[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 6, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76104-76109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31292]



[[Page 76104]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 904

 [SATS No. AR-039-FOR; Docket ID: OSM-2011-0016]


Arkansas Regulatory Program and Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation 
Plan

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; public comment period on proposed amendment.

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

SUMMARY: We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 
(OSM), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Arkansas 
regulatory program (Arkansas program) and the Arkansas abandoned mine 
land reclamation plan (Arkansas plan) under the Surface Mining Control 
and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Arkansas proposes to 
revise substantial portions of their regulatory program and abandoned 
mine land plan, make grammatical changes, correct punctuation, revise 
dates, and add citations. The proposed amendment consists of 
substantive changes to Arkansas regulations regarding Subchapter A--
General Requirements; Subchapter G--Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation 
Operations Permits and Coal Exploration Procedures Systems; Subchapter 
J--Bond and Insurance Requirements for Surface Coal Mining and 
Reclamation Operations; Subchapter K--State Program Performance 
Standards; Subchapter M--Training Programs for Blasters and Members of 
Blasting Crews, and Certification Programs for Blasters; and Subchapter 
R--Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation.
    This document provides the times and locations that the Arkansas 
program, Arkansas plan, and the proposed amendment 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 p.m., 
c.s.t., January 5, 2012. If requested, we will hold a public hearing on 
the amendment on January 3, 2012. We will accept requests to speak at a 
hearing until 4 p.m., c.s.t. on December 21, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by SATS No. AR-039-FOR, 
by any of the following methods:
     Mail/Hand Delivery: Alfred L. Clayborne, Director, Tulsa 
Field Office, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 
1645 South 101st East Avenue, Suite 145, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74128-4629.
     Fax: (918) 581-6419.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: The amendment has been 
assigned Docket ID OSM-2011-0016. If you would like to submit comments 
go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number for this rulemaking. For detailed instructions on 
submitting comments and additional information on the rulemaking 
process, see the Public Comment Procedures heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.
    Docket: For access to the docket to review copies of the Arkansas 
regulations, this amendment, a listing of any scheduled public 
hearings, and all written comments received in response to this 
document, you must go to the address listed below during normal 
business hours, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. You may 
receive one free copy of the amendment by contacting OSM's Tulsa Field 
Office; or you can view the full text of the program amendment 
available for you to read at http://www.regulations.gov.

Alfred L. Clayborne, Director, Tulsa Field Office, Office of Surface 
Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1645 South 101st East Avenue, Suite 
145, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74128-4629. Telephone: (918) 581-6430.

    In addition, you may review a copy of the amendment during regular 
business hours at the following location:

Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, 5301 Northshore Drive, 
North Little Rock, Arkansas 72118-5317. Telephone: (501) 682-0744.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alfred L. Clayborne, Director, Tulsa 
Field Office. Telephone: (918) 581-6430. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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

I. Background on the Arkansas 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 (Secretary) 
conditionally approved the Arkansas program effective November 21, 
1980. You can find background information on the Arkansas program, 
including the Secretary's findings, the disposition of comments, and 
the conditions of approval of the Arkansas program in the November 21, 
1980, Federal Register (45 FR 77003). You can find later actions on the 
Arkansas program at 30 CFR 904.10, 904.12, 904.15.
    The Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program was established by 
Title IV of the Act in response to concerns over extensive 
environmental damage caused by past coal mining activities. The program 
is funded by a reclamation fee collected on each ton of coal that is 
produced. The money collected is used to finance the reclamation of 
abandoned coal mines and for other authorized activities. Section 405 
of the Act allows States and Indian Tribes to assume exclusive 
responsibility for reclamation activity within the State or on Indian 
lands if they develop and submit to the Secretary of the Interior for 
approval, a program (often referred to as a plan) for the reclamation 
of abandoned coal mines. On the basis of these criteria, the Secretary 
of the Interior approved the Arkansas plan on May 2, 1983. You can find 
background information on the Arkansas plan, including the Secretary's 
findings, the disposition of comments, and the approval of the plan in 
the May 2, 1983, Federal Register (48 FR 19710). You can find later 
actions concerning the Arkansas plan at 30 CFR 904.25 and 904.26.

