[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 48 (Monday, March 12, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10646-10647]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04910]



[[Page 10646]]

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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; S1D1SSS08011000 
SX064A000 189S180110; S2D2SSS08011000 SX064A000 18XS501520]


Arkansas Regulatory Program and Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation 
Plan

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 
(OSMRE), are announcing the withdrawal of a proposed rule pertaining to 
an amendment to the Arkansas regulatory program (Arkansas program) and 
the Arkansas Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AMLR) Plan (hereinafter, 
the plan) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 
(SMCRA or the Act). Arkansas submitted the amendment to revise 
substantial portions of its regulatory program and AMLR Plan to be no 
less effective than the counterpart Federal regulations, as well as to 
clarify ambiguities, improve operational efficiency, correct grammar 
and punctuation, revise dates, and delete and add citations and 
subsections.

DATES: The proposed rule published September 10, 2012, at 77 FR 55430, 
is withdrawn March 12, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Tulsa Field Office, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and 
Enforcement, 1645 South 101st East Avenue, Suite 145, Tulsa, Oklahoma 
74128.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William L. Joseph, Director, Tulsa 
Field Office, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 
1645 South 101st East Avenue, Suite 145, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74128. 
Telephone: (918) 581-6430. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background on the Arkansas Program and AMLR Plan
II. Submission of the Withdrawal

I. Background on the Arkansas Program and AMLR Plan

    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, state laws and regulations 
that govern surface coal mining and reclamation operations in 
accordance with the Act and consistent with the Federal regulations. 
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 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 Tribes to assume exclusive responsibility 
for reclamation activity within the State or on Indian lands if they 
develop and submit to the Secretary 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 approved the Arkansas Plan 
effective 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. Submission of the Withdrawal

    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 
OSMRE in accordance with 30 CFR 732.17 (c), concerning multiple changes 
to ownership and control requirements. Arkansas also proposed 
substantive and nonsubstantive revisions to other sections of its 
regulatory program and its abandoned mine land reclamation plan at its 
own initiative.
    We announced receipt of the proposed amendment in the September 10, 
2012, Federal Register (77 FR 55430). In the same document, we opened 
the public comment period and provided an opportunity for a public 
hearing or meeting on the adequacy of the amendment. We did not hold a 
public hearing or meeting because neither was requested. The public 
comment period ended on October 10, 2012. We did not receive any public 
comments.
    OSMRE reviewed the proposed amendment, and in a letter dated 
January 3, 2013 (Administrative Record No. AR-572.03), requested 
clarifications and suggested revisions to some provisions. Arkansas 
responded with minor revisions to their submittal by a letter dated 
January 11, 2013 (Administrative Record No. AR-572.04). OSMRE requested 
additional clarifications from Arkansas by email on February 28, 2013 
(Administrative Record No. AR-572.05), and on March 5, 2013 
(Administrative Record No. AR-572.06). Arkansas responded by email on 
March 5, 2013 (Administrative Record No. AR-572.07). On April 24, 2013 
(Administrative Record No. AR-572.10), OSMRE notified Arkansas that our 
technical review was complete. On April 25, 2013, Arkansas submitted a 
revised version of the proposed amendment reflecting all clarifications 
and edits made during the technical review period (Administrative 
Record No. AR-572.09). On March 6, 2014, Arkansas submitted a revised 
amendment that withdrew the proposed changes to Reg.20.817.57 
(Administrative Record No. AR-572.11). On July 1, 2014, Arkansas 
submitted a final version of the proposed amendment with minor 
corrections regarding page numbering and typographical errors 
(Administrative Record No. AR-572.12). On July 11, 2014, Arkansas 
requested the withdrawal of sections related to its Abandoned Mine Land 
and Administrative sections from its original amendment request 
(Administrative Record No. AR 572.14).
    The Office of the Solicitor, upon their review of the proposed 
amendment, found additional inconsistencies with the Federal rule. In a 
letter dated August 7, 2017, Arkansas notified us that they were 
withdrawing the proposed amendment at this time (Administrative Record 
No. AR-572.15). Arkansas stated in the letter that they would submit a 
new proposed amendment after working with OSMRE informally to address 
the deficiencies.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 904

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.


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    Dated: September 1, 2017.
Alfred L. Clayborne,
Regional Director, Mid-Continent Region.

    Editorial Note: The Office of the Federal Register received this 
document on March 7, 2018.

[FR Doc. 2018-04910 Filed 3-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-05-P