Permanent program and abandoned mine land reclamation plan submissions: Indiana,

[Federal Register: September 20, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 183)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 48390-48393]

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

[DOCID:fr20se01-25]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 914

[SPATS No. IN-152-FOR; State Program Amendment No. 2001-1]

Indiana Regulatory Program

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; public comment period and opportunity for public hearing.

SUMMARY: The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Indiana regulatory program (Indiana program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The proposed amendment concerns recodification of Indiana's rules for coal mining and reclamation operations. It includes revisions to the rules pertaining to the definition of ``affected area,'' identification of interests, compliance information, permit conditions, and public availability of permit applications. Indiana intends to revise its program in response to Indiana legislation requiring all State agency rules to be recodified every seven years.

This document gives the times and locations that the Indiana program and proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the amendment, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.

DATES: We will accept written comments until 4 p.m., e.s.t., October 22, 2001. If requested, we will hold a public hearing on the amendment on October 15, 2001. We will accept requests to speak at the hearing until 4 p.m., e.s.t. on October 5, 2001.

ADDRESSES: You should mail or hand deliver written comments and requests to speak at the hearing to Andrew R. Gilmore, Director, Indianapolis Field Office, at the address listed below.

You may review copies of the Indiana program, the amendment, a listing of any scheduled public hearings, and all written comments received in response to this document at the addresses listed below during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. You may receive one free copy of the amendment by contacting OSM's Indianapolis Field Office.

Andrew R. Gilmore, Director, Indianapolis Field Office, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Minton-Capehart Federal Building, 575 North Pennsylvania Street, Room 301, Indianapolis, IN 46204, Telephone: (317) 226-6700 Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Mine Reclamation, 402 West Washington Street, Room W-295, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, Telephone: (317) 232-1291 Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Reclamation, R.R. 2, Box 129, Jasonville, Indiana 47438-9517, Telephone: (812) 665-2207

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew R. Gilmore, Director, Indianapolis Field Office, Telephone: (317) 226-6700, Internet: IFOMAIL@osmre.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

  1. Background on the Indiana Program

    Section 503(a) of the Act permits a State to assume primacy for the regulation of surface coal mining and reclamation operations on non- Federal and non-Indian lands within its borders by demonstrating that its program

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    includes, among other things, ``* * * a State law which provides for the regulation of surface coal mining and reclamation operations in accordance with the requirements of the Act * * *; and rules and regulations consistent with regulations issued by the Secretary pursuant to the Act.'' See 30 U.S.C. 1253(a)(1) and (7). On the basis of this criteria, the Secretary of the Interior conditionally approved the Indiana program on July 29, 1982. You can find background information on the Indiana program, including the Secretary's findings, the disposition of comments, and the conditions of approval in the July 26, 1982, Federal Register (47 FR 32107). You can find later actions on the Indiana program at 30 CFR 914.10, 914.15, and 914.16.

  2. Description of the Proposed Amendment

    By letter dated August 21, 2001 (Administrative Record No. IND- 1712), Indiana sent us an amendment to its program under SMCRA and the Federal regulations at 30 CFR 732.17(b). Indiana sent the amendment at its own initiative. Indiana proposes to recodify its rules from Title 310 Indiana Administrative Code (IAC) 12 to Title 312 IAC 25. Editorial changes, including structural and grammatical changes, were made throughout the recodified rules. The amendment includes revisions to Indiana's recodified rules at 312 IAC 25-1-8, definition of ``affected area''; 312 IAC 25-4-17, surface mining permit applications- identification of interests; 312 IAC 25-4-18, surface mining permit applications-compliance information; 312 IAC 25-4-58, underground mining permit applications-identification of interests; 312 IAC 25-4- 59, underground mining permit applications-compliance information; 312 IAC 25-4-113, public availability of permit application information; and 312 IAC 25-4-118, permit conditions. Below is a summary of the substantive changes proposed by Indiana. The full text of the proposed program amendment is available for your inspection at the locations listed above under ADDRESSES.

    1. 312 IAC 25-1-8 (previously 310 IAC 12-0.5-6) Definition of Affected Area

      Indiana is recodifying the definition of affected area at 312 IAC 25-1-8 with exceptions. Indiana is not recodifying the currently approved provisions at 310 IAC 12-0.5-6(a)(5), (b), and (c). This has the effect of removing these provisions from its approved program.

    2. 312 IAC 25-4-17 (previously 310 IAC 12-3-19.1) Surface Mining Permit Applications-Identification of Interests

      Indiana's rule at 312 IAC 25-4-17 specifies the information that must be included in a surface mining permit application for identification of interests. Indiana proposes to restructure this section to comply with formatting guidelines set out by the Indiana Legislative Services Agency.