II. Description of the Proposed Amendment

    By letter dated August 26, 2011 (Administrative Record No. AR-
571.06), Arkansas submitted a proposed amendment to its program and 
plan pursuant to SMCRA. Arkansas submitted the amendment in response to 
a September 30, 2009 (Administrative Record No. AR-571), letter from 
OSM in accordance with 30 CFR 732.17(c). Arkansas is also making 
substantial changes to other sections of its regulatory program and its 
abandoned mine land plan on its own initiative. The full text of the 
program amendment is available for you to read at the

[[Page 76105]]

locations listed above under ADDRESSES or at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Arkansas proposes to revise every section title throughout its code 
by replacing ``Section'' with ``Reg.20.'' and by deleting the title 
dates. Arkansas also plans to replace the references to ``Section'' 
with ``Reg.20.,'' replace the word ``Director'' with ``Department,'' 
and replace the word ``Chapter'' with ``Code'' throughout their 
regulations.
    Arkansas proposes to revise substantial portions of their 
regulatory program and abandoned mine land plan, make grammatical 
changes, correct punctuation, revise dates, and add citations. The 
Arkansas regulations that contain substantive changes are listed in the 
table below.

                        Substantive Changes Table
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Arkansas Reg. 20. Sections                      Title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 SUBCHAPTER A--GENERAL PART 700--GENERAL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
700.11, 700.12, and 700.16........  Rulemaking Initiated by the
                                     Commission; Petitions to Initiate
                                     Rulemaking; and Employee
                                     Protection.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         PART 701--STATE PROGRAM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
701.5.............................  Definitions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 PART 702--EXEMPTION FOR COAL EXTRACTION INCIDENTAL TO THE EXTRACTION OF
                             OTHER MINERALS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
702.13............................  Public Availability of Information.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 PART 705--RESTRICTIONS ON FINANCIAL INTERESTS OF ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
705.1.............................  Scope.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 PART 762--CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATING AREAS AS UNSUITABLE FOR SURFACE COAL
                            MINING OPERATIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
762.5.............................  Definition.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUBCHAPTER G--SURFACE COAL MINING AND RECLAMATION OPERATIONS PERMITS AND
                   COAL EXPLORATION PROCEDURES SYSTEMS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            PART 770--GENERAL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
770.5.............................  Definitions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       PART 771--GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMITS AND APPLICATIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
771.25............................  Permit Fees.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
     PART 776--GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COAL EXPLORATION OPERATIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
776.17............................  Public Availability of Information.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 PART 778--SURFACE MINING PERMIT APPLICATIONS--MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR
          LEGAL, FINANCIAL, COMPLIANCE AND RELATED INFORMATION
------------------------------------------------------------------------
778.1, 778.2, 778.4, 778.6, 778.9,  Scope; Objectives; Responsibility;
 778.11, 778.12, 778.13, 778.14,     Applicability, Certifying and
 778.17, 778.20, 778.21, and         Updating Existing Permit
 778.22.                             Application Information; Applicant
                                     and Operator Information; Permit
                                     History Information; Property
                                     Interest Information; Violation
                                     Information; Permit Term
                                     Information; Identification of
                                     Location of Public Office for
                                     Filing of Application; Newspaper
                                     Advertisement and Proof of
                                     Publication; and Facilities or
                                     Structures Used in Common.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 PART 782--UNDERGROUND MINING PERMIT APPLICATIONS--MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
        FOR LEGAL, FINANCIAL, COMPLIANCE, AND RELATED INFORMATION
------------------------------------------------------------------------
782.1-782.21......................  Scope; Objectives; Responsibilities;
                                     Applicability; Identification of
                                     Interests; Compliance Information;
                                     Right of Entry and Operation
                                     Information; Relationship to Areas
                                     Designated Unsuitable For Mining;
                                     Permit Term Information; Personal
                                     Injury and Property Damage
                                     Insurance Information;
                                     Identification of Other Licenses
                                     and Permits; Identification of
                                     Location of Public Office for
                                     Filing of Application; and
                                     Newspaper Advertisement and Proof
                                     of Publication.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   PART 785--REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMITS FOR SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF MINING
------------------------------------------------------------------------
785.14, 785.16, 785.18, and 785.25  Mountaintop Removal Mining; Permits
                                     Incorporating Variances from
                                     Approximate Original Contour
                                     Restoration Requirements for Steep
                                     Slope Mining; Variances for Delay
                                     in Contemporaneous Reclamation
                                     Requirements in Combined Surface
                                     and Underground Mining Operations;
                                     and Lands Eligible for Remining.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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        PART 786--REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMITS AND PERMIT PROCESSING
------------------------------------------------------------------------
786.1, and 786.3-786.31...........  Scope; Responsibilities; Pre-
                                     Application Conference; Regulatory
                                     Coordination with Requirements
                                     under Other Laws; Public
                                     Participation in Permit Processing;
                                     Review of Permit Applications;
                                     General Provisions for Review of
                                     Permit Application Information and
                                     Entry of Information into AVS;
                                     Review of Applicant, Operator, and
                                     Ownership and Control Information;
                                     Review of Permit History; Review of
