[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 96 (Friday, May 17, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35073-35076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12463]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 913

[IL-099-FOR]


Illinois Regulatory Program

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

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

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SUMMARY: We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 
(OSM), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Illinois 
regulatory program (Illinois program) under the Surface Mining Control 
and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The Illinois Department 
of Natural Resources, Office of Mines and Minerals (Department or 
Illinois) is proposing revisions to and additions of regulations about 
definitions, areas designated by Act of Congress, criteria for 
designating areas as unsuitable for surface coal mining operations, 
requirements for permits and permit processing, coal exploration, and 
performance bond release. Illinois also proposes to correct or remove 
outdated references in several regulations. Illinois intends to revise 
its program to be consistent with the corresponding Federal regulations 
and to clarify ambiguities.
    This document gives the times and locations that the Illinois 
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 on this amendment until 4:00 
p.m., e.s.t., June 17, 2002. If requested, we will hold a public 
hearing on the amendment on June 11, 2002. We will accept requests to 
speak at a hearing until 4 p.m., e.s.t. on June 3, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You should mail or hand deliver written comments and 
requests to speak at the hearing to Andrew R. Gilmore, Director, 
Indianapolis Field Office, at the address listed below.
    You may review copies of the Illinois 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 Indianapolis Field Office.

Andrew R. Gilmore, Director, Indianapolis Field Office, Office of 
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Minton-Capehart Federal 
Building, 575 North Pennsylvania Street, Room 301, Indianapolis, 
Indiana 46204. Telephone: (317) 226-6700.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Mines and Minerals, 
Land Reclamation Division, 300 W. Jefferson Street, Suite 300, 
Springfield, Illinois 62701. Telephone: (217) 782-4970.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew R. Gilmore, Director, 
Indianapolis Field Office. Telephone: (317) 226-6700. Internet: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background on the Illinois Program
II. Description of the Proposed Amendment
III. Public Comment Procedures
IV. Procedural Determinations

I. Background on the Illinois 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 this Act * * *; and 
rules and regulations consistent with regulations issued by the 
Secretary pursuant to this 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 Illinois program on June 1, 1982. You can 
find background information on the Illinois program, including the 
Secretary's findings, the disposition of comments, and the conditions 
of approval of the Illinois program in the June 1, 1982, Federal 
Register (47 FR 23858). You can also find later actions concerning the 
Illinois program and program amendments at 30 CFR 913.10, 913.15, 
913.16, and 913.17.

II. Description of the Proposed Amendment

    By letter dated April 8, 2002 (Administrative Record No. IL-5077), 
Illinois sent us an amendment to its program under SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 
1201 et seq.). Illinois sent the amendment in response to a letter 
dated August 23, 2000 (Administrative Record No. IL-5060), that we sent 
to Illinois in accordance with 30 CFR 732.17(c). Illinois also included 
some changes at its own initiative. Illinois proposes to amend its 
surface coal mining and reclamation regulations at Title 62 of the 
Illinois Administrative Code (IAC). Below is a summary of the changes 
proposed by Illinois. The full text of the program amendment is 
available for you to read at the locations listed above under 
ADDRESSES.

A. 62 IAC 1701  Appendix A Definitions

    1. Illinois proposes to delete its definition of ``Interagency 
Committee.'' Illinois is removing this definition because Illinois 
Public Act 90-0490 abolished the Interagency Committee in 1997.
    2. Illinois proposes to remove the existing language from its 
definition of ``valid existing rights'' and to add a reference to the 
new definition of ``valid existing rights'' at 62 IAC 1761.5.

[[Page 35074]]

B. 62 IAC Part 1761  Areas Designated by Act of Congress

1. 62 IAC 1761.5  Definition of Valid Existing Rights
    Illinois proposes to add a new definition of valid existing rights. 
At 62 IAC 1761.5(a), the definition requires a person claiming valid 
existing rights to make a property rights demonstration. The person 
must demonstrate that a legally binding conveyance, lease, deed, 
contract, or other document vests that person with the right to conduct 
surface coal mining operations on lands where mining is normally 
prohibited or limited. At 62 IAC 1761.5(b), the definition requires a 
person claiming valid existing rights to demonstrate compliance with 
either a good faith/all permits standard or a needed for and adjacent 
standard for lands where mining is normally prohibited or limited. At 
62 IAC 1761.5(c), the definition contains requirements for 
demonstrating the right to use or construct a road across the surface 
of lands where mining is normally prohibited or limited.
2. 62 IAC 1761.11  Areas Where Mining Is Prohibited or Limited
    Illinois proposes to delete existing paragraph (b), which 
prohibited surface coal mining on specified Federal lands unless called 
for by Acts of Congress. Illinois also proposes to redesignate 
paragraphs (a)(1) through (7) as paragraphs (a) through (g), correct 
citation references, and simplify its use of numbers.
3. 62 IAC 1761.12  Exceptions to Existing Operations
    Illinois proposes to remove its existing procedures section and add 
provisions that address exceptions for existing operations from the 
prohibitions and limitations of mining on lands where mining is 
normally prohibited or limited. It describes which operations qualify 
for these exceptions.
4. 62 IAC 1761.14  Procedures for Relocation or Closing of a Public 
Road or Waiving the Prohibition on Surface Coal Mining Operations 
Within the Buffer Zone of a Public Road
    Illinois proposes to add this section to address procedures for 
relocating or closing a public road or waiving the prohibition of 
mining operations within the buffer zone of a public road.
5. 62 IAC 1761.15  Procedures for Waiving the Prohibition on Surface 
Coal Mining Operations within the Buffer Zone of an Occupied Dwelling
    Illinois proposes to add this section to address procedures for 
waiving the prohibition of mining operations within the buffer zone of 
an occupied dwelling.
6. 62 IAC 1761.16  Submission and Processing of Requests for Valid 
Existing Rights Determinations
    Illinois proposes to add this section to address the submission and 
processing of requests for valid existing rights determinations. It 
describes the procedures applicants for surface coal mining operation 
permits must follow when requesting a valid existing rights 
determination. It also describes the evaluation procedures and 
decision-making criteria the regulatory authority will follow when 
making a valid existing rights determination.
7. 62 IAC 1761.17  Department Obligations at Time of Permit Application 
Review
    Illinois proposes to add this section to address the actions it 
must take upon receipt of an application for a permit for surface coal 
mining operations. It requires the Department to review the application 
to determine whether the proposed surface coal mining operation would 
be located on any lands protected under 62 IAC 1761.11. It includes 
procedures that the Department must follow when it determines that a 
proposed surface coal mining operation will adversely affect a publicly 
owned park or a place listed on the National Register of Historic 
Places.