    3. 312 IAC 25-4-18 (previously 310 IAC 12-3-20) Surface Mining Permit Applications-Compliance Information and 312 IAC 25-4-59 (previously 310 IAC 12-3-58) Underground Mining Permit Applications-Compliance Information

      Indiana's rules at 312 IAC 25-4-18 and 25-4-59 specify the information that must be included in a permit application concerning permit suspensions or revocations, bond forfeitures, and notices of violation. Indiana proposes minor restructuring to comply with formatting guidelines set by the Indiana Legislative Services Agency. Indiana proposes to change 312 IAC 25-4-18(a)(3) and 25-4-59(a)(3) to read as follows:

      (3) A list of all violation notices received by the applicant during the three (3) year period preceding the application date, and a list of all outstanding violation notices received prior to the date of the application by any surface coal mining operation that is deemed or presumed to be owned or controlled by either the applicant or any person who is deemed or presumed to own or control the applicant under the definition of ``owned or controlled'' and ``owns and controls'' in 312 IAC 25-1-94. For each notice of violation issued under 312 IAC 25-7-6 or under a federal or state program for which the abatement period has not expired, the applicant shall certify that such notice of violation is in the process of being corrected to the satisfaction of the agency with jurisdiction over the violation.

      Indiana also proposes to add the following new provision at 312 IAC 25-4-59(b):

      (b) After the applicant is notified that his or her application is approved, but before the permit is issued, the applicant shall as applicable, update, correct, or indicate that no change has occurred in the information previously submitted under this section.

    4. 312 IAC 25-4-58 (previously 310 IAC 12-3-57) Underground Mining Permit Applications; Identification of Interests

      Indiana's rule at 312 IAC 25-4-58 specifies the information that must be included in an underground mining permit application for identification of interests. The language and structure of the existing provisions were revised to make the new rule consistent with Indiana's surface mining permit application requirements for identification of interests at 312 IAC 25-4-17 (previously 310 IAC 12-3-19.1).

    5. 312 IAC 25-4-113 (previously 310 IAC 12-3-110) Public Availability of Permit Application Information

      Indiana is recodifying its provisions concerning public availability of permit application information at 312 IAC 25-4-113 with an exception. Indiana is not recodifying the previously approved provision at 310 IAC 12-3-110(f) concerning the confidentiality of information on the nature and location of archaeological resources on public and Indian land. This has the effect of removing this provision from its approved program.

    6. 312 IAC 25-4-118 (previously 310 IAC 12-3-114.5) Permit Conditions

      Indiana proposes to add 312 IAC 25-4-118 to specify the conditions under which a permit is issued. Section 25-4-118(1) requires the permittee to conduct surface coal mining and reclamation operations only on those lands that are specifically designated as the permit area and bonded. Section 25-4-118(2) requires the permittee to conduct operations only as described in the approved application, except to the extent otherwise directed in the permit. Section 25-4-118(3) requires the permittee to comply with the terms and conditions of the permit and all applicable performance standards and requirements of the Indiana program. Section 25-4-118(4) requires the permittee to allow authorized representatives of the Director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to have right of entry and to be accompanied by private persons when the inspection is in response to an alleged violation reported by a private person. Section 25-4-118(5) requires the permittee to take all possible steps to minimize adverse impacts to the environment or public health and safety resulting from a noncompliance with any term or condition of the permit. Section 25-4-118(6) requires the permittee to comply with the requirements of the Indiana program for compliance, modification, or abandonment of existing structures. Section 25-4-118(7) requires the operator to pay all reclamation fees. Section 25-4-118(8) requires the permittee to submit updates, if any, to the information previously submitted under 312 IAC 25-4-17(c) within 30 days after a cessation order is issued under 312 IAC 25-7-5.

      [[Page 48392]]

  3. Public Comment Procedures

    Under the provisions of 30 CFR 732.17(h), we are seeking comments on whether the proposed amendment satisfies the applicable program approval criteria of 30 CFR 732.15. If we approve the amendment, it will become part of the Indiana program.

    Written Comments: If you submit written or electronic comments on the proposed rule during the 30-day comment period, they should be specific, should be confined to issues pertinent to the notice, and should explain the reason for your recommendation(s). We may not be able to consider or include in the Administrative Record comments delivered to an address other than the one listed above (see ADDRESSES).

    Electronic Comments: Please submit Internet comments as an ASCII, WordPerfect, or Word file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Please also include ``Attn: SPATS NO. IN-152- FOR'' and your name and return address in your Internet message. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have received your Internet message, contact the Indianapolis Field Office at (317) 226-6700.

