[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 188 (Tuesday, September 29, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51827-51829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25979]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 914

[SPATS No. IN-131-FOR; State Program Amendment No. 95-13]


Indiana 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 approving an amendment to the Indiana regulatory 
program (hereinafter referred to as the ``Indiana program'') under the 
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). Indiana 
proposed revisions to regulations pertaining to the definition of 
``affected area,'' submittal of underground mining operation plans, and 
the standards for prime farmland restoration by surface and underground 
coal mining operations. The amendment is intended to revise the Indiana 
program to be consistent with the corresponding Federal regulations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 29, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew R. Gilmore, Director, 
Indianapolis Field Office, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and 
Enforcement, Minton-Capehart Federal Building, 575 North Pennsylvania 
Street, Room 301, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-1521. Telephone (317) 
226-6700. Internet: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background on the Indiana 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 Indiana Program

    On July 29, 1982, the Secretary of the Interior conditionally 
approved the Indiana program. Background information on the Indiana 
program, including the Secretary's findings, the disposition of 
comments, and the conditions of approval can be found in the July 26, 
1982, Federal Register (47 FR 32107). Subsequent actions concerning the 
conditions of approval and program amendments can be found at 30 CFR 
914.10, 914.15, and 914.16.

II. Submission of the Proposed Amendment

    By letter dated March 6, 1998 (Administrative Record No. IND-1597), 
Indiana submitted a proposed amendment to its program pursuant to 
SMCRA. Indiana submitted the proposed amendment in response to the 
required program amendment at 30 CFR 914.16(n), 914.16(p), and 
914.16(gg) and at its own initiative.
    OSM announced receipt of the proposed amendment in the April 6, 
1998, Federal Register (63 FR 16725), and in the same document opened 
the public comment period and provided an opportunity for a public 
hearing or meeting on the adequacy of the proposed amendment. The 
public comment period closed on May 6, 1998. Because no one requested a 
public hearing or meeting, none was held.
    During its review of the amendment, OSM identified a concern 
relating to a technical error at 310 IAC 12-3-78(a)(2), underground 
mining and postmining land use. Also, at 310 IAC 12-0.5-6, definition 
of ``affected area,'' OSM identified a concern relating to the 
exemption criteria in subsection (b). OSM notified Indiana of these 
concerns by letter dated July 1, 1998 (Administrative Record No. IND-
1616).
    By letter dated July 17, 1998 (Administrative Record No. IND-1618), 
Indiana responded to OSM's concerns by stating that the editorial error 
at 310 IAC 12-3-78(a)(2) would be corrected as an errata. Indiana also 
provided clarification that all the criteria at 310 IAC 12-0.5-6(b) 
will be used to determine if a road is exempt from the definition of 
``affected area.'' Because no substantive revisions were made to the 
amendment, OSM did not reopen the public comment period.

