Permanent program and abandoned mine land reclamation plan submissions: Virginia,
[Federal Register: June 17, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 116)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 35199-35204]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17jn05-12]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
30 CFR Part 946
[VA-122-FOR]
Virginia Regulatory Program
AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; public comment period and opportunity for public hearing on proposed amendment.
SUMMARY: We are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Virginia regulatory program under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The program amendment revises the Virginia Coal Surface Mining Reclamation Regulations. The amendment reflects changes in renumbering of the Virginia Code section references of the Virginia Administrative Process Act; clarifies the filing of requests for formal hearing and judicial review; revisions of the Virginia rules to be consistent with amendments to the Federal rules; revisions to allow approval of natural stream restoration channel design; regulation changes to implement requirements of Virginia HB 2573 (enacted as emergency legislation); and corrections of typographical errors.
DATES: We will accept written comments on this amendment until 4 p.m. (local time), on July 18, 2005. If requested, we will hold a public hearing on the amendment on July 12, 2005. We will accept requests to speak at the hearing until 4 p.m. (local time), on July 5, 2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by VA-122-FOR, by any of the following methods:
E-mail: rpenn@osmre.gov. Include VA-122-FOR in the subject line of the message.
Mail/Hand Delivery: Mr. Robert A. Penn, Director, Big Stone Gap Field Office, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1941 Neeley Road, Suite 201, Compartment 116, Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency docket number for this rulemaking. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the ``Public Comment Procedures'' heading in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
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this document. You may also request to speak at a public hearing by any of the methods listed above or by contacting the individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Docket: You may review copies of the Virginia program, this 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 Big Stone Gap Field Office.
Mr. Robert A. Penn, Director, Big Stone Gap Field Office, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1941 Neeley Road, Suite 201, Compartment 116, Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219, Telephone: (540) 523-4303. E-mail: rpenn@osmre.gov.
Mr. Leslie S. Vincent, Virginia Division of Mined Land Reclamation, P.O. Drawer 900, Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219, Telephone: (540) 523- 8100. E-mail: lsv@mme.state.va.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert A. Penn, Director, Big Stone Gap Field Office; Telephone: (540) 523-4303. Internet: rpenn@osmre.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Background on the Virginia Program II. Description of the Proposed Amendment III. Public Comment Procedures IV. Procedural Determinations
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Background on the Virginia 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 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 these criteria, the Secretary of the Interior conditionally approved the Virginia program on December 15, 1981. You can find background information on the Virginia program, including the Secretary's findings, the disposition of comments, and conditions of approval of the Virginia program in the December 15, 1981, Federal Register (46 FR 61088). You can also find later actions concerning Virginia's program and program amendments at 30 CFR 946.12, 946.13, and 946.15.
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Description of the Proposed Amendment
By letter dated May 9, 2005 (Administrative Record Number VA-1048), the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) submitted an amendment to the Virginia program. In its letter, the DMME stated that the program amendment revises Virginia Coal Surface Mining Reclamation Regulations to reflect the changes in the renumbering of the Virginia Code section references of the Virginia Administrative Process Act; clarifies the filing of requests for formal hearing and judicial review; revises the Virginia rules to make them consistent with amendments to the Federal rules; revises its rules to allow approval of natural stream restoration channel design; changes its regulation to implement requirements of Virginia HB 2573 (enacted as emergency legislation in Chapter 3 of the 2005 Virginia Acts of Assembly); and corrects typographical errors. Specifically, the following amendments are proposed:
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4 VAC 25-130-700.12 Petitions to initiate rulemaking.
The proposed amendment revises subsection (e) by changing the citation of the Virginia Code section from ``9-6.14:1'' to ``2.2- 4000A.''
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4 VAC 25-130-773.21 Improvidently issued permits; Rescission procedures.
The proposed amendment revises subsection (c), right to appeal, by changing the citation of Virginia Code section from ``9-6.14:1'' to ``2.2-4000A.''
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4 VAC 25-130-775.11 Administrative Review.
The proposed amendment revises subsection (b)(1) by changing the citation of the Virginia Code section from ``9-6.14:12'' to ``2.2- 4020.'' In addition, new subsection (d) is added to provide as follows:
(d) All requests for hearing or appeals for review and reconsideration made under this section shall be filed with the Director, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Post Office Drawer 900, Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219.
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4 VAC 25-130-775.13 Judicial Review.
New subsection (c) is added to provide as follows:
(c) All notices of appeal for judicial review of a Hearing Officer's final decision, or the final decision on review and reconsideration, shall be filed with the Director, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Post Office Drawer 900, Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219.
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4 VAC 25-130-784.20 Subsidence Control Plan.
Subsection (a)(3) is amended by deleting language concerning presubsidence survey requirements. The DMME stated that the provision was amended to delete those requirements that are counterpart to Federal regulations that were suspended effective December 22, 1999 (64 FR 71652). The following language is being deleted: ``condition of all noncommercial buildings or occupied residential dwellings and structures related thereto, that may be materially damaged or for which the reasonably foreseeable use may be diminished by subsidence, within the area encompassed by the applicable angle of draw; as well as a survey of the.'' In addition, the following language is being deleted: ``premining condition or value of such noncommercial buildings or occupied residential dwellings and structures related thereto and the.'' As revised, Subsection (a)(3) provides as follows:
(3) A survey of the quantity and quality of all drinking, domestic and residential water supplies within the permit area and adjacent area that could be contaminated, diminished, or interrupted by subsidence. If the applicant cannot make this survey because the owner will not allow access to the site, the applicant will notify the owner in writing of the effect that denial of access will have as described in 4VAC25-130-817.121(c)(4). The applicant must pay for any technical assessment or engineering evaluation used to determine the quantity and quality of drinking, domestic, or residential water supplies. The applicant must provide copies of the survey and any technical assessment or engineering evaluation to the property owner and the division.