                                     Compliance History; Permit
                                     Eligibility Determination;
                                     Unanticipated Events or Conditions
                                     at Remining Sites; Eligibility for
                                     Provisionally Issued Permits;
                                     Written Findings for Permit
                                     Application Approval; Performance
                                     Bond Submittal; Permit Conditions;
                                     Permit Issuance and Right of
                                     Renewal; Initial Review and Finding
                                     Requirements for Improvidently
                                     Issued Permits; Notice Requirements
                                     for Improvidently Issued Permits;
                                     Suspension or Rescission
                                     Requirements for Improvidently
                                     Issued Permits; Eligibility to
                                     Challenge Ownership or Control
                                     Listings and Findings; Procedures
                                     for Challenging an Ownership or
                                     Control Listing or Finding; Burden
                                     of Proof for Ownership or Control
                                     Challenges; Written Decision on
                                     Challenges to Ownership or Control
                                     Listings or Findings; Conditions of
                                     Permits: Environment, Public
                                     Health, and Safety; Improvidently
                                     Issued Permits: General Procedures;
                                     and Improvidently Issued Permits:
                                     Recision Procedures.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
787.12............................  Judicial Review.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  PART 788--REVISION; RENEWAL; TRANSFER, ASSIGNMENT, OR SALE OF PERMIT
  RIGHTS; POST-PERMIT ISSUANCE REQUIREMENTS; AND OTHER ACTIONS BASED ON
              OWNERSHIP, CONTROL, AND VIOLATION INFORMATION
------------------------------------------------------------------------
788.5, 788.9, 788.10, 788.11,       Definitions; Post-Permit Issuance
 788.13, 788.14, 788.15, 788.16,     Requirements and Other Actions
 788.17, 788.18, and 788.19.         Based on Ownership, Control, and
                                     Violation Information; Post-Permit
                                     Issuance Requirements for
                                     Permittees; Review of Permits;
                                     Permit Renewals: General Permit
                                     Renewals: Completed Applications;
                                     Permit Renewals: Terms; Permit
                                     Renewals: Approval or Denial;
                                     Transfer, Assignment, or Sale of
                                     Permit Rights, Transfer,
                                     Assignments, or Sale of Permit
                                     Rights; Transfer, Assignments, or
                                     Sale of Permit Rights: Obtaining
                                     Approval; and Requirements for New
                                     Permits for Persons Succeeding to
                                     Rights Granted Under a Permit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  SUBCHAPTER J--BOND AND INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR SURFACE COAL MINING
                       AND RECLAMATION OPERATIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 PART 800--BONDS AND INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR SURFACE COAL MINING AND
             RECLAMATION OPERATIONS UNDER THE STATE PROGRAM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
800.23 and 800.40.................  Self-bonding; and Requirement to
                                     Release Performance Bonds.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            SUBCHAPTER K--STATE PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          PART 810--STATE PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS GENERAL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
810.11............................  Applicability.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    PART 816--PERMANENT PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS--SURFACE MINING
                               ACTIVITIES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
816.11, 816.13, 816.14, 816.22,     Signs and Markers; Casing and
 816.41, 816.42, 816.43, 816.44,     Sealing of Drilled Holes General
 816.46, 816.48, 816.49, 816.50-S,   Requirements; Casing and Sealing of
 816.50-U, 816.51-S, 816.52-S,       Drilled Holes: Temporary; Topsoil
 816.53, 816.54, 816. 55, 816.61-    and Subsoil; Hydrologic Balance:
 U, 816.64-U, 816.68, 816.71,        Protection; Hydrologic Balance:
 816.100, 816.101-S, 816.101-U,      Water Quality Standards and
 816.102, 816.106, 816.107,          Effluent Limitations; Hydrologic
 816.113, 816.114, 816.116,          Balance: Diversions; Hydrologic
 816.121-U, 816.122-U, 816.133,      Balance: Stream Channel Diversions;
 816.180, and 816.181.               Hydrologic Balance: Siltation
                                     Structure; Hydrologic Balance: Acid-
                                     forming and Toxic-forming Spoil;
                                     Impoundments, Hydrologic Balance:
                                     Ground Water Protection; Hydrologic
                                     Balance: Underground Mine Entry and
                                     Access Discharges; Hydrologic
                                     Balance: Protection of Groundwater
                                     Recharge Capacity; Hydrologic
                                     Balance: Surface And Groundwater
                                     Monitoring; Hydrologic Balance:
                                     Transfer Of Wells; Hydrologic
                                     Balance: Water Rights and
                                     Replacement; Hydrologic Balance:
                                     Discharge of Water into an
                                     Underground Mine; Use of
                                     Explosives: General Requirements;
                                     Use of Explosives: Public Notice of
                                     Blasting Schedule; Use of
                                     Explosives: Records of Blasting
                                     Operations; Disposal of Excess
                                     Spoil: General Requirements;
                                     Contemporaneous Reclamation;
                                     Backfilling and Grading: Time and
                                     Distance Requirements; Backfilling
                                     and Grading: General Requirements;
                                     Backfilling and Grading: General
                                     Grading Requirements; Backfilling
                                     and Grading: Previously Mined
                                     Areas; Backfilling and Grading:
                                     Steep Slopes; Revegetation: Timing;
                                     Revegetation: Mulching and Other
                                     Soil Stabilizing Practices;
                                     Revegetation: Standards for
                                     Success; Subsidence Control:
                                     General Requirements; Subsidence
                                     Control: Public Notice; Postmining
                                     Land Use; Utility Installations;
                                     and Support Facilities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 76107]]

