[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 181 (Monday, September 20, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50754-50757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24460]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 904

[SPATS No. AR-029-FOR]


Arkansas Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Plan

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

ACTION: Final rule; approval of amendment.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) 
is approving an amendment to the Arkansas abandoned mine land 
reclamation plan (Arkansas plan) under the Surface Mining Control and 
Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). Arkansas proposed revisions to its 
plan concerning definitions, purposes of the reclamation program, 
identification of eligible lands and water, ranking and selection 
procedures, coordination of reclamation work, acquisition management 
and disposition of land and water, reclamation on private land, rights 
of entry, public participation, organizational structure, personnel and 
staffing policies, purchasing and procurement systems, management 
accounting, and AML problem description. Arkansas intends to revise its 
plan to be consistent with the corresponding Federal regulations and 
SMCRA.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 20, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael C. Wolfrom, Director, Tulsa 
Field Office, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 
5100 East Skelly Drive, Suite 470, Tulsa, Arkansas 74135-6547. 
Telephone: (918) 581-6430. Internet: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background on the Arkansas Plan
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 Arkansas Plan

    On May 2, 1983, the Secretary of the Interior approved the Arkansas 
plan. You can find background information on the Arkansas plan, 
including the Secretary's findings, the disposition of comments, and 
the approval of the plan in the May 2, 1983, Federal Register (48 FR 
19710). You can find later actions on the Arkansas plan at 30 CFR 
904.25 and 904.26.

II. Submission of the Proposed Amendment

    By letter dated June 16, 1999 (Administrative Record No. AAML-27), 
Arkansas sent us an amendment to its plan pursuant to SMCRA. Arkansas 
sent the amendment in response to our letter dated September 26, 1994, 
that we sent to Arkansas under 30 CFR 884.15(d). The amendment also 
included changes Arkansas made at its own initiative.
    We announced receipt of the amendment in the July 9, 1999, Federal 
Register (64 FR 37067). In the same document, we opened the public 
comment period and provided an opportunity for a public hearing on the 
adequacy of Arkansas' amendment. The public comment period closed on 
August 9, 1999. Because no one requested a public hearing or meeting, 
we did not hold one.

III. Director's Findings

    Following, under SMCRA and the Federal regulations at 30 CFR 884.14 
and 884.15, are our findings concerning the amendment. Any revisions 
that we do not discuss below are about minor wording changes, or 
revised cross-references and paragraph notations to reflect 
organizational changes resulting from this amendment.
    A. Arkansas proposed to add to the reclamation plan a table of 
contents with numbered headings and lettered sub-headings. We are 
approving this addition.
    B. Arkansas proposed to add Part III--``Definitions,'' to the 
reclamation plan. We are approving the addition of this part because it 
complies with Federal definitions found at 30 CFR 870.5.
    C. Part IV--``Policies and Procedures for the State Abandoned Mine 
Land Reclamation Program.''
    1. Arkansas proposed to change the name of section 884.13(c)(1) 
from ``Introduction'' to ``Purposes of the State

[[Page 50755]]

