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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Request for Determination of Valid Existing Rights Within the

Monongahela National Forest

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

ACTION: Notice of request for determination of valid existing rights,

reopening and extension of the comment period.

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

is in the process of determining whether Mr. Walter D. Helmick has

valid existing rights (VER) to surface mine coal on Federal lands

within the Monongahela National Forest in Pocahontas County, West

Virginia. By this notice, OSM is reopening and extending the comment

period during which interested persons may submit relevant factual

material on the matter.

DATES: OSM will accept written materials on this request for a VER

determination until 5 p.m. local time on November 12, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Hand deliver or mail written materials to: Peter R. Michael,

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Appalachian

Regional Coordinating Center, room 218, Three Parkway Center,

Pittsburgh, PA 15200.

[[Page 59732]]

Documents contained in the Administrative Record are available for

public review at the locations listed below during normal business

hours, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Appalachian

Regional Coordinating Center, Room 218, Three Parkway Center,

Pittsburgh, PA 15200, Telephone: (412) 937-2867.

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Charleston

Field Office, 1027 Virginia Street E, Charleston, WV 25301, Telephone:

(304) 347-7158.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Peter R. Michael, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement,

Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center, Room 218, Three Parkway

Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15200, Telephone: (412) 937-2867.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 16, 1997 (62 FR 53798) OSM

published a notice soliciting factual material for consideration in

determining whether Mr. Walter D. Helmick has VER to surface mine coal

on Federal lands within the Monongahela National Forest in Pocahontas

County, West Virginia. If OSM determines that Mr. Helmick has VER, he

may apply to the West Virginia Department of Energy for a permit

authorizing the surface and auger mining of coal on the land in

question. If it is determined that Mr. Helmick does not have VER, no

surface of auger mining will be permitted.

The original comment period closed on October 31, 1997. During the

comment period. OSM received a request for a 7 day extension. By this

notice, OSM is extending the comment period during which interested

persons may submit relevant factual material on the matter. The Federal

Register notice published on October 16, 1997, contains additional

background information.

Dated: October 29, 1997.

Michael K. Robinson,

Acting Regional Director, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center.

[FR Doc. 97-29110 Filed 11-03-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-05-M