[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 233 (Monday, December 7, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63988-63990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29108]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 944

[SATS No. UT-046-FOR; Docket ID No. OSM-2009-0005]


Utah Regulatory Program

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

ACTION: Final rule; approval of amendment.

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SUMMARY: We are approving an amendment to the Utah regulatory program 
(the ``Utah program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation 
Act of 1977 (``SMCRA'' or ``the Act''). Utah proposed revisions to 
statutes pertaining to remining. Utah revised its program to remain 
consistent with the Federal Program.

DATES: Effective Date: December 7, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James F. Fulton, Denver Field Division 
Chief. Telephone: (303) 293-5015. Internet address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background on the Utah Program
II. Submission of the Proposed Amendment
III. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement's (OSM's) 
Findings
IV. Summary and Disposition of Comments
V. OSM's Decision
VI. Procedural Determinations

I. Background on the Utah 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 State 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 Utah program on January 21, 1981. You can 
find background information on the Utah program, including the 
Secretary's findings, the disposition of comments, and conditions of 
approval of the Utah program in the January 21, 1981 Federal Register 
(46 FR 5899). You can also find later actions concerning Utah's program 
and program amendments at 30 CFR 944.15, and 944.30.

II. Submission of the Proposed Amendment

    By letter dated May 19, 2009, Utah sent us an amendment to its 
program (SATS number: UT-046-FOR, Administrative Record ID number: OSM-
2009-0005-0002) under SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.). Utah sent the 
amendment at its own initiative. The provisions of the Utah Code 
Annotated that Utah proposed to revise were: Sec.  40-10-11(5) and 
Sec.  40-10-17(6).
    We announced receipt of the proposed amendment in the July 7, 2009, 
Federal Register (74 FR 32089). In the same document, we opened the 
public comment period and provided an opportunity for a public hearing 
or meeting on the amendment's adequacy (Administrative Record No. OSM-
2009-0005-0001). We did not hold a public hearing or meeting because no 
one requested one. The public comment period ended on August 6, 2009. 
We received one comment from a Federal agency (discussed under ``IV. 
Summary and Disposition of Comments'').

III. OSM's Findings

    Following are the findings we made concerning the amendment under 
SMCRA and the Federal regulations at 30 CFR 732.15 and 732.17. We are 
approving the amendment.
    Utah proposed deletions from two statutory provisions at UCA Sec.  
40-10-11(5)(c) and Sec.  40-10-17(6). These deletions correspond to 
revisions that were made to SMCRA on December 20, 2006 (HR 6111, Tax 
Relief and Health Care Act of 2006). The language deleted from SMCRA 
contained a termination date for two remining provisions. Utah has 
proposed to delete its corresponding termination dates, thereby 
retaining its remining provisions which were also slated to expire. As 
a result of these changes, Utah's Program remains consistent with the 
Federal Program.
    Deleted UCA subsection 40-10-11(5)(c) corresponded to prior SMCRA 
Sec.  510(e). In the December 20, 2006 revisions to SMCRA, Congress 
deleted the termination provision in Sec.  510(e) pertaining to both 
Sec.  510(e) and 515(b)(20)(B). The Utah remining provision to be 
retained through the deletion of this termination date is UCA Sec.  40-
10-11(5), which corresponds to the remaining portions of SMCRA section 
510(e).
    Deleted UCA subsection 40-10-17(6) also corresponded to the 
termination date under prior SMCRA Sec.  510(e). The Utah remining 
provision to be retained through the deletion of this termination date 
is UCA Sec.  40-10-17(2)(t)(ii). This part corresponds to SMCRA Sec.  
515(b)(20)(B).

[[Page 63989]]

    These changes directly correspond to revisions made to SMCRA on 
December 20, 2006. The language retained through these changes is the 
same as or similar to the corresponding Federal language. For these 
reasons, we find these changes to be in accordance with SMCRA and 
approve them.

IV. Summary and Disposition of Comments

Public Comments

    We asked for public comments on the amendment (Administrative 
Record Document ID No. OSM-2009-0005-0001), but did not receive any.

