[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 175 (Monday, September 10, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55430-55435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22233]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 904

[SATS No. AR-040-FOR; Docket ID OSM-2012-0017]


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.

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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 its regulatory program and abandoned 
mine land reclamation plan, make grammatical changes, correct 
punctuation, revise dates, and delete and add citations. The proposed 
amendment consists of substantive changes to Arkansas's regulations 
regarding: Subchapter A--General; Subchapter F--Areas Unsuitable for 
Mining; 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 L--State Program Inspection and Enforcement Procedures; 
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 this proposed amendment are available for 
your review; 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., c.d.t., October 10, 2012. If requested, we will hold a public 
hearing on the amendment on October 5, 2012. We will accept requests to 
speak at a hearing until 4:00 p.m., c.d.t. on September 25, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by SATS No. AR-040-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: 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 the full text of the program amendment available for you to 
read at 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, and 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

[[Page 55431]]

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 June 25, 2012 (Administrative Record No. AR-572), 
Arkansas submitted a proposed amendment to its program and plan 
pursuant to SMCRA. Arkansas submitted the amendment in response to a 
September 30, 2009, letter (Administrative Record No. AR-571) 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 reclamation plan on its own initiative. The full 
text of the program amendment is available for you to read at the 
locations listed above under ADDRESSES.
    Arkansas proposes to revise substantial portions of its regulatory 
program and abandoned mine land reclamation plan, make grammatical 
changes, correct punctuation, revise dates, update addresses, and 
delete and add citations. Arkansas proposes to revise every section 
title throughout its regulations by replacing ``Section'' with 
``Reg.20.'' and by deleting the title dates. Arkansas also proposes to 
replace the word ``Director'' with ``Department'' and replace the word 
``Chapter'' with ``Code'' throughout its entire regulations. 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 and 705.13.............  Scope and When to File.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                SUBCHAPTER F--AREAS UNSUITABLE FOR MINING
 PART 762--CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATING AREAS AS UNSUITABLE FOR SURFACE COAL
                            MINING OPERATIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
762.5........................  Definitions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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,    Scope; Objectives; Responsibility;
 778.9, 778.11, 778.12,         Applicability, Certifying and Updating
 778.13, 778.14, 778.15,        Existing Permit Application Information;
 778.16, 778.17, 778.20,        Applicant and Operator Information;
 778.21, and 778.22.            Permit History Information; Property
                                Interest Information; Violation
                                Information; Right of Entry Information;
                                Status of Unsuitability Claims; 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 55432]]

 
 PART 779--SURFACE MINING PERMIT APPLICATIONS--MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR
                 INFORMATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
779.21.......................  Analysis of Selected Overburden or
                                Topsoil Mixtures.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  PART 780--SURFACE MINING PERMIT APPLICATION--MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR
                     RECLAMATION AND OPERATION PLAN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
780.11, 780.13, 780.15,        Operation Plan: General Requirements;
 780.16, 780.18, 780.21,        Operation Plan: Blasting; Air Pollution
 780.23, 780.25, 780.28,        Control Plan; Fish and Wildlife Plan;
 780.29, 780.35, 780.37, and    Reclamation Plan: General Requirements;
 780.38.                        Reclamation Plan: Hydrologic
                                Information; Reclamation Plan:
                                Postmining Land Uses; Reclamation Plan:
                                Siltation Structures, Impoundments,
                                Banks, Dams, and Embankments; Activities
                                In or Adjacent to Perennial or
                                Intermittent Streams; Diversions;
                                Disposal of Excess Spoil; Road Systems;
                                and Support Facilities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 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 784--UNDERGROUND MINING PERMIT APPLICATIONS--MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
                   FOR RECLAMATION AND OPERATION PLAN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
784.14, 784.19, 784.20, and    Reclamation Plan: Hydrologic Information;
 784.28.                        Underground Development Waste;
                                Subsidence Control Plan; and Surface
                                Activities in or Adjacent to Perennial
                                or Intermittent Streams.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   PART 785--REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMITS FOR SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF MINING
------------------------------------------------------------------------
785.13, 785.14, 785.15,        Experimental Practices Mining;
 785.16, 785.18, 785.22, and    Mountaintop Removal Mining; Steep Slope
 785.25.                        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; In Situ Processing
                                Activities; and Lands Eligible for
                                Remining.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        PART 787--ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL REVIEW OF DECISIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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,        Requirements and Other Actions Based on
 788.16, 788.17, 788.18, and    Ownership, Control, and Violation
 788.19.                        Information; Post-Permit Issuance
                                Requirements for Permittees; Review of
                                Permits; Permit Renewals: General
                                Requirements; Permit Renewals: Completed
                                Applications; Permit Renewals: Terms;
                                Permit Renewals: Approval or Denial;
                                Transfer, Assignment, or Sale of Permit
                                Rights: General Requirements; Transfer,
                                Assignments, or Sale of Permit Rights:
                                Obtaining Approval; and Requirements for
                                New Permits for Persons Succeeding to
                                Rights Granted Under a Permit.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 55433]]

