[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4689-4692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2415]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 948

[WV-095-FOR]


West Virginia Regulatory Program

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; public comment period and opportunity for public 
hearing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 
(OSM) are announcing receipt of an amendment to the West Virginia 
surface mining regulatory program (the West Virginia program) under the 
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). 
West Virginia proposes revisions to the Code of State Regulations (CSR) 
and to the Code of West Virginia (W. Va. Code) as contained in Enrolled 
Senate Bill 689. The amendment is intended to revise the State's 
Surface Mine Blasting Rule and to amend the W. Va. Code concerning 
preblast survey requirements, site specific blasting design 
requirements, and liability and civil penalties in the event of 
property damage.
    This document gives the times and locations that the West Virginia 
program and proposed amendment to that program are available for your 
inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written 
comments on the amendment, and the procedures that we will follow for 
the public hearing, if one is requested.

DATES: We will accept written comments until 4:30 p.m. (local time), on 
March 4, 2002. If requested, we will hold a public hearing on the 
amendment on February 25, 2002. We will accept requests to speak at the 
hearing until 4:30 p.m. (local time), on February 15, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand-deliver written comments and requests 
to speak at the hearing to Mr. Roger W. Calhoun, Director, Charleston 
Field Office at the address listed below.
    You may review copies of the West Virginia program, this amendment, 
a listing of any scheduled public hearings, and all written comments 
received in response to this document at the addresses listed below 
during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, excluding 
holidays. You may receive one free copy of the amendment by contacting 
OSM's 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 Department of Environmental Protection, 10 McJunkin 
Road, Nitro, West Virginia 25143, Telephone: (304) 759-0510. The 
proposed amendment will be posted at the Division of Mining and 
Reclamation's Internet web page: http://www.dep.state.wv.us/mr.
    In addition, you may review copies of the proposed amendment 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. (By Appointment Only)
    Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Beckley Area 
Office, 313 Harper Park Drive, Suite 3, Beckley, West Virginia 25801, 
Telephone: (304) 255-5265.

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
II. Description of the Proposed Amendment
III. Public Comment Procedures
IV. Procedural Determinations

I. Background on the West Virginia Program

    Section 503(a) of the Act permits a State to assume primacy for the 
regulation of surface coal mining and reclamation operations on non-
Federal and non-Indian lands within its borders by demonstrating that 
its program includes, among other things, ``* * * a State law which 
provides for the regulation of surface coal mining and reclamation 
operations in accordance with the requirements of the Act * * *; and 
rules and regulations consistent with regulations issued by the 
Secretary pursuant to the Act.'' See 30 U.S.C. 1253(a)(1) and (7). On 
the basis of these criteria, the Secretary of the Interior 
conditionally approved the West Virginia program on January 21, 1981. 
You can find background information on the West Virginia program, 
including the Secretary's findings, the disposition of comments, and 
conditions of approval of the West Virginia program in the January 21, 
1981, Federal Register (46 FR 5915). You can also find later actions 
concerning West Virginia's program and program amendments at 30 CFR 
948.10, 948.12, 948.13, 948.15, and 948.16.

II. Description of the Proposed Amendment

    By letter dated November 28, 2001 (Administrative Record Number WV-
1258), the WVDEP sent us a proposed amendment to its program under 
SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.). The proposed amendment consists of 
changes to the W. Va. Code as contained in Enrolled Senate Bill 689 
concerning blasting. The amendment also revises the provisions of the 
Surface Mine Blasting Rule at CSR 199-1. The full text of the program 
amendment is available for you to read at the locations listed above 
under ADDRESSES. We are also making available for public review and 
comment Engrossed Senate Bill 689 because it clearly shows, via 
underline and strikethrough, all the statutory language that has been 
added or deleted from the W. Va. Code as a result of Senate Bill 689. 
Engrossed Senate Bill

[[Page 4690]]

689 is substantively identical to Enrolled Senate Bill 689. Senate Bill 
689 amends preblast survey requirements, site specific blasting design 
requirements, and provisions concerning liability and civil penalties 
in the event of property damage. The statutory revisions in Senate Bill 
689 are also intended to address the required program amendments 
codified at 30 CFR 948.16(kkkk), (llll), and (mmmm).
    By letter dated October 30, 2000 (Administrative Record Number WV-
1187), the WVDEP submitted an amendment that added to the State 
regulations new Title 199, Series 1, entitled Surface Mine Blasting 
Rule. The regulations consisted of new blasting provisions and blasting 
provisions that were relocated or derived from previously approved West 
Virginia blasting provisions. We announced receipt of the amendment on 
December 5, 2000 (65 FR 75889) (Administrative Record Number WV-1190), 
but we have not yet published our decision on the amendment. The 
blasting rule submitted on October 30, 2000, and not yet approved by 
us, is the blasting rule that is being modified by the amendments to 
CSR 199-1 that we are announcing today. When we render our final 
decision on the amendment that we are announcing today, we will combine 
that decision with our decision on the blasting rule amendment that was 
submitted to us on October 30, 2000.
    The amendment that we are announcing today is identified below.

