen D. Klein,
Regional Director, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 30 CFR Part 917 is amended 
as set forth below:

PART 917--KENTUCKY

    1. The authority citation for Part 917 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.

    2. Section 917.15 is amended in the table by adding a new entry in 
chronological order by ``Date of final publication'' to read as 
follows:


Sec. 917.15  Approval of Kentucky regulatory program amendments.

* * * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Original amendment submission      Date of final         Citation/    
              date                    publication         description   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
                  *        *        *        *        *                 
June 28, 1991...................  August 4, 1998....  405 KAR 16:200    
                                                       Sec.  1(7)(b) and
                                                       18:200 Sec.      
                                                       1(7)(b).         
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Section 917.16 is amended by adding a new paragraph (n) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 917.16  Required regulatory program amendments.

* * * * *
    (n) By October 5, 1998, Kentucky shall amend the Kentucky program, 
or provide a written description of an amendment together with a 
timetable for enactment which is consistent with established 
administrative or legislative procedures in the State, to delete the 
term ``haul roads'' at sections 1(7)(b) of 405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200.

[FR Doc. 98-20715 Filed 8-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M