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 
proposed amendment.
    Revisions not specifically discussed below concern nonsubstantive 
wording changes, or revised cross-references and paragraph notations to 
reflect organizational changes resulting from this amendment.
    1. 310 IAC 12-0.5-6(a). Indiana amended 310 IAC 12-0.5-6(a) by 
replacing the terms ``an'' and ``a'' with the term ``any'' to refer to 
sites and areas which would be considered ``affected areas.'' This is 
consistent with the use of the term ``any'' in the counterpart Federal 
definition of ``affected area'' at 30 CFR 701.5. The Director finds 
that the revisions satisfy the requirement placed on the Indiana 
program at 30 CFR 914.16(n) and that Indiana's revised language at 310 
IAC 12-0.5-6(a) is no less effective than language found at 30 CFR 
701.5. Therefore, the Director is approving the revisions and removing 
the required amendment.
    2. 310 IAC 12-0.5-6(b) and (c). Indiana added language at 310 IAC 
12-0.5-6(b) identifying the criteria for exemption of roads included in 
the affected area. Subsection (b)(1) requires that the road be 
``designated as a public road pursuant to the laws of the jurisdiction 
in which it is located.'' Subsection (b)(2) requires that the road be 
``maintained with public funds, and constructed in a manner similar to 
other public roads of the same classification within the 
jurisdiction.'' Subsection (b)(3) requires that the road has 
``substantial (more than incidental) public use.'' Subsection (b)(4) 
requires that ``the extent and the effect of mining-related uses of the 
road by the permittee does not warrant regulation as part of the 
surface coal mining and reclamation operation.'' Subsection (c) 
requires the director to determine on a case-by-case basis whether a 
road satisfies the requirements at 310 IAC 12-0.5-6(b) based on the 
mining related use of the road and consistent with Indiana's definition 
of ``surface coal mining operations.''
    The language at subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), and (b)(3) is 
substantively the same as language found in the Federal definition at 
30 CFR 701.5. OSM suspended its definition of ``affected area'' at 30 
CFR 701.5 insofar as it might limit jurisdiction over roads covered by 
the definition of ``surface coal mining operations'' (51 FR 41952, 
November 20, 1986). OSM's revised road rules were published on November 
8, 1988, 53 FR 45192. In finalizing those rules, OSM declined to add a 
reference to ``affected area'' to the definition of road on the basis 
that the definition of ``affected area'' as partially suspended no 
longer provides additional guidance as to which roads are included in 
the definition of surface coal mining operations. At the same time, OSM 
declined to expressly exclude public roads from the definition of road. 
The preamble stated that OSM is concerned that roads constructed to 
serve mining operations not avoid compliance with performance standards 
by being deeded to public entities, but it was not OSM's intent to 
automatically extend

[[Page 51828]]

jurisdiction into the existing public road network. Instead, 
jurisdiction decisions are to be made by the regulatory authorities on 
a case-by-case basis. Indiana intends to continue to use the definition 
of ``affected area'' in determining which roads are subject to 
jurisdiction. The provisions at 310 IAC 12-0.5-6(b)(4) and (c) clarify 
when a public road will be regulated and adequately addresses the 
concerns OSM expressed in the November 8, 1988, preamble (53 FR 45192) 
regarding public roads. The Director finds that Indiana's definition of 
``affected area'' is no less effective than the Federal regulations 
concerning jurisdiction over public roads and is consistent with the 
Federal definition of ``affected area.'' Therefore, the Director is 
approving 310 IAC 12-0.5-6(b) and (c).
    3. 310 IAC 12-3-78(a). Indiana amended 310 IAC 12-3-78(a) to 
require underground permit applications to ``contain a description of 
the mining operations proposed to be conducted within the proposed 
permit area and the proposed life of the mine area where such 
information is necessary to demonstrate that reclamation required by 
IC-14-34 can be accomplished by the applicant.'' Subdivisions (1) and 
(2) of 310 IAC 12-3-78(a) outline the minimum elements of the required 
description. The Director finds that the language at 310 IAC 12-3-78(a) 
is substantively the same as that found at 30 CFR 784.11. Therefore, 
the Director approves the amendment.
    4. 310 IAC 12-3-78(b). Indiana added language at 310 IAC 12-3-78(b) 
requiring applicants for underground coal mining and reclamation 
permits to submit descriptions, plans, and drawings for all support 
facilities within the proposed permit area. The Director finds that 
Indiana's language at 301 IAC 12-0.5-6(a) is substantively the same as 
the Federal language found at 30 CFR 784.30. Therefore, the Director 
approves the amendment.
    5. 310 IAC 12-5-98(d)(1). Indiana added language at 310 IAC 12-5-
98(d)(1) that requires the soil profile be determined by the U.S. Soil 
Conservation Service. The Director finds that the revision satisfies 
the requirement placed on the Indiana program at 30 CFR 914.16(p), and 
that Indiana's revised language at 301 IAC 12-5-98(d)(1) is no less 
effective than the Federal language at 30 CFR 785.15(c)(1)(ii). 
Therefore, the Director is approving the revision and removing the 
required amendment.
    6. 310 IAC 12-5-145.5. Indiana added a provision at 310 IAC 12-5-
145.5 to require the director to use ``any prime farmland soil-
reconstruction specifications promulgated as rules by the United States 
Soil Conservation Service for Indiana'' in order to carry out his or 
her responsibilities under 310 IAC 12-3-98 and 310 IAC 12-4. The 
Director finds that this provision satisfies the requirement placed on 
the Indiana program at 30 CFR 914.16(gg) and that Indiana's requirement 
at 301 IAC 12-5-145.5 is no less effective than the Federal language at 
30 CFR 823.4. Therefore, the Director is approving Indiana's rule and 
removing the required amendment.

