[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 247 (Monday, December 27, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72275-72277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33465]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 913

[SPATS No. IL-097-FOR, Part II]


Illinois Regulatory Program

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 part of an amendment to the Illinois regulatory program 
(Illinois program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act 
of 1977 (SMCRA). Illinois proposed revisions to its program concerning 
adjustment of performance bond amounts, administrative review, 
subsidence control, water replacement, release of performance bonds, 
siltation structures, impoundments, hydrologic balance, disposal of 
noncoal mine wastes, revegetation, backfilling and grading, prime 
farmland, and State inspections. This final rule document addresses 
Illinois' revisions concerning adjustments to performance bond amounts 
and administrative review. The primary focus of these revisions is to 
provide permittees an opportunity for a formal hearing on adjustments 
made to performance bonds. Illinois intends to revise its program to be 
consistent with the corresponding Federal regulations, to provide 
additional safeguards, and to improve operational efficiency.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 27, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew R. Gilmore, Director, 
Indianapolis Field Office, Office of Surface Mining, 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 Illinois 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 Illinois Program

    On June 1, 1982, the Secretary of the Interior conditionally 
approved the Illinois program. You can find background information on 
the Illinois program, including the Secretary's findings, the 
disposition of comments, and the conditions of approval in the June 1, 
1982, Federal Register (47 FR 23883). You can find later actions 
concerning the Illinois program at 30 CFR 913.15, 913.16, and 913.17.

II. Submission of the Proposed Amendment

    By letter dated August 2, 1999 (Administrative Record No. IL-5044), 
the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (Department) sent us an 
amendment to the Illinois program under SMCRA. The Department proposed 
to amend Title 62 of the Illinois Administrative Code (IAC) in response 
to our letters dated May 20, 1996, June 17, 1997, and January 15, 1999 
(Administrative Record Nos. IL-1900, IL-2000, and IL-5036, 
respectively), that we sent to Illinois under 30 CFR 732.17(c). The 
amendment also includes changes made at the Department's own 
initiative.
    We announced receipt of the amendment in the August 17, 1999, 
Federal Register (64 FR 44674). In the same document, we opened the 
public comment period and provided an opportunity for a public hearing 
or meeting on the adequacy of the amendment. The public comment

[[Page 72276]]

period closed on September 16, 1999. Because no one requested a public 
hearing or meeting, we did not hold one.
    During our review of the amendment, we identified concerns relating 
to siltation structures, impoundments, performance bonds, and State 
inspections. We also identified some nonsubstantive editorial errors. 
We notified Illinois of these concerns and editorial problems by letter 
dated September 21, 1999 (Administrative Record No. IL-5048). We also 
separated the amendment into three parts in order to expedite the State 
program amendment process. Part I concerns revisions to Illinois' 
regulations relating to subsidence control and water replacement. 
Because we did not identify any concerns relating to Illinois' 
revisions for subsidence control and water replacement, we approved 
them in a final rule on December 6, 1999 (64 FR 68024). Part II 
concerns revisions to Illinois' regulations relating to adjustment of 
performance bond amounts and administrative review. On December 2, 
1999, the Department requested that we proceed with our decision on its 
revisions for adjustment of performance bond amounts and administrative 
review (Administrative Record No. IL-5049). Therefore, this final rule 
Federal Register document addresses the IL-097-FOR, Part II revisions. 
Part III concerns revisions to Illinois' regulations relating to 
performance bonds, siltation structures, impoundments, hydrologic 
balance, disposal of noncoal mine wastes, revegetation, backfilling and 
grading, prime farmland, and State inspections. These revisions will be 
addressed in a future final rule.

III. Director's Findings

    Following, under SMCRA and the Federal regulations at 30 CFR 732.15 
and 732.17, are our findings on Illinois' revisions pertaining to 
adjustment of performance bond amounts and administrative review.