Reclamation Program'' and to remove the old SMCRA priority 4 (Research 
and Demonstration) project selection criteria. We are approving the 
revisions because they meet the requirements of the Federal regulations 
at 30 CFR 884.13(c)(2) and section 403(a) of SMCRA, as revised by the 
Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-486). Effective October 24, 
1992, this Act amended section 403(a) of SMCRA by removing the priority 
4 (Research and Demonstration) project selection criteria. Arkansas 
also proposed to move descriptions of abandoned mine problem types from 
this section to section 884.13(e)(3). We are approving this revision 
because it meets the requirements of the Federal regulations at 30 CFR 
884.13(e)(3). Arkansas also proposed to move the section entitled, 
``Corrective Measures to be used in Reclamation of Abandoned Mine 
Lands,'' to section 884.13(e)(3) and to substantially shorten it. We 
are approving the revision because it is not inconsistent with the 
requirements of the Federal regulations in 30 CFR Subchapter R.
    2. Arkansas proposed to add a section, ``Identification of Eligible 
Lands and Water.'' The section pertains to reclamation of interim 
program and bond insolvency sites. We are approving this addition 
because it complies with previous revisions to the State statutes at 
Arkansas Code Annotated (ACA) 15-58-401 and the State regulations at 
Arkansas Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Code (ASCMRC) 874.12 which 
we approved on January 5, 1994 (59 FR 540), and April 29, 1997 (62 FR 
23129), respectively. Also, the addition of the language is not 
inconsistent with the Federal regulations at 30 CFR 874.12 and 875.12.
    3. Arkansas proposed to add a new subsection to section 
884.13(c)(2), ``Ranking and Selection Procedures.'' We are approving 
this addition because it meets the requirements of the Federal 
regulations at 30 CFR 874.12 and 874.13. Also, Arkansas proposed to 
remove the project ranking matrix form contained in the original 
reclamation plan and to replace it with a reference to the evaluation 
criteria contained in its regulations at ASCMRC 874.14. We are 
approving the revision because it does not constitute a policy change 
and because it meets the requirements of the Federal regulations at 30 
CFR 884.13(c)(2).
    4. Arkansas proposed to make editorial modifications to section 
884.13(c)(3), ``Coordination of Reclamation Work,'' primarily to update 
the names and relationships of agencies and their roles in abandoned 
mine land reclamation projects. We are approving these revision. 
Arkansas also proposed to revise and enhance the description of AML 
project coordination efforts related to resource issues. We are 
approving the revision because it meets the requirements of 30 CFR 
884.13(c)(3).
    5. Arkansas proposed to revise section 884.13(c)(4) to reduce 
redundancy within the state regulations. In addition, Arkansas proposed 
to remove most of the description of land and water acquisition, 
directing the reader, instead, to follow procedures established in 
ASCMRC 879.11. We are approving the revisions because they meet the 
requirements of 30 CFR 884.13(c)(4).
    6. Arkansas proposed to revise section 884.13(c)(5), ``Policies and 
Procedures for Reclamation on Private Land,'' to reduce redundancy 
within the state regulations. The proposed revision provides a brief 
overview of policies for placement, waiver, and satisfaction of liens, 
and refers the reader to ASCMRC 882.13 and 882.14. Arkansas also 
proposed to add a new paragraph on appraisals to clarify under what 
circumstances appraisals should be conducted and by whom. We are 
approving these revisions because they meet the requirements of 30 CFR 
Part 882.
    7. Arkansas proposed to revise section 884.13(c)(6), ``Rights of 
Entry,'' to reduce redundancy within the state regulations. The 
proposed revision provides a brief overview of policies for entry on 
private land and refers the reader to ASCMRC 882.13 and 882.14. We are 
approving the revisions because they are not inconsistent with the 
Federal regulations at 30 CFR Part 877.
    8. Arkansas proposed to revise section 884.13(c)(7), ``Public 
Participation Policies,'' to reduce redundancy within the state 
regulations and to eliminate obsolete information. The proposed 
revision provides a brief overview of current public participation 
practices. We are approving the revisions because they meet the 
requirements of the Federal regulations at 30 CFR 884.13(c)(6).
    D. Part V--``Administrative and Management Structure.''
    1. Arkansas proposed to revise section 884.13(d)(1), 
``Organizational Structure,'' to update the organizational charts. We 
are approving this revision because it meets the requirements of the 
Federal regulation at 30 CFR 884.13(d)(1).
    2. Arkansas proposed to revise section 884.13(d)(2), ``Personnel 
and Staffing Policies,'' to update the list of State and Federal laws, 
regulations, and policies related to personnel practices. We are 
approving this revision because it meets the requirements of the 
Federal regulation at 30 CFR 884.13(d)(2).
    3. Arkansas proposed to revise section 884.13(d)(3), ``Purchasing 
and Procurement Systems,'' to comply with OSM's 30 CFR Part 884 letter, 
dated September 26, 1994, regarding ``Contractor Responsibility (30 CFR 
874.16 and 875.20 )'' and to identify 43 CFR Part 12 as the guidance by 
which Federal grant funds will be administered in the state program. We 
are approving the revisions because they satisfy the requirements of 
the above 30 CFR Part 884 letter and also meet the requirements of the 
Federal regulation at 30 CFR 884.13(d)(3).
    4. Arkansas proposed to revise section 884.13(d)(4), ``Management 
Accounting,'' to identify 43 CFR Part 12 as the guidance for 
administering Federal grant funds in the state program and to make 
minor editorial corrections. We are approving the revisions because 
they meet the requirements of the Federal regulation at 30 CFR 
884.13(d)(4).
    E. Part VI--``General Description of AML Problems.''
    Arkansas proposed to add section 884.13(e) to replace information 
previously contained in the ``Introduction'' section of the reclamation 
plan. Section 884.13(e) contains an overview of reclamation problem 
types and guides the reader to the OSM Abandoned Mine Land Inventory 
Directive and to OSM's December 30, 1996 (61 FR 68777), AML Program 
Guidelines for additional information. We are approving the revisions 
because they meet the requirements of the Federal regulation at 30 CFR 
884.13(e)(1)-(3).