    Availability of Comments: Our practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular business hours at OSM's Indianapolis Field Office (see ADDRESSES). Individual respondents may request that we withhold their home address from the administrative record, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. There also may be circumstances in which we would withhold from the administrative record a respondent's identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. However, we will not consider anonymous comments. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.

    Public Hearing: If you wish to speak at the public hearing, contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by 4 p.m., e.s.t. on October 5, 2001. We will arrange the location and time of the hearing with those persons requesting the hearing. If no one requests an opportunity to speak at the public hearing, the hearing will not be held.

    To assist the transcriber and ensure an accurate record, we request, if possible, that each person who speaks at a public hearing provide us with a written copy of his or her testimony. The public hearing will continue on the specified date until all persons scheduled to speak have been heard. If you are in the audience and have not been scheduled to speak and wish to do so, you will be allowed to speak after those who have been scheduled. We will end the hearing after all persons scheduled to speak and persons present in the audience who wish to speak have been heard.

    If you are disabled and need a special accommodation to attend a public hearing, contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Public Meeting: If only one person requests an opportunity to speak at a hearing, a public meeting, rather than a public hearing, may be held. If you wish to meet with us to discuss the proposed amendment, you may request a meeting by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All such meetings are open to the public and, if possible, we will post notices of meetings at the locations listed under ADDRESSES. We will also make a written summary of each meeting a part of the Administrative Record.

  4. Procedural Determinations

    Executive Order 12866--Regulatory Planning and Review

    This rule is exempted from review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 12866.

    Executive Order 12630--Takings

    This rule does not have takings implications. This determination is based on the analysis performed for the counterpart Federal regulations.

    Executive Order 13132--Federalism

    This rule does not have federalism implications. SMCRA delineates the roles of the Federal and State governments with regard to the regulation of surface coal mining and reclamation operations. One of the purposes of SMCRA is to ``establish a nationwide program to protect society and the environment from the adverse effects of surface coal mining operations.'' Section 503(a)(1) of SMCRA requires that State laws regulating surface coal mining and reclamation operations be ``in accordance with'' the requirements of SMCRA, and section 503(a)(7) requires that State programs contain rules and regulations ``consistent with'' regulations issued by the Secretary under SMCRA.

    Executive Order 12988--Civil Justice Reform

    The Department of the Interior has conducted the reviews required by section 3 of Executive Order 12988 and has determined that, to the extent allowed by law, this rule meets the applicable standards of subsections (a) and (b) of that section. However, these standards are not applicable to the actual language of State regulatory programs and program amendments because each program is drafted and promulgated by a specific State, not by OSM. Under sections 503 and 505 of SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1253 and 1255) and 30 CFR 730.11, 732.15, and 732.17(h)(10), decisions on proposed State regulatory programs and program amendments submitted by the States must be based solely on a determination of whether the submittal is consistent with SMCRA and its implementing Federal regulations and whether the other requirements of 30 CFR parts 730, 731, and 732 have been met.

    Executive Order 13211--Regulations That Significantly Affect the Supply, Distribution, or Use of Energy

    On May 18, 2001, the President issued Executive Order 13211 which requires agencies to prepare a Statement of Energy Effects for a rule that is (1) considered significant under Executive Order 12866 and (2) likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. Because this rule is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866 and is not expected to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy, a Statement of Energy Effects is not required.

    National Environmental Policy Act

    Section 702(d) of SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1292(d)) provides that a decision on a proposed State regulatory program provision does not constitute a major Federal action within the meaning of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). A determination has been made that such decisions are categorically excluded from the NEPA process (516 DM 8.4.A).

    Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule does not contain information collection requirements that require approval by the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3507 et seq.).

    Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Department of the Interior has determined that this rule will not have

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    a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). The State submittal which is the subject of this rule is based upon counterpart Federal regulations for which an economic analysis was prepared and certification made that such regulations would not have a significant economic effect upon a substantial number of small entities. Accordingly, this rule will ensure that existing requirements previously promulgated by OSM will be implemented by the State. In making the determination as to whether this rule would have a significant economic impact, the Department relied upon the data and assumptions for the counterpart Federal regulations.

    Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    This rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. This rule:

    1. Does not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million.

    2. Will not cause a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, federal, state, or local government agencies, or geographic regions.

    3. Does not have significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S. based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.

    This determination is based upon the fact that the State submittal which is the subject of this rule is based upon counterpart Federal regulations for which an analysis was prepared and a determination made that the Federal regulation was not considered a major rule.

    Unfunded Mandates

    This rule will not impose a cost of $100 million or more in any given year on any governmental entity or the private sector.

    List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 914

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: August 24, 2001. Charles E. Sandberg, Acting Regional Director, Mid-Continent Regional Coordinating Center.

    [FR Doc. 01-23503Filed9-19-01; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4310-05-P

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