Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation Program; Enhancing AML Reclamation

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Parts 707 and 874

RIN 1029-AB89

Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation Program; Enhancing AML

Reclamation

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

ACTION: Proposed rule, reopening and extension of comment period.

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

is again reopening and extending the comment period for the proposed

rule, Enhancing AML Reclamation, published on June 25, 1998 (63 FR

34768). The prior extension of the comment period closed on August 11,

1998. It is being reopened and extended for 15 days.

DATES: Written comments: We will accept written comments on the

proposed rule until 5 p.m., Eastern time, on September 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, you may mail or hand deliver

comments to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement,

Administrative Record, Room 101, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20240. Comments submitted on the proposed rule are

available for inspection at this address. You may also comment via the

Internet to OSM's Administrative Record at: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

D.J. Growitz, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement,

U.S. Department of the Interior, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20240; Telephone: 202-208-2634. E-Mail:

[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSM is reopening and extending the public

comment period on the proposed rule, Enhancing AML Reclamation,

published in the Federal Register on June 25, 1998 (63 FR 34768), in

order to accept two comments which were submitted after the close of

the comment period. Anyone wishing to examine the comments submitted on

the proposed rule may do so at the location listed under ADDRESSES.

In the proposed rule, OSM is proposing revisions regarding the

financing of Abandoned Mine Land reclamation (AML) projects that

involve the incidental extraction of coal. Projections of receipts to

the AML fund through the year 2004, when the authority to collect fees

will expire, strongly indicate that there will be insufficient money to

address all problems currently listed in the Abandoned Mine Land

Inventory System. Given these limited AML reclamation resources, OSM is

seeking an innovative way for AML agencies, working with contractors,

to maximize available funds to increase AML reclamation.

The first revision would amend the definition of government-

financed construction to allow less than 50 percent government funding

when the construction is an approved AML project under the Surface

Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The existing

definition requires a minimum government contribution of 50 percent to

exempt government-financed construction from regulation under SMCRA.

The second revision would add a new section which would require

specific consultations and concurrences with the Title V regulatory

authority for AML construction projects receiving less than

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50 percent government financing. These consultations and concurrences

are intended to ensure the appropriateness of the project being

undertaken as a Title IV AML project and not under the Title V

regulatory program.

Dated: August 31, 1998.

Mary Josie Blanchard,

Assistant Director, Program Support.

[FR Doc. 98-23757 Filed 9-2-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-05-M