Indian and Federal Lands

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Parts 700, 740, 746 and 750

RIN 1029-AB83

Indian and Federal Lands

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; public hearing and extension of public comment

period.

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

has received several requests to hold a public hearing and a request

for an extension of the public comment period. By this document, OSM is

announcing the scheduling of a public hearing and the extension of the

comment period for the proposed rule published on February 19, 1999 (64

FR 8464), clarifying the definition of ``Indian lands'' and making

conforming amendments to the Federal lands program and Indian lands

program. The comment period was originally scheduled to close on April

20, 1999, and is now being extended for 60 days. Interested persons are

invited to participate in the proceeding and to submit relevant factual

information on the matter.

DATES: OSM will hold the public hearing on June 8, 1999, at 10:00 am.

OSM will accept written comment on the proposed rule until 5 p.m.,

Eastern time, on June 21, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Crowne Plaza Pyramid

Hotel, 5151 San Francisco Road, NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109.

You may mail or hand-deliver comments to the Office of Surface

Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Administrative Record, Room 101,

210-SIB, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240. You may

also submit comments to OSM via the Internet at: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Suzanne Hudak, Office of Surface

Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,

Washington, DC 20240; Telephone: (202) 208-2661. E-Mail address:

[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to requests from members of the

public, we are extending the public comment period for the proposed

rule published on February 19, 1999 (64 FR 8464). The comment period

was originally scheduled to close on April 20, 1999, and is now being

extended for

[[Page 18586]]

60 days. In the rule, we are proposing to amend our regulations by

clarifying the definition of ``Indian lands'' at 30 CFR 700.5 for

purposes of implementing the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

of 1977. The proposed clarification is required pursuant to a

settlement agreement between the Department of the Interior and the

Navajo Nation and Hopi Indian Tribe to settle the tribes' challenges to

a 1989 rulemaking governing coal leases and surface coal mining and

reclamation operations on Indian lands. OSM is also proposing various

changes to the Federal lands program at 30 CFR parts 740 and 746, and

the Indian lands program at 30 CFR part 750, in conjunction with the

proposed clarification to the definition of Indian lands.

Dated: April 8, 1999.

Mary Josie Blanchard,

Assistant Director, Program Support.

[FR Doc. 99-9411 Filed 4-14-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-05-M