 
 PART 817--PERMANENT PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS --UNDERGROUND MINING
                               ACTIVITIES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
817.1-817.181.....................  Scope; Objectives; Signs and
                                     Markers; Casing and Sealing of
                                     Exposed Underground Openings:
                                     General Requirements; Casing and
                                     Sealing of Underground Openings:
                                     Temporary; Casing and Sealing of
                                     Underground Openings: Permanent;
                                     Topsoil and Subsoil; Hydrologic
                                     Balance: Protection; Hydrologic
                                     Balance: Water Quality Standards
                                     and Effluent Limitations;
                                     Hydrologic Balance: Diversions;
                                     Hydrologic Balance: Sediment
                                     Control Measures; Hydrologic
                                     Balance: Siltation Structures;
                                     Hydrologic Balance: Discharge
                                     Structures; Impoundments Hydrologic
                                     Balance: Postmining Rehabilitation
                                     of Sedimentation Ponds, Diversions,
                                     Impoundments, and Treatment
                                     Facilities; Hydrologic Balance:
                                     Surface Activities in or Adjacent
                                     to Perennial or Intermittent
                                     Streams; Coal Recovery; Use of
                                     Explosives: General Requirements;
                                     Use of Explosives: Pre-blasting
                                     Survey; Use of Explosives: Public
                                     Notice of Blasting Schedule; Use of
                                     Explosives: Blasting Signs,
                                     Warnings, and Access Control; Use
                                     of Explosives: Control of Adverse
                                     Effects; Use of Explosives:
                                     Seismographic Measurements; Use of
                                     Explosives: Records of Blasting
                                     Operations; Disposal of Excess
                                     Spoil: General Requirements;
                                     Disposal of Excess Spoil: Valley
                                     Fills/Head-of Hollow Fills;
                                     Disposal of Excess Spoil: Durable
                                     Rock Fills; Disposal of Excess
                                     Spoil: Pre-Existing Benches; Coal
                                     Mine Waste: General Requirements;
                                     Coal Mine Waste: Refuse Piles; Coal
                                     Mine Waste: Impounding Structures;
                                     Coal Mine Waste: Burning and Burned
                                     Waste Utilization; Disposal of
                                     Noncoal Mine Wastes; Stabilization
                                     of Surface Areas; Protection of
                                     Fish, Wildlife, and Related
                                     Environmental Values; Slides and
                                     Other Damage; Contemporaneous
                                     Reclamation; Backfilling and
                                     Grading: General Requirements;
                                     Backfilling and Grading: Previously
                                     Mined Areas; Backfilling and
                                     Grading: Steep Slopes;
                                     Revegetation: General Requirements;
                                     Revegetation: Timing; Revegetation:
                                     Mulching and Other Soil Stabilizing
                                     Practices; Revegetation: Standards
                                     for Success; Subsidence Control:
                                     General Requirements; Subsidence
                                     Control: Public Notice; Cessation
                                     of Operations: Temporary; Cessation
                                     of Operations: Permanent;
                                     Postmining Land Use; Roads:
                                     General; Roads: Primary Roads;
                                     Utility Installations; and Support
                                     Facilities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    PART 818--SPECIAL STATE PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS--CONCURRENT
                     SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND MINING
------------------------------------------------------------------------
818.1-818.15......................  Scope; Objective; Responsibilities;
                                     Applicability; Compliance with
                                     Variance; and Additional
                                     Performance Standards.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   PART 819--SPECIAL STATE PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS--AUGER MINING
------------------------------------------------------------------------
819.11, 819.1, 819.15, 819.17,      Auger Mining; Auger Mining: Coal
 819.19, and 819.21.                 Recovery; Auger Mining: Hydrologic
                                     Balance; Auger Mining: Subsidence
                                     Protection; Auger Mining:
                                     Backfilling and Grading; and Auger
                                     Mining: Protection of Underground
                                     Mining.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  PART 823--SPECIAL STATE PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS--OPERATIONS ON
                             PRIME FARMLAND
------------------------------------------------------------------------
823.15............................  Revegetation and Restoration of Soil
                                     Productivity.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    PROCEDURES PART 842--INSPECTIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
842.11............................  Inspections
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          PART 843--ENFORCEMENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
843.11, 843.15, and 843.16........  Cessation Orders; Informal Public
                                     Hearing; and Formal Review of
                                     Citations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        PART 845--CIVIL PENALTIES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
845.11, 845.13, 845.15, 845.17,     How Assessments are Made; Point
 845.18, 845.19, and 845.20.         System for Penalties; Assessment of
                                     Separate Violations for Each Day;
                                     Procedures for Assessment of Civil
                                     Penalties; Procedures for
                                     Assessment Conference; Request for
                                     Adjudicatory Public Hearing; and
                                     Final Assessment and Payment of
                                     Penalty.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  PART 846--INDIVIDUAL CIVIL PENALTIES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
846.5, 846.14, 846.17, and 846.18.  Definitions; Amount of Individual
                                     Civil Penalty; Procedure for
                                     Assessment of Individual Civil
                                     Penalty; and Payment of Penalty.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    PART 847--ALTERNATIVE ENFORCEMENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
847.1-847.16......................  Scope; General Provisions; Criminal
                                     Penalties; and Civil Actions for
                                     Relief.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 76108]]

