[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 171 (Thursday, September 3, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 46951-46952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23757]


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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 again reopening and extending the comment period for the proposed 
rule, Enhancing AML Reclamation, published on June 25, 1998 (63 FR 
34768). The prior extension of the comment period closed on August 11, 
1998. It 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 September 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, you may mail or hand deliver 
comments to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 
Administrative Record, Room 101, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20240. Comments submitted on the proposed rule are 
available for inspection at this address. 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: 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), in 
order to accept two comments which were submitted after the close of 
the comment period. Anyone wishing to examine the comments submitted on 
the proposed rule may do so at the location listed under ADDRESSES.
    In the proposed rule, OSM is proposing revisions 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

[[Page 46952]]

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: August 31, 1998.
Mary Josie Blanchard,
Assistant Director, Program Support.
[FR Doc. 98-23757 Filed 9-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M