C. 62 IAC Part 1762  Criteria for Designating Areas As Unsuitable for 
Surface Coal Mining Operations

    Illinois proposes to redesignate existing section 1762.14 as new 
section 1762.15 without any changes. Illinois proposes to add the 
following provision at new section 1762.14:

    If the Department determines that the proposed surface coal 
mining operation is not prohibited under Section 7.01 of the State 
Act and this Part, it may nevertheless, pursuant to appropriate 
petitions, designate such lands as unsuitable for all or certain 
types of surface coal mining operations pursuant to 62 Ill. Adm. 
Code 1762 or 1764.

D. 62 IAC 1772.12  Permit Requirements for Exploration Removing More 
Than 250 Tons of Coal

    1. Illinois proposes to add a new provision at section 
1772.12(b)(14) for coal exploration on lands where mining is prohibited 
or limited under 62 IAC 1761.11. It requires a demonstration that the 
proposed exploration activities have been designed to minimize 
interference with the activities for which the areas were designated 
unsuitable for mining.
    2. Illinois proposes to add a new provision at section 
1772.12(d)(2)(D) to address a finding the Department must make in 
approving coal exploration on lands where mining is prohibited or 
limited under 62 IAC 1761.11. The Department must find that the 
applicant has demonstrated that the exploration and reclamation 
activities will minimize interference, to the extent technologically 
and economically feasible, with the values for which the lands were 
designated as unsuitable for surface coal mining operations. The 
Department must provide for comment by the landowner or agency with 
jurisdiction over the protected feature.

E. 62 IAC 1800.40  Requirement To Release Performance Bonds

    Illinois proposes to revise section 1800.40(b)(2) to allow the 
Department, when no public hearing is held, to make its final 
administrative decision to release or not to release all or part of the 
performance bond either 60 days after filing or 5 days after the close 
of the comment period, whichever is later.

F. Miscellaneous Revisions

    Illinois proposes to correct citation references and simplify its 
use of numbers in 62 IAC 1773.13(a)(1)(E), 1773.15(c)(3)(B), 
1778.15(e), 1778.16(c), 1780.31(a)(2), 1780.33, 1784.17(a)(2), 1784.18, 
1816.116(a)(2)(C), and 1847.9(a).

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 or electronic 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 recommendations. 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 Indianapolis Field Office may 
not be logged in.

[[Page 35075]]

Electronic Comments

    Please submit Internet comments as an ASCII or Word file avoiding 
the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Please also 
include ``Attn: [IL-099-FOR]'' and your name and return address in your 
Internet message. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have 
received your Internet message, contact the Indianapolis Field Office 
at (317) 226-6700.

Availability of Comments

    We will make comments, including names and addresses of 
respondents, available for public review during 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 
name 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 review 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 p.m., e.s.t. on June 
3, 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 the 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 
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

    In this rule, the State is proposing valid existing rights 
standards that are similar to the standards in the Federal definition 
at 30 CFR 761.5. Therefore, this rule has the same takings implications 
as the Federal valid existing rights rule. The takings implications 
assessment for the Federal valid existing rights rule appears in Part 
XXIX.E of the preamble to that rule. See 64 FR 70766, 70822-27, 
December 17, 1999.

Executive Order 12866--Regulatory Planning and Review

    This rule is exempted from review by the Office of Management and 
Budget 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 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 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 effect 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

    This rule does not require an environmental impact statement 
because 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 certifies 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. 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 regulations.

[[Page 35076]]

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, Federal, State, or local governmental agencies or 
geographic regions; 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 an unfunded mandate on State, local, or 
tribal governments or the private sector of $100 million or more in any 
given year. 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 did not impose an 
unfunded mandate.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 913

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: April 12, 2002.
Charles E. Sandberg,
Acting Regional Director, Mid-Continent Regional Coordinating Center.
[FR Doc. 02-12463 Filed 5-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P