 
  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 PROVISIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
810.11.......................  Applicability.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    PART 816--PERMANENT PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS--SURFACE MINING
                               ACTIVITIES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
816.11, 816.13, 816.14,        Signs and Markers; Casing and Sealing of
 816.15, 816.22, 816.41,        Drilled Holes: General Requirements;
 816.42, 816.43, 816.44,        Casing and Sealing of Drilled Holes:
 816.45, 816.46, 816.48,        Temporary; Casing and Sealing of Drilled
 816.49, 816.50-S, 816.50-U,    Holes: Permanent; Topsoil and Subsoil;
 816.51-S, 816.52-S, 816.53,    Hydrologic Balance: Protection;
 816.54, 816.55, 816.56,        Hydrologic Balance: Water Quality
 816.57; 816.61-U, 816.64-U,    Standards and Effluent Limitations;
 816.68, 816.71, 816.100,       Hydrologic Balance: Diversions;
 816.101-S, 816.101-U,          Hydrologic Balance: Stream Channel
 816.102, 816.106, 816.107,     Diversions; Hydrologic Balance: Sediment
 816.113, 816.114, 816.116,     Control Measures; Hydrologic Balance:
 816.121-U, 816.122-U,          Siltation Structures; Hydrologic
 816.133, 816.151, 816.180,     Balance: Acid-forming and Toxic-forming
 and 816.181.                   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; Hydrologic
                                Balance: Postmining Rehabilitation of
                                Sedimentation Ponds, Diversions,
                                Impoundments, and Treatment Facilities;
                                Hydrologic Balance: Activities in or
                                Adjacent to Perennial or Intermittent
                                Streams; 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; Roads: Primary
                                Roads; Utility Installations; and
                                Support Facilities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 55434]]

 
   PART 819--SPECIAL STATE PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS--AUGER MINING
------------------------------------------------------------------------
819.11, 819.13, 819.15,        Auger Mining: General; Auger Mining: Coal
 819.17, 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  PART 827--SPECIAL STATE PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS COAL PROCESSING
  PLANTS AND SUPPORT FACILITIES NOT LOCATED AT OR NEAR THE MINE SITE OR
                  NOT WITHIN THE PERMIT AREA FOR A MINE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
827.12.......................  Coal Processing Plants: Performance
                                Standards.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SUBCHAPTER L--STATE PROGRAM INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES
                          PART 842--INSPECTIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
842.11 and 842.15............  Inspections and Review of Decision Not to
                                Inspect or Enforce.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          PART 843--ENFORCEMENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
843.11, 843.15, and 843.16...  Cessation Orders; Informal Public
                                Hearing; and Formal Review of Citations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        PART 845--CIVIL PENALTIES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
845.12, 845.13, 845.14,        When Penalty Will Be Assessed; Point
 845.15, 845.17, 845.18,        System for Penalties; Determination of
 845.19, and 845.20.            Amount of Penalty; 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     Definitions; Amount of Individual Civil
 846.18.                        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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  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    Consent to Entry; Entry for Studies or
 877.14.                        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    Land Eligible for Acquisition; Procedures
 879.15.                        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,    Filing of Documents; Form of Documents;
 900.6, 900.7, 900.9, and       Service and Proof of Service;
 900.12.                        Intervention, Voluntary Dismissal;
                                Motions; Advancement of Proceedings, and
                                Other Procedures.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 55435]]

 
                     PART--920 ADJUDICATORY HEARINGS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
920.1, 920.2, 920.3, 920.7,    Presiding Officers; Powers of Presiding
 and 920.8.                     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 the 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 
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 4:00 p.m., c.d.t. on 
September 25, 2012. 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: July 18, 2012.
Ervin J. Barchenger,
Regional Director, Mid-Continent Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-22233 Filed 9-7-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P