[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 24, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 72974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23456]
[[Page 72974]]
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FEDERAL PERMITTING IMPROVEMENT STEERING COUNCIL
40 CFR Part 1900
[Docket Number 2023-001]
RIN 3121-AA04
Revising Scope of the Mining Sector of Projects That Are Eligible
for Coverage Under Title 41 of the Fixing America's Surface
Transportation Act
AGENCY: Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council.
ACTION: Extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council
(Permitting Council) is extending by 30 days the deadline for
submitting comments on its proposal to amend its regulations to revise
the scope of ``mining'' as a sector with infrastructure projects
eligible for coverage under Title 41 of the Fixing America's Surface
Transportation Act (FAST-41) to: (1) apply solely to critical minerals
mining projects; and (2) expand the scope of the sector to include
infrastructure constructed to support critical minerals supply chain
activities, including critical minerals beneficiation, processing, and
recycling.
DATES: Comments now must be submitted on or before November 22, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by Permitting Council
Docket Number 2023-001 or RIN 3121-AA04, by any of the following
methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for sending comments.
Mail: Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council,
Office of the Executive Director, 1800 M St. NW, Suite 6006,
Washington, DC 20036, Attention: RIN 3121-AA04.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John G. Cossa, General Counsel,
Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, 1800 M St. NW, Suite
6006, Washington, DC 20036, [email protected], or by telephone at
202-255-6936.
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to
contact this individual during normal business hours or to leave a
message at other times. FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. You will receive a reply to a message during normal business
hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 22, 2023, the Permitting
Council published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would
amend the Permitting Council's regulations at 40 CFR part 1900 to
revise the scope of the FAST-41 ``mining'' sector to: (1) apply solely
to critical minerals mining projects; and (2) expand the scope of the
sector to include infrastructure constructed to support critical
minerals supply chain activities, including critical minerals
beneficiation, processing, and recycling. 88 FR 65350. The proposal
provided a 30-day comment period, which would have expired on October
23, 2023.
On October 13, 2023, the Permitting Council received a letter
submitted on behalf of various environmental and Tribal entities
requesting an extension of the 30-day comment period by an additional
60 days, through December 22, 2023. The Permitting Council has reviewed
the request and has determined that an extension of 30 days is
warranted to provide the public additional time to review the proposed
rule and prepare comments. The full 60-day request was not granted
given that the proposed rule is administrative in nature and does not
make any critical minerals mining or supply chain project more or less
likely to be approved or implemented, or any environmental or economic
effect that may be associated with a critical minerals infrastructure
project to occur. Accordingly, the Permitting Council is extending the
comment period for this proposed rulemaking from October 23, 2023, to
November 22, 2023. Comments on the proposed rule now must be submitted
on or before November 22, 2023.
* * * * *
Eric Beightel,
Executive Director, Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council.
[FR Doc. 2023-23456 Filed 10-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-PL-P