Federal Agency Comments

    Under 30 CFR 732.17(h)(11)(i) and section 503(b) of SMCRA, we 
requested comments on the amendment from various Federal agencies with 
an actual or potential interest in the Utah program (Administrative 
Record Document ID No. OSM-2009-0005-0003).
    We received one comment from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
dated June 4, 2009 (Administrative Record Document ID No. OSM-2009-
0005-0004). The BLM reviewed the amendment and found it to be 
acceptable because the changes would modify the Utah Program to match 
the current provisions of SMCRA.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Concurrence and Comments

    Under 30 CFR 732.17(h)(11)(i), OSM requested comments on the 
amendment from the EPA (Administrative Record Document ID No. OSM-2009-
0005-0003). The EPA did not respond to our request.

State Historic 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. On May 22, we requested comments on Utah's amendment 
(Administrative Record Document ID No. OSM-2009-0005-0003). By letter 
dated June 10, 2009, the Utah State Historic Preservation Officer 
stated that he had no comment concerning the proposed regulation 
changes (Administrative Record ID No. OSM-2009-0005-0005).

V. OSM's Decision

    Based on the above findings, we approve Utah's May 19, 2009 
amendment.
    To implement this decision, we are amending the Federal regulations 
at 30 CFR Part 944, which codify decisions concerning the Utah program. 
We find that good cause exists under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to make this 
final rule effective immediately. Section 503(a) of SMCRA requires that 
the State's program demonstrates that the State has the capability of 
carrying out the provisions of the Act and meeting its purposes. Making 
this regulation effective immediately will expedite that process. SMCRA 
requires consistency of State and Federal standards.

Effect of OSM's Decision

    Section 503 of SMCRA provides that a State may not exercise 
jurisdiction under SMCRA unless the State program is approved by the 
Secretary. Similarly, 30 CFR 732.17(a) requires that any change of an 
approved State program be submitted to OSM for review as a program 
amendment. The Federal regulations at 30 CFR 732.17(g) prohibit any 
changes to approved State programs that are not approved by OSM. In the 
oversight of the Utah program, we will recognize only the statutes, 
regulations and other materials we have approved, together with any 
consistent implementing policies, directives and other materials. We 
will require Utah to enforce only approved provisions.

VI. 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 regulation.

Executive Order 12866--Regulatory Planning and Review

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

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, and section 503(a)(7) 
requires that State programs contain rules and regulations ``consistent 
with'' regulations issued by the Secretary pursuant to SMCRA.

Executive Order 13175--Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal 
Governments

    In accordance with Executive Order 13175, we have evaluated the 
potential effects of this rule on Federally recognized Indian Tribes 
and have determined that the rule does not have substantial direct 
effects on one or more Indian Tribes, on the relationship between the 
Federal government and Indian Tribes, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities between the Federal government and Indian Tribes. 
The rule does not involve or affect Indian Tribes in any way.

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 CFR U.S.C. 1292(d)) provides that 
agency decisions on proposed State regulatory program provisions do not

[[Page 63990]]

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) et seq).

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. 
3501 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.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), of 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 government 
agencies, or geographic regions.
    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 944

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: September 18, 2009.
Allen D. Klein,
Regional Director, Western Region.

0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 30 CFR part 944 is amended as 
set forth below:

PART 944--UTAH

0
1. The authority citation for part 944 continues to read as follows:

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


0
2. Section 944.15 is amended in the table by adding a new entry in 
chronological order by ``Date of Final Publication'' to read as 
follows:


Sec.  944.15  Approval of Utah regulatory program amendments.

* * * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Original amendment submission    Date of final
             date                  publication      Citation/description
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                              * .................
May 19, 2009..................  December 7, 2009.  UCA Sec.   40-10-11,
                                                    40-10-17/Deletion of
                                                    repeal dates for
                                                    remining provisions.
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[FR Doc. E9-29108 Filed 12-4-09; 8:45 am]
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