Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement,

extension of scoping.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM)

is extending the public comment period on the notice of intent to

prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) published in the April

28, 1994 Federal Register (59 FR 21996). This will provide more time in

which to comment on the scope of the analysis.

DATES: Written comments: OSM will accept written comments on the scope

of the EIS until 5 p.m. Eastern Time on June 30, 1994.

Scoping meetings: OSM will meet with interested persons upon

request to discuss the scope of the EIS until June 30, 1994. See

``ADDRESSES'' for the locations of the meetings.

ADDRESSES: Written comments: Hand deliver to the Office of Surface

Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Administrative Record, room 660,

800 North Capitol Street, NW., Washington, DC; or mail to the Office of

Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Administrative Record 660-

NC, 1951 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20240.

Scoping meetings: Upon request, OSM staff will be available to meet

with interested persons, individually or in groups, during the comment

period at the following OSM locations: Eastern Support Center, Ten

Parkway Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15220 (Contact: Chuck Wolf,

412-937-2897); Western Support Center, 1020 15th Street, Second floor,

Denver, Colorado 80202 (Contact: Floyd McMullen, 303-844-3104);

Knoxville Field Office, 530 Gay Street, suite 500, Knoxville, Tennessee

37902 (Contact: Gary Tucker, 615-545-4122); and Branch of Environmental

and Economic Analysis, room 640, 800 North Capitol Street, Washington,

DC 20002 (Contact: Andy DeVito, 202-343-5150).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Andy DeVito, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951

Constitution Avenue NW., room 640-NC, Washington, DC 20240; Telephone:

202-343-5150.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSM published a notice of intent to prepare

an EIS on April 28, 1994 (59 FR 21996). The notice solicited comments

on the scope of the analysis for a rulemaking that would (1) define the

term valid existing rights (VER), and (2) determine the degree, if any,

to which subsidence resulting from underground coal mining is subject

to the prohibitions of section 522(e) of the Surface Mining Control and

Reclamation Act of 1977.

The comment period for the notice of intent was scheduled to close

on May 31, 1994. However, OSM has received requests for an extension in

order to provide more time in which to comment on the scope of the

analysis. Therefore, OSM is extending the comment period. Comments will

now be accepted until 5 p.m. local time on June 30, 1994.

Dated: May 25, 1994.

Gene E. Krueger,

Acting Assistant Director, Reclamation and Regulatory Policy.

[FR Doc. 94-13208 Filed 5-31-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-05-M