[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 102 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28771-28773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13335]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 948

[WV-082-FOR]


West Virginia Permanent Regulatory Program

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

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: OSM is announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the West 
Virginia permanent regulatory program (hereinafter referred to as the 
West Virginia program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation 
Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The amendment revises the West Virginia 
regulations concerning definitions of ``area mining operations'' and 
``mountaintop mining operations;'' variances from approximate original 
contour in steep slope areas; and emergency spillway designs. The 
amendment is intended to improve the operational efficiency of the 
State program, and to make the regulations consistent with the 
counterpart Federal regulations.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before 4:00 p.m. on June 
28, 1999. If requested, a public hearing on the proposed amendments 
will be held at 1:00 p.m. on June 21, 1999. Requests to present oral 
testimony at the hearing must be received on or before 4:00 p.m. on 
June 11, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Your written comments and requests to speak at the hearing 
should be mailed or hand delivered to Mr. Roger W. Calhoun, Director, 
Charleston Field Office at the address listed below.
    Copies of the proposed amendment, the West Virginia program, and 
the administrative record on the West Virginia program are available 
for public review and copying at the addresses below, during normal 
business hours, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. You may 
receive one free copy of the proposed amendment by contacting the OSM 
Charleston Field Office.
    Mr. Roger W. Calhoun, Director, Charleston Field Office, Office of 
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1027 Virginia Street, East, 
Charleston, West Virginia 25301, Telephone: (304) 347-7158.
    West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection, 10 McJunkin 
Road, Nitro, West Virginia 25143, Telephone: (304) 759-0515.
    In addition, copies of the proposed amendment are available for 
inspection during regular business hours at the following locations.
    Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Morgantown 
Area Office, 75 High Street, Room 229, P.O. Box 886, Morgantown, West 
Virginia 26507, Telephone: (304) 291-4004.
    Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Beckley Area 
Office, 323 Harper Park Drive, Suite 3, Beckley, West Virginia 25801, 
Telephone: (304) 255-5265.


[[Page 28772]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roger W. Calhoun, Director, 
Charleston Field Office; telephone: (304) 347-7158.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background on the West Virginia Program

    On January 21, 1981, the Secretary of the Interior conditionally 
approved the West Virginia program. You can find background information 
on the West Virginia program, including the Secretary's findings, the 
disposition of comments, and the conditions of the approval in the 
January 21, 1981, Federal Register (46 FR 5915-5956.) You can find 
later actions concerning the West Virginia program and previous 
amendments codified at 30 CFR 948.10, 948.12, 948.13, 948.15, and 
948.16.

