[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 242 (Friday, December 16, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 78312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32322]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


Action Subject to Intergovernmental Review

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 
are notifying the public that we intend to grant funds to eligible 
applicants for purposes authorized under the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) 
Reclamation Program. Additionally we are notifying the public that we 
intend to grant funds to eligible applicants for regulating coal mining 
within their jurisdictional borders. We will award these grants after 
October 1, 2011, because our award authority commences at the beginning 
of the fiscal year.

DATES: A state single point of contact and other interested state or 
local entities may submit written comments regarding AML and regulatory 
funding by December 30, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Electronic mail: Send your comments to 
[email protected].
     Mail, hand-delivery, or courier: Send your comments to 
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Administrative 
Record, Room 252-SIB, 1951 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jay Bautista, Office of Surface 
Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave. NW., MS 124-
SIB, Washington, DC 20240; Telephone (202) 208-7411.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Grant Notification

    We are notifying the public that we intend to grant funds to 
eligible applicants for purposes authorized under the Abandoned Mine 
Land (AML) Reclamation Program. Additionally we are notifying the 
public that we intend to grant funds to eligible applicants for 
regulating coal mining within their jurisdictional borders. We will 
award these grants after October 1, 2011. Eligible applicants are those 
states and tribes with a regulatory program or reclamation plan 
approved under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 
(SMCRA), 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq., and the State of Tennessee. Under 
Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, we must provide state and tribal 
officials the opportunity to review and comment on proposed federal 
financial assistance activities. Of the eligible applicants, twenty 
states and tribes do not have single points-of-contact under the 
E.O.12372 review process; therefore, we are required to publish this 
notice as an alternate means of notification.

Description of the AML Program

    SMCRA established the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to receive 
the AML fees used to finance reclamation of AML coal mine sites. Grants 
to eligible states and tribes are funded from permanent (mandatory) 
appropriations. Recipients use these funds to reclaim the highest 
priority AML coal mine sites that were left abandoned prior to the 
enactment of SMCRA in 1977, eligible non-coal sites, and for non-
reclamation projects.

Description of the Regulatory Program

    Title VII of SMCRA authorizes us to provide grants to states and 
Indian tribes to develop, administer, and enforce State regulatory 
programs addressing surface coal mining operations. Title V and Title 
VII authorize states and tribes to develop regulatory programs pursuant 
to SMCRA, and upon approval of regulatory programs, to assume 
regulatory primacy and act as the regulatory authority, and to 
administer and enforce their respective approved SMCRA regulatory 
programs. Our regulations at 30 CFR Chapter VII implement the 
provisions of SMCRA.

    Dated: December 2, 2011.
Joseph G. Pizarchik,
Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2011-32322 Filed 12-15-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P