Abandoned mine land reclamation: Projects financing,

[Federal Register: July 31, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 147)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 40871-40872]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr31jy98-40]

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.

SUMMARY: The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is reopening and extending the comment period for the proposed rule, Enhancing AML Reclamation, published on June 25, 1998 (63 FR 34768). The comment period closed on July 27, 1998, and 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 August 11, 1998.

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

[[Page 40872]]

to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Administrative Record, Room 101, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20240. You may also comment via the Internet to OSM's Administrative Record at: osmrules@osmre.gov.

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: dgrowitz@osmre.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to a telephone request from a member of the public, 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).

OSM is proposing revisions to its rules 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 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: July 28, 1998. Richard G. Bryson, Acting Assistant Director, Program Support.

[FR Doc. 98-20505Filed7-30-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-05-M