[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 71 (Friday, April 12, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17962-17963]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8873]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

43 CFR Part 3800

[WO-300-1990-PB-24 1A]
RIN 1004-AD44


Mining Claims Under the General Mining Laws; Surface Management

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM or ``we'') is reopening the 
public comment period on our Surface Management (43 CFR 3809) proposed 
rule, published in the Federal Register on October 30, 2001 (66 FR 
54689). The purpose of the proposed rule is to obtain further public 
comment on changes to the Surface Management Regulations that BLM 
adopted in a final rule also published on October 30, 2001 (66 FR 
54834). We are also seeking comment on other changes in the Surface 
Management Regulations that were not directly addressed in that final 
rule. The proposed rule would revise BLM's regulations governing mining 
operations involving metallic and some other minerals on public lands.

DATES: You should submit your comments by May 13, 2002. In the

[[Page 17963]]

decision making process on the proposed rule, BLM will not necessarily 
consider comments postmarked or received by messenger after the above 
date.

ADDRESSES: Mail: Director (630), Bureau of Land Management, 
Administrative Record, Eastern States Office, 7450 Boston Boulevard., 
Springfield, Virginia 22153, Attention: RIN 1004-AD44.
    Personal or messenger delivery: Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20036.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Deery 202/452-5198; or Michael 
Schwartz, 202/452-5198. Individuals who use a telecommunications device 
for the deaf (TDD) may contact us through the Federal Information Relay 
Service at 1-800/877-8339, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. How Can I Comment on the Proposed Rule?
II. Why is BLM Reopening the Comment Period?

I. How Can I Comment on the Proposed Rule?

A. How do I Comment on the Proposed Rule?

    If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by either of 
these methods.
     You may mail comments to Director (630), Bureau of Land 
Management, Administrative Record, Eastern States Office, 7450 Boston 
Boulevard, Springfield, Virginia 22153, Attention: RIN 1004-AD44.
     You may deliver comments to Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20036.
     Electronic access and filing address:
    You may also comment via the Internet to: [email protected]. Please 
also include: ``Attention: AD-44'' and your name and return address in 
your Internet message. If you do not receive a confirmation from the 
system that we have received your Internet message, contact us directly 
at 202/452-5030. You may view an electronic version of this proposed 
rule at BLM's Internet home page: www.blm.gov.
    Written comments on the proposed rule are most helpful if you:
    (A) Are specific;
    (B) Confine comments to issues pertinent to the proposed rule;
    (C) Explain the reason for any recommended change; and
    (D) Reference the specific section or paragraph of the proposal you 
are addressing.
    We welcome suggested regulatory language.
    BLM may not necessarily consider or include in the Administrative 
Record for the final rule comments that BLM receives after the close of 
the comment period (see DATES) or comments delivered to an address 
other than those listed above (see ADDRESSES).

B. May I Review Comments Submitted by Others?

    You may review comments, including names and street addresses of 
respondents, at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Personal or 
messenger delivery'' during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15 
p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    Individual respondents may request confidentiality, which we will 
honor to the extent allowable by law. If you wish to withhold your name 
or address, except for the city or town, you must state this 
prominently at the beginning of your comment. 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.

II. Why Is BLM Reopening the Comment Period?

    On February 1, 2002, the Department of the Interior reopened the 
comment period on this rule for 14 days (see 66 FR 4940). We did this 
because BLM was unable to receive internet mail from the public between 
December 4, 2001, and February 19, 2002 and because mail delivery to 
the Department was disrupted during the original comment period for 
this proposed rule. Although we recently reopened the comment period 
for 14 days (which ended on February 15, 2002) this may not have 
allowed the public sufficient additional time to comment. Given 
continued interest in many aspects of this rulemaking we decided it is 
in the public interest to open the comment period for an additional 30 
days. We continue to be interested in comments on the following topics:
     Whether we should amend the regulations regarding BLM's 
relationship to states and the delegations these rules provide.
     The current availability of financial guarantees to assure 
the performance of reclamation and the availability of additional means 
to provide sound and reliable financial guarantees.
     Whether BLM should always perform a validity examination 
before approving a plan of operations on withdrawn lands.
     Whether we should add a specific reference to cave 
resources in the performance standards.
     Whether the 3809 regulations contain other provisions 
which are either overly burdensome or fail to provide adequate 
environmental protection.
    We may address these issues and others in a future proposed rule.
    We also continue to seek comments on other aspects of the surface 
management regulations.

    Dated: March 27, 2002.
Rebecca W. Watson,
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 02-8873 Filed 4-11-02; 8:45 am]
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