 
  SUBCHAPTER M--TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR BLASTERS AND MEMBERS OF BLASTING
             CREWS, AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS FOR BLASTERS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           PART 850--PROGRAMS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
850.16............................  Reciprocity.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              SUBCHAPTER R--ABANDONED MINE LAND RECLAMATION
------------------------------------------------------------------------
               PART 874--GENERAL RECLAMATION REQUIREMENTS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
874.12, 874.13, and 874.16........  Eligible Lands and Water;
                                     Reclamation Objectives and
                                     Priorities; and Contractor
                                     Eligibility.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        PART 877--RIGHTS OF ENTRY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
877.11, 877.12, 877.13, and 877.14  Consent to Entry; Entry for Studies
                                     or Exploration; Entry and Consent
                                     to Reclaim; and Entry for Emergency
                                     Reclamation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  PART 879--ACQUISITION, MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSITION OF LANDS AND WATER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
879.11, 879.12, 879.13, and 879.15  Land Eligible for Acquisition;
                                     Procedures for Acquisition;
                                     Acceptance of Gifts of Land; and
                                     Disposition of Reclaimed Lands.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  PART 882--RECLAMATION ON PRIVATE LAND
------------------------------------------------------------------------
882.13............................  Liens.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              PART 900--PROCEDURES FOR HEARING AND APPEALS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
900.2, 900.3, 900.4, 900.5, 900.6,  Filing of Documents; Form of
 900.7, 900.9, and 900.12.           Documents; Service and Proof of
                                     Service; Intervention, Voluntary
                                     Dismissal; Motions; Advancement of
                                     Proceedings; and Other Procedures.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     PART--920 ADJUDICATORY HEARINGS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
920.1, 920.2, 920.3, 920.7, and     Presiding Officers; Powers of
 920.8.                              Presiding Officers; Notice of
                                     Hearing; Initial Orders and
                                     Decisions; and Effect of Initial
                                     Order or Decision.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           PART 930--DISCOVERY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
930.1.............................  Discovery.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                PART 940--TEMPORARY AND EXPEDITED REVIEW
------------------------------------------------------------------------
940.3.............................  Procedures for Expedited Review.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            PART 960--APPEALS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
960.2-960.7.......................  Appeals: How Taken; Answer; Stay
                                     Pending Appeal; Certified
                                     Transcript; Record on Appeal; and
                                     Extended Time for Appeals.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Public Comment Procedures