1. W. Va. Code 22-3  Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act

22-3-13a Preblast survey requirements
    22-3-13a(a)(3) is new, and concerns preblast survey notification 
for surface disturbance of underground mines.
    22-3-13a(b) concerning operator notification of owners and 
occupants of dwellings or structures is amended.
    22-3-13a(f)(14) concerning contents of a preblast survey is 
amended.
    22-3-13a(g) concerning the submittal of preblast surveys to the 
office of explosives and blasting is amended.
    22-3-13a(j) concerning applicability of the section 22-3-13a is 
amended.
22-3-22a Blasting restrictions; site specific blasting design 
requirement
    22-3-22a(e) concerning blasting within 1000 feet of a protected 
structure is amended.
    22-3-22a(f) concerning waiver of the blasting prohibition within 
300 feet of a protected structure is amended.
22-3-30a Blasting requirements; liability and civil penalties in the 
event of property damage
    22-3-30a(a) concerning blasting being conducted in accordance with 
the rules and laws established to regulate blasting is amended.
    22-3-30a(b) concerning penalties where blasting was out of 
compliance is amended.
    22-3-30a(c) concerning violation of rules that are merely 
administrative in nature is amended.
    22-3-30a(e) concerning the penalties for production blasting 
conducted in violation of 22-3-22a is amended.
    22-3-30a(f) concerning assessment of penalties and liabilities by 
the director is amended.
    22-3-30a(h) concerning the applicability of section 22-3-30a is 
amended.

2. CSR 199-1  Surface Mining Blasting Rule

CSR 199-1-2 Definitions
    199-1-2.1. The definition of Active Blasting Experience is amended.
    199-1-2.4. The definition of Arbitrator is amended.
    199-1-2.8. The definition of Blast Site is amended.
    199-1-2.21. The definition of Contiguous or Nearly Contiguous is 
added.
    199-1-2.26. The definition of Fly Rock is amended.
    199-1-2.24. The definition of Loss Reserve is deleted.
    199-1-2.37. The definition of Worked on a Drilling Crew is deleted.
    199-1-2.39. The definition of Worked on a Blasting Crew is deleted.
CSR 199-1-3  Blasting
    199-1-3.2. concerning blasting plans is amended at subdivisions 
3.2.a., c., and d.
    199-1-3.3. concerning public notice of blasting operations is 
amended.
    199-1-3.4. concerning surface blasting activities incident to 
underground coal mining is amended.
    199-1-3.5.c.1. concerning blast record, blasting log is amended.
    199-1-3.6. concerning blasting procedures is amended.
    199-1-3.7. concerning blasting control for other structures is 
amended.
    199-1-3.8. concerning certified blasting personnel is deleted, and 
in its place new 199-1-3.8 concerning pre-blast surveys is added.
    199-1-3.9. The title of this subsection is changed from Pre-blast 
Survey, to Pre-blast Surveyors. Amendments are also made to this 
subsection concerning the qualifications and compliance requirements of 
pre-blast surveyors.
    199-1-3.10.d. concerning pre-blast survey review, confidentiality, 
is amended.
    199-1-3.11. is added to provide that the director may prohibit 
blasting or prescribe alternative blasting limits, on a case-by-case 
basis, for the protection of property or the public.
CSR 199-1-4  Certification of Blasters
    199-1-4.1.a., b., and c. concerning requirements, qualifications, 
and application for certification are amended.
    199-1-4.2. concerning training is amended.
    199-1-4.3. concerning the examination for certification of 
Examiner/Inspector and Certified Blaster is amended.
    199-1-4.5. concerning conditions or practices prohibiting 
certification of blasters is amended.
    199-1-4.6. concerning re-certification requirements for certified 
blasters is amended.
    199-1-4.7. concerning presentation of certificate; transfer; and 
delegation of authority is amended at subdivision 4.7.d.
    199-1-4.8. concerning violations by a certified blaster is amended.
    199-1-4.9. concerning penalties is amended.
    199-1-4.10. concerning hearings and appeals is amended.
CSR 199-1-5  Blasting Damage Claim
    199-1-5.2. concerning filing a claim is amended.
    199-1-5.3. concerning the responsibilities of the claims 
administrator is amended.
    199-1-5.4. concerning the responsibilities of the claims adjuster 
is amended.
CSR 199-1-6  Arbitration for Blasting Damage Claims
    199-1-6.1. concerning listing of arbitrators is amended.
    199-1-6.2. concerning selection of arbitrator is amended.
    199-1-6.4. concerning demand for arbitration and timeframes for 
arbitration is amended.
    199-1-6.7. concerning presentations to the arbitrator is amended.
    199-1-6.8. concerning arbitration award, fees, costs and expenses 
is amended.
CSR 199-1-7  Explosive Material Fee
    199-1-7.2. concerning remittance fee is amended.
    199-1-7.3. concerning dedication of the fee is amended.
    199-1-7.7. concerning noncompliance is amended.