II. Discussion of the Proposed Amendment

    By letter dated May 5, 1999 (Administrative Record Number WV-1127), 
the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) 
submitted an amendment to the West Virginia program pursuant to 30 CFR 
732.17. The amendment concerns changes to the West Virginia regulations 
made by the State legislature in House Bill 2533. In addition, the 
WVDEP requested that OSM reconsider its disapproval of parts of CSR 38-
2-3.12 (concerning subsidence control plan) and 38-2-16.2 (concerning 
subsidence control, surface owner protection) and remove the 
corresponding required regulatory program amendments specified in the 
February 9, 1999, Federal Register (64 FR 6201-6218) in light of the 
April 27, 1999, United States Court of Appeals decision on Case No. 98-
5320.
    The amendments submitted by the WVDEP are identified below.
    1. CSR 38-2-2.11 Definition of ``Area Mining Operation.'' In this 
new definition, ``Area Mining Operation'' is defined to mean a mining 
operation where all disturbed areas are restored to approximate 
original contour (AOC) unless the operation is located in steep slope 
areas and a steep slope AOC variance in accordance with subsection 
14.12 of this rule has been approved. An area mining operation may 
remove all or part of coal seam(s) in the upper fraction of a mountain, 
ridge, or bill. However, it is not classified as a mountaintop 
operation for one or more of the following reasons:
    2.11.a. The site may be restored to AOC; or
    2.11.b. The entire coal seam may not be removed.
    2. CSR 38-2-2.78 Definition of ``Mountaintop Mining Operation.'' In 
this new definition, ``Mountaintop Mining Operation'' is defined to 
mean a mining operation that removes an entire coal seam or seam(s) in 
an upper fraction of a mountain, ridge, or hill and creating a level 
plateau or a gently rolling contour with no highwalls. The approved 
postmining land use must be in accordance with 22-3-13(c)(3).
    3. CSR 38-2-3.12 Subsidence control plan.'' Subdivision 3.12.a.2. 
is amended to change the words ``could contaminate, diminish or * * *'' 
to read ``could be contaminated, diminish or * * *.''
    The second paragraph of subdivision 3.12.a.2. is amended by adding 
the word ``building'' to read as follows: ``A survey of the condition 
of all non-commercial building or residential * * *.''
    Subdivision 3.12.a.2.B. is amended to change the words ``Non-
commercial building as used in this section means, other than * * *'' 
to read ``Non-commercial building as used in this section means any 
building, other than * * *.''
    4. CSR 38-2-3.32.b. Findings-permit issuance. In the third 
paragraph, the name of the database ``Surface Mining Information 
System'' is deleted and replaced by ``Environmental Resources 
Information Network.''
    5. CSR 38-2-2.35 Construction tolerance. This subsection is amended 
by adding the title ``Construction Tolerance.''
    6. CSR 38-2-14.12.a.1. Variance from approximate original contour 
requirements. This provision is amended by adding the following 
language: ``and the land after reclamation is suitable for industrial, 
commercial, residential or public use (including recreational 
facilities).'' As amended the provision reads as follows.
    ``The permit area is located on steep slopes as defined in 
subdivision 14.8.a. of this rule and the land after reclamation is 
suitable for industrial, commercial, residential or public use 
(including recreational facilities).
    7. CSR 38-2-16.2. Surface owner protection. Subdivision 38-2-
16.2.c. is amended by adding the word ``damage'' after the word 
``Material'' at the beginning of the first sentence. In addition, the 
words ``or facility'' are added after the word ``structure'' and before 
the word ``from'' near the end of the first sentence.
    Subdivision 38-2-16.2.c.3. is amended to delete the word ``occurs'' 
after the words ``subsidence damage'' and before the words ``to any.''
    8. CSR 38-2-22.4.g. Primary and emergency spillway design. The 
Subdivision is amended by changing the probable maximum precipitation 
event for impoundments meeting the size or other criteria of 30 CFR 
77.216(a) from a 24-hour storm event to a ``six (6)'' hour storm event.

III. Public Comment Procedures

    We are seeking comments, in accordance with the provisions of 30 
CFR 732.17(h), on the proposed amendment submitted by the State of West 
Virginia by letter dated May 5, 1999. Your comments should address 
whether the proposed amendment satisfies the applicable program 
approval criteria of 30 CFR 732.15. If the amendment is deemed 
adequate, it will become part of the West Virginia program.

Written Comments

    Your written comments should be specific, pertain only to the 
issues proposed in this notice and include explanations in support of 
your recommendations. Comments received after the time indicated under 
DATES or at locations other than the OSM Charleston Field Office will 
not necessarily be considered in the final rulemaking or included in 
the Administrative Record.

Public Hearing

    If you wish to comment at the public hearing, you should contact 
the person listed above at FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by close of 
business on June 11, 1999. If no one requests an opportunity to comment 
at a public hearing, the hearing will not be held.
    If you file a written statement at the same time that you request a 
hearing, the statement will greatly assist the person who will make a 
transcript of the hearing.
    The public hearing will continue on the specified date until all 
persons scheduled to comment have been heard. Persons in the audience 
who have not been scheduled to comment, and who wish to do so, will be 
heard following those scheduled. The hearing will end after all persons 
scheduled to comment and persons present in the audience who wish to 
comment have been heard.

Public Meeting

    If only one person requests an opportunity to comment at a hearing, 
a public meeting, rather then a public hearing, may be held. Persons 
wishing to meet with us to discuss the proposed amendments, may request 
a meeting at the Charleston Field Office by contacting the person 
listed above at FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All such meetings will 
be open to the public and, if possible, notices of meetings will be 
posted in advance at the locations

[[Page 28773]]

listed above at ADDRESSES. A written summary of each public meeting 
will be made part of the Administrative Record.
    If you are disabled and have need for a special accommodation to 
attend a public hearing, please contact the person listed above at FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

IV. 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 determinations 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

    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 948

    Intergovermnetal relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: May 19, 1999.
Allen D. Klein,
Regional Director, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center.
[FR Doc 99-13335 Filed 5-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M