    Under the provisions of 30 CFR 732.17(h), we are seeking your 
comments on whether Arkansas's proposed amendment satisfies the 
applicable program approval criteria of 30 CFR 732.15. If we approve 
the amendment, it will become part of Arkansas State program.
    Under the provisions of 30 CFR 884.15(a), we are requesting 
comments on whether the amendment satisfies the applicable State 
reclamation plan approval criteria of 30 CFR 884.14. If we approve the 
amendment, it will become part of the Arkansas plan.

Electronic or Written Comments

    If you submit written comments, they should be specific, confined 
to issues pertinent to the proposed regulations, and explain the reason 
for any recommended change(s). We appreciate any and all comments, but 
those most useful and likely to influence decisions on the final 
regulations will be those that either involve personal experience or 
include citations to and analyses of SMCRA, its legislative history, 
its implementing regulations, case law, other pertinent State or 
Federal laws or regulations, technical literature, or other relevant 
publications.
    We cannot ensure that comments received after the close of the 
comment period (see DATES) or sent to an address other than those 
listed (see ADDRESSES) will be included in the docket for this 
rulemaking and considered.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying

[[Page 76109]]

information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Public Hearing

    If you wish to speak at the public hearing, contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by 4 p.m., c.s.t. on 
December 21, 2011. If you are disabled and need reasonable 
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 12866--Regulatory Planning and Review

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

Other Laws and Executive Orders Affecting Rulemaking

    When a State submits a program amendment to OSM for review, our 
regulations at 30 CFR 732.17(h) require us to publish a notice in the 
Federal Register indicating receipt of the proposed amendment, its text 
or a summary of its terms, and an opportunity for public comment. We 
conclude our review of the proposed amendment after the close of the 
public comment period and determine whether the amendment should be 
approved, approved in part, or not approved. At that time, we will also 
make the determinations and certifications required by the various laws 
and executive orders governing the rulemaking process and include them 
in the final rule.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 904

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: October 14, 2011.
Ervin J. Barchenger,
Regional Director, Mid-Continent Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-31292 Filed 12-5-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P