[[Page 4691]]

CSR 199-1-8  Inspections
    199-1-8. This section is new and concerns inspections of any 
prospecting, active surface mining operation, or inactive surface 
mining operation.
CSR 199-1-9  Surface Mine Board
    199-1-9. This section is new and concerns open meetings, appeals, 
and ex parte communications.

III. Public Comment Procedures

    Under the provisions of 30 CFR 732.17(h), we are seeking your 
comments on whether the amendment satisfies the applicable program 
approval criteria of 30 CFR 732.15. If we approve the amendment, it 
will become part of the State program.

Written Comments

    Send your written comments to OSM at the address given above. Your 
written comments should be specific, pertain only to the issues 
proposed in this rulemaking, and include explanations in support of 
your recommendation(s). We will not consider or respond to your 
comments when developing the final rule if they are received after the 
close of the comment period (see DATES). We will make every attempt to 
log all comments into the administrative record, but comments delivered 
to an address other than the Charleston Field Office may not be logged 
in.

Availability of Comments

    We will make comments, including names and addresses of 
respondents, available for public review during our normal business 
hours. We will not consider anonymous comments. If individual 
respondents request confidentiality, we will honor their request to the 
extent allowable by law. Individual respondents who wish to withhold 
their names or address from public review, except for the city or town, 
must state this prominently at the beginning of their comments. We will 
make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from 
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of 
organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their 
entirety.

Public Hearing

    If you wish to speak at the public hearing, contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by 4:30 p.m. (local time), 
on February 15, 2002. If you are disabled and need special 
accommodations to attend a public hearing, contact the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. We will arrange the location and 
time of the hearing with those persons requesting the hearing. If no 
one requests an opportunity to speak, we will not hold a hearing.
    To assist the transcriber and ensure an accurate record, we 
request, if possible, that each person who speaks at a public hearing 
provide us with a written copy of his or her comments. The public 
hearing will continue on the specified date until everyone scheduled to 
speak has been given an opportunity to be heard. If you are in the 
audience and have not been scheduled to speak and wish to do so, you 
will be allowed to speak after those who have been scheduled. We will 
end the hearing after everyone scheduled to speak and others present in 
the audience who wish to speak, have been heard.

Public Meeting

    If only one person requests an opportunity to speak, we may hold a 
public meeting rather than a public hearing. If you wish to meet with 
us to discuss the amendment, please request a meeting by contacting the 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All such meetings 
are open to the public and, if possible, we will post notices of the 
meetings at the locations listed under ADDRESSES. We will make a 
written summary of each meeting a part of the Administrative Record.

IV. Procedural Determinations

Executive Order 12630--Takings

    This rule does not have takings implications. This determination is 
based on the analysis performed for the counterpart Federal 
regulations.

Executive Order 12866--Regulatory Planning and Review

    This rule is exempt from review by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) under Executive Order 12866.

Executive Order 12988--Civil Justice Reform

    The Department of the Interior has conducted the reviews required 
by section 3 of Executive Order 12988 and has determined that, to the 
extent allowable 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 because 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 the Federal regulations at 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.

Executive Order 13132--Federalism

    This rule does not have Federalism implications. SMCRA delineates 
the roles of the Federal and State governments with regard to the 
regulation of surface coal mining and reclamation operations. One of 
the purposes of SMCRA is to ``establish a nationwide program to protect 
society and the environment from the adverse effects of surface coal 
mining operations.'' Section 503(a)(1) of SMCRA requires that State 
laws regulating surface coal mining and reclamation operations be ``in 
accordance with'' the requirements of SMCRA. Section 503(a)(7) requires 
that State programs contain rules and regulations ``consistent with'' 
regulations issued by the Secretary pursuant to SMCRA.

Executive Order 13211--Regulations That Significantly Affect the 
Supply, Distribution, or Use of Energy

    On May 18, 2001, the President issued Executive Order 13211 which 
requires agencies to prepare a Statement of Energy Effects for a rule 
that is (1) considered significant under Executive Order 12866, and (2) 
likely to have a significant adverse affect on the supply, 
distribution, or use of energy. Because this rule is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866 and is not expected to have a significant 
adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy, a 
Statement of Energy Effects is not required.

National Environmental Policy Act

    Section 702(d) of SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1292(d)) provides that a 
decision on a proposed State regulatory program provision does not 
constitute a major Federal action within the meaning of section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 
4332(2)(C)). A determination has been made that such decisions are 
categorically excluded from the NEPA process (516 DM 8.4.A).

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule does not contain information collection requirements that 
require approval by the OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. 3507 et seq.).

[[Page 4692]]

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 
counterpart 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 counterpart Federal regulation.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. This rule: (a) Does not 
have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million; (b) Will not 
cause a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual 
industries, geographic regions or Federal, State, or local government 
agencies; and (c) Does not have significant adverse effects on 
competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the 
ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based 
enterprises.
    This determination is based upon the fact that the State submittal 
which is the subject of this rule is based upon counterpart Federal 
regulations for which an analysis was prepared and a determination made 
that the Federal regulation was not considered a major rule.

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

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: January 9, 2002.
Allen D. Klein,
Regional Director, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center.
[FR Doc. 02-2415 Filed 1-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P