IV. Summary and Disposition of Comments

Public Comments

    We asked for public comments on the amendment, but did not receive 
any.

Federal Agency Comments

    Under 30 CFR 884.14(a)(2) and 884.15(a), we requested comments on 
the amendment from various Federal agencies with an actual or potential 
interest in the Arkansas plan (Administrative Record Nos. AAML-27.01, 
AAML-27.02, and AAML-27.03). We received a comment from the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers dated July 13, 1999 (Administrative Record No. AAML-
27.04), stating that they found the proposed amendment to be 
satisfactory.

[[Page 50756]]

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

    Under 30 CFR 884.14(a)(6), we are required to get a written 
agreement from the EPA for those provisions of the program amendment 
that relate to air or water quality standards issued 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 Arkansas 
proposed to make in this amendment pertain to air or water quality 
standards. Therefore, we did not ask the EPA to agree on the amendment.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

    Under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq), we are required to ask the FWS to determine 
whether those provisions of the program amendment that relate to fish, 
wildlife, or plants and their habitat are likely to jeopardize the 
continued existence of species listed as endangered or threatened 
(under the authority of section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 
1973) or result in the destruction or adverse modification of their 
habitat. None of the revisions that Arkansas proposed to make in this 
amendment pertain to fish, wildlife, or plants and their habitat. 
Therefore, we did not ask the FWS for its determination under section 7 
of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

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

    Under 30 CFR 884.14(a)(6), we are required to request comments from 
the SHPO and ACHP on amendments that may have an effect on historic 
properties. On July 1, 1999, we requested comments on Arkansas' 
amendment (Administrative Record No. AAML-27.02), but neither responded 
to our request.

V. Director's Decision

    Based on the above findings, we approve the proposed plan amendment 
as submitted by Arkansas on June 16, 1999. We approve the plan that 
Arkansas proposed with the provision that it be published in identical 
form to the plan sent to and reviewed by OSM and the public.
    To implement this decision, we are amending the Federal regulations 
at 30 CFR Part 904, which codify decisions concerning the Arkansas 
plan. We are making this final rule effective immediately to expedite 
the State program amendment process and to encourage Arkansas to bring 
its plan into conformity with the Federal standards. SMCRA requires 
consistency of State and Federal standards.

VI. Procedural Determinations

Executive Order 12866

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) exempts this rule from 
review 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 and Tribal abandoned mine land reclamation plans and revisions 
since each such plan is drafted and promulgated by a specific State or 
Tribe, not by OSM. Decisions on proposed abandoned mine land 
reclamation plans and revisions submitted by a State or Tribe are based 
on a determination of whether the submittal meets the requirements of 
Title IV of SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1231-1243) and 30 CFR Part 884.

National Environmental Policy Act

    This rule does not require an environmental impact statement since 
agency decisions on proposed State and Tribal abandoned mine land 
reclamation plans and revisions are categorically excluded from 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332) 
by the Manual of the Department of the Interior (516 DM 6, appendix 8, 
paragraph 8.4B(29)).

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 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. In making the 
determination as to whether this rule would have a significant economic 
impact, the Department relied upon the data and assumptions in the 
analyses for the corresponding Federal regulations.

Unfunded Mandates

    OSM has determined and certifies under 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 904

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: September 8, 1999.
Brent Wahlquist,
Regional Director, Mid-Continent Regional Coordinating Center.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 30 CFR Part 904 is amended 
as set forth below:

PART 904--ARKANSAS

    1. The authority citation for Part 904 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. Section 904.25 is amended in the table by adding a new entry in 
chronological order by ``Date of final publication'' to read as 
follows:


Sec. 904.25  Approval of Arkansas abandoned mine land reclamation plan 
amendments.

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[[Page 50757]]



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                                               Date of
     Original amendment submission date         final                      Citation/description
                                             publication
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*                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                        *
June 16, 1999..............................     9-20-99   Definitions; Purposes of the state reclamation
                                                           program; Identification of eligible lands and water;
                                                           Ranking and selection procedures; Coordination of
                                                           reclamation work; Acquisition management and
                                                           disposition of land and water; Reclamation on private
                                                           land; Rights of entry; Public participation;
                                                           Organizational structure; Personnel and staffing
                                                           policies; Purchasing and procurement systems;
                                                           Management accounting; and Abandoned mine land
                                                           problem description.
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[FR Doc. 99-24460 Filed 9-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P