IV. Summary and Disposition of Comments

Public Comments

    OSM solicited public comments on the proposed amendment. By letter 
dated April 30, 1998 (Administrative Record No. IND-1605), the Indiana 
Coal Council (ICC) responded that while the Federal regulation at 30 
CFR 823.4 does not state that the regulatory authority may use any 
promulgated United States Soil Conservation Service prime farmland 
soil-reconstruction specifications as rules, the language at 310 IAC 
12-5-145.5 is still not substantively different from the Federal rule. 
ICC points out that a U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia 
ruled that the SCS soil reconstruction specifications required by SMCRA 
qualify as rules and therefore must be subject to public review. 
Further, the Court noted that OSM agreed and advised SCS to publish its 
proposed standards for public review. ``Therefore the effect of the 
additional language in the proposed Indiana rule is simply to conform 
the substance of the rule to the Federal rule as interpreted by the 
Office of Surface Mining and the courts.'' ICC believes the amendment 
should be approved.
    OSM agrees that the language at 310 IAC 12-5-145.5 conforms to the 
judicial and agency interpretation of 30 CFR 823.4. Furthermore, the 
language used at 310 IAC 12-5-145.5 is identical to the language 
required at 30 CFR 914.16(gg). The Director is approving the revision.

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 Indiana program. By letter dated 
April 17, 1998 (Administrative Record No. IND-1604), the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service responded that it has no comments on IN-131-FOR.

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.). 
None of the revisions that Indiana proposed to make in this amendment 
pertain to air or water quality standards. Therefore, OSM did not 
request the EPA's concurrence.
    Pursuant to 30 CFR 732.17(h)(11)(i), OSM solicited comments on the 
proposed amendment from the EPA (Administrative Record No. 1600). The 
EPA did not respond to OSM's request.

State Historical Preservation Officer (SHPO) and the Advisory Council 
on Historic Preservation (ACHP)

    Pursuant to 30 CFR 732.17(h)(4), OSM is required to solicit 
comments on proposed amendments which may have an effect on historic 
properties from the SHPO and ACHP. OSM solicited comments on the 
proposed amendment from the SHPO and ACHP (Administrative Record No. 
1600). Neither the SHPO nor ACHP responded to OSM's request.

V. Director's Decision

    Based on the above findings, the Director approves the amendment as 
submitted by Indiana on March 6, 1998.
    The Director approves the regulations as proposed by Indiana with 
the provision that they be fully promulgated in identical form to the 
regulations submitted to and reviewed by OSM and the public.
    The Federal regulations at 30 CFR Part 914, codifying decisions 
concerning the Indiana 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

[[Page 51829]]

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.

Unfunded Mandates

    OSM has determined and certifies pursuant to the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1502 et seq.) that this rule will not impose a 
cost of $100 million or more in any given year on local, state, or 
tribal governments or private entities.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 914

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: September 14, 1998.
Brent Wahlquist,
Regional Director, Mid-Continent Regional Coordinating Center.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 30 CFR part 914 is amended 
as set forth below:

PART 914--INDIANA

    1. The authority citation for part 914 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. Section 914.15 is amended in the table by adding a new entry in 
chronological order by ``Date of final publication'' to read as 
follows:


Sec. 914.15  Approval of Indiana regulatory program amendments.

* * * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Original amendment submission    Date of final
             date                  publication      Citation/description
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*                  *                  *                  *
                  *                  *                  *
March 6, 1998.................  September 29,      310 IAC 12-0.5-6(a)
                                 1998.              through (c); 12-3-
                                                    78(a) and (b); 12-5-
                                                    98(a), (c) and (d);
                                                    and 12-5-145.5.
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    3. Section 914.16 is amended by removing and reserving paragraphs 
(n), (p), and (gg).

[FR Doc. 98-25979 Filed 9-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P