Administrative Review of Bond Adjustment Determinations

    Illinois revised its regulations for performance bond adjustment 
and administrative review as a result of Court Case No. 99-MR-214, 
Sangamon County, Illinois. The court found that the Department's rules 
lacked a mechanism for administrative hearing in the case of bond 
adjustments. The court ruled that this was in violation of the Illinois 
Administrative Procedure Act and prohibited the Department from 
increasing performance bonds under its current regulations.
1. 62 IAC 1800.15  Adjustment of Performance Bond Amounts
    In response to the court's decision, Illinois revised subsection 
(b)(2) to provide the permittee an opportunity for a formal hearing, in 
accordance with 62 IAC 1847.3, on proposed adjustments to the 
performance bond amount. Currently, Illinois provides an opportunity 
for an informal conference.
    The counterpart Federal regulation at 30 CFR 800.15(b)(2) also 
provides the permittee an opportunity for an informal conference on 
proposed adjustments to the performance bond amount. However, Illinois' 
allowance for a formal administrative hearing will provide an increased 
level of due process procedures for the permittees. Therefore, we find 
that Illinois' regulation at 62 IAC 1800.15(b)(2) is no less effective 
than the Federal regulation at 30 CFR 800.15(b)(2).
2. 62 IAC 1847.3  Administrative Review and Judicial Review: Permit 
Hearings
    Illinois revised subsection (a) to provide that the hearing 
procedures outlined in 62 IAC 1847.3 also apply to review of 
performance bond adjustment determinations under 62 IAC 1800.15.
    Illinois' currently approved regulations at 62 IAC Part 1847 
consolidate the procedures for all of the formal hearings provided for 
in the Illinois program. The proposed revision clarifies that 
administrative review of performance bond adjustment determinations is 
covered under the hearing procedures at 62 IAC 1847.3. We previously 
approved the hearing procedures at 62 IAC 1847.3 for review of several 
types of administrative decisions and determinations, including permit 
decisions and valid existing right determinations. The Federal 
regulations specify general adjudicatory provisions that States must 
include in their administrative review hearing procedures, but allow 
the States discretion in how to implement these provisions. We find 
that Illinois' regulations at 62 IAC 1847.3 are consistent with the 
Federal regulations at 43 CFR part 4 for purposes of administrative 
hearings on performance bond adjustment determinations.

IV. Summary and Disposition of Comments

Public Comments

    We requested public comments on the proposed amendment, but did not 
receive any.

Federal Agency Comments

    Under 30 CFR 732.17(h)(11)(i), we requested comments on the 
amendment from various Federal agencies with an actual or potential 
interest in the Illinois program. By letter dated September 2, 1999, 
the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) provided comments 
(Administrative Record No. IL-5047). However, these comments did not 
pertain to the Illinois program revisions concerning adjustment of 
performance bond amounts or administrative review. Therefore, we will 
discuss NRCS's comments in our future final rule document for IL-097-
FOR, Part III.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

    Under 30 CFR 732.17(h)(11)(ii), 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 Illinois 
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.
    Under 30 CFR 732.17(h)(11)(i), we requested comments on the 
proposed amendment from the EPA (Administrative Record No. IL-5045). 
The EPA did not respond to our request.

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

    Under 30 CFR 732.17(h)(4), we are required to request comments from 
the SHPO and ACHP on amendments that may have an effect on historic 
properties. None of the revisions that Illinois proposed to make in 
this amendment pertain to historic properties. However, on August 10, 
1999, we requested comments from both the SHPO and ACHP (Administrative 
Record No. IL-5045), but neither responded to our request.

V. Director's Decision

    Based on the above findings, we approve the revisions made to 62 
IAC 1800.15(b)(2) and 1847.3(a). We approve the regulations that 
Illinois proposed with the provision that they be published in 
identical form to the regulations submitted to and reviewed by OSM and 
the public.
    To implement this decision, we are amending the Federal regulations 
at 30 CFR Part 913, which codify decisions concerning the Illinois 
program. We are making this final rule effective immediately to 
expedite the State

[[Page 72277]]

program amendment process and to encourage Illinois to bring its 
program 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 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 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

    This rule does not require an environmental impact statement since 
section 702(d) of SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1292(d)) provides that agency 
decisions on 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. Therefore, this rule will ensure that existing requirements 
previously published 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 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 913

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: December 14, 1999.
Charles E. Sandberg,
Acting Regional Director Mid-Continent Regional Coordinating Center.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 30 CFR Part 913 is amended 
as set forth below:

PART 913--ILLINOIS

    1. The authority citation for Part 913 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. Section 913.15 is amended in the table by adding a new entry in 
chronological order by ``Date of final publication'' to read as 
follows:


Sec. 913.15  Approval of Illinois regulatory program amendments.

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   Original amendment submission date      Date of final publication              Citation/description
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                                            *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
August 2, 1999..........................  December 27, 1999..........  62 IAC 1800.15(b)(2); 1847.3(a).
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[FR Doc. 99-33465 Filed 12-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P