Request for Determination of Valid Existing Rights Within the Wayne National Forest

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Request for Determination of Valid Existing Rights Within the

Wayne National Forest

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearing and reopening of comment period on

request for determination.

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

has received a request by the Buckeye Forest Council for a pubic

hearing on the application by Buckingham Coal Co., Inc. (Buckingham)

for a determination that the applicant has valid existing rights (VER)

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

Reclamation Act of 1977 to mine coal by surface methods on 25.2 acres

of Federal land within the Wayne National Forest in Perry County, Ohio.

By this notice, OSM is announcing the scheduling of a public hearing

and the reopening of the comment period. Interested persons are

reinvited to participate in the proceeding and to submit relevant

factual information on the matter.

DATES: OSM will hold the public hearing on August 8, 1996 from 7:00 PM

until 11:00 PM. Requests to speak at the hearing must be received by

5:00 local time on August 1, 1996. OSM will accept written comments

until 5:00 p.m. local time on August 16, 1996.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held in the Ball Room of the Ohio

University Inn, 331 Richland Avenue, Athens, Ohio. Written comments and

requests to speak at the hearing must be mailed or hand delivered to

the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Appalachian

Regional Coordinating Center, Room 218, Three Parkway Center,

Pittsburgh, PA 15220.

The Administrative Record is available for review at both the

address above and OSM's Columbus Office, Eastland Professional Plaza,

4480 Refugee Road, Suite 201, Columbus, Ohio 43232 during normal

business hours, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Peter Michael, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement,

Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center, Room 218, Three Parkway

Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15220. Telephone: (412) 937-2867.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background information on VER requirements

for national forest lands and the Buckingham application for VER

determination is available in the March 1, 1996 Federal Register (61 FR

8074).

Dated: July 2, 1996.

Mike Robinson,

Acting Regional Director, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center.

[FR Doc. 96-17963 Filed 7-15-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-05-M