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4 VAC 25-130-800.51 Administrative review of performance bond forfeiture.
Subsection (c)(1) is amended by changing the citation of the Virginia Code sections from ``9-6.14:12'' to ``2.2-4020.''
Subsection (e) is amended by clarifying that the ``Division of Mined Land Reclamation'' is now the ``Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.'' As amended, Subsection (e) provides as follows:
(e) All requests for hearing, or appeals for review and reconsideration made under this section; and all notices of appeal for judicial review of a Hearing Officer's final decision, or the final decision on review and reconsideration shall be filed with the Director, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Post Office Drawer 900, Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219.
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4 VAC 25-130-816.11 Signs and markers.
New Subsection (a)(4) is added and existing (a)(4) is redesignated as (a)(5).
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As amended, Subsection (a) provides as follows:
(a) Specifications. Signs and markers required under this Part shall--
(1) Be posted, maintained, and removed by the person who conducts the surface mining activities;
(2) Be of a uniform design throughout the operation that can be easily seen and read;
(3) Be made of durable material;
(4) For permit boundary markers on areas that are located on steep slopes above private dwellings or other occupied buildings, be made of or marked with fluorescent or reflective paint or material; and
(5) Conform to local ordinances and codes.
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4 VAC 25-130-816.43 Diversions.
New Subsection (d) is added, and existing Subsection (d) is redesignated as Subsection (e). New Subsection (d) provides as follows:
(d) In lieu of the requirements of paragraphs (a)(2) through (a)(9), (b)(2) through (b)(6) and (c)(1) through (c)(3) of this section, a natural stream restoration channel design approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of an approved U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this section.
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4 VAC 25-130-816.64 Use of explosives; blasting schedule.
New Subsection (a)(4) concerning seismic monitoring is added and provides as follows:
(4) Seismic monitoring shall be conducted when blasting operations on coal surface mining operations are conducted within 1,000 feet of a private dwelling or other occupied building.
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4 VAC 25-130-816.105 Backfilling and grading; thick overburden.
This proposed change is intended to revise Virginia's rule to be consistent with the counterpart Federal rule. Thin overburden is addressed under Virginia rule 4 VAC 25-130-816.104. This provision is amended as follows: The term ``Thin'' is deleted and replaced by the term ``Thick'' in subsection (a); the term ``insufficient'' is deleted and replaced by ``more than sufficient'' in subsection (a); the term ``less'' is deleted and replaced by the term ``more'' in subsection (a); and the term ``thin'' is deleted and replaced by the term ``thick'' in subsection (b). As amended this provision provides as follows:
(a) Thick overburden exists when spoil and other waste materials available from the entire permit area is more than sufficient to restore the disturbed area to its approximate original contour. More than sufficient spoil and other waste materials occur where the overburden thickness times the swell factor, plus the thickness of other available waste materials, is more than the combined thickness of the overburden and coal bed prior to removing the coal, so that after backfill and grading the surface configuration of the reclaimed area would not:
(1) Closely resemble the surface configuration of the land prior to mining; or
(2) Blend into and complement the drainage pattern of the surrounding terrain.
(b) Where thick overburden occurs within the permit area, the permittee at a minimum shall:
(1) Restore the approximate original contour and then use the remaining spoil and other waste materials to attain the lowest practicable grade, but not more than the angle of repose;
(2) Meet the requirements of 4VAC25-130-816.102(a)(2) through (j); and
(3) Dispose of any excess spoil in accordance with 4VAC25-130- 816.71 through 4VAC25-130-816.75.
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4 VAC 25-130-817.11 Signs and markers.
New Subsection (a)(4) is added and existing subsection (a)(4) is redesignated as (a)(5). New subsection (a)(4) provides as follows:
(a) Specifications. Signs and markers required under this Part shall --
(4) For permit boundary markers on areas that are located on steep slopes above private dwellings or other occupied dwellings, be made of or marked with fluorescent or reflective paint or material; and
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4 VAC 25-130-817.43 Diversions.
New Subsection (d) is added and existing Subsection (d) is redesignated as Subsection (e). As amended, new Subsection (d) provides as follows:
(d) In lieu of the requirements of paragraphs (a)(2) through (a)(9), (b)(2) through (b)(6) and (c)(1) through (c)(3) of this section, a natural stream restoration channel design approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of an approved U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this section.
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4 VAC 25-130-817.64 Use of explosives; general performance standards.
New Subsection (d) is added and provides as follows:
(d) Seismic monitoring shall be conducted when blasting operations on coal surface mining operations are conducted within 1,000 feet of a private dwelling or other occupied building.
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4 VAC 25-130-817.121 Subsidence control.
This provision is amended by deleting Subsections (c)(4)(i)-(iv) and redesignating Subsection (c)(4)(v) as subsection (c)(4). The DMME stated that this provision was amended to delete those requirements that are counterpart to Federal regulations that were suspended effective December 22, 1999 (64 FR 71652). This provision had created a rebuttable presumption that underground mining caused subsidence, where the subsidence damage occurred within the angle of draw. As amended, Subsection (c)(4) provides as follows:
(4) Information to be considered in determination of causation. In a determination whether damage to protected structures was caused by subsidence from underground mining, all relevant and reasonably available information will be considered by the division.
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4 VAC 25-130-842.15 Review of decision not to inspect or enforce.
The proposed amendment revises Subsection (d) by changing the citation of the Virginia Code section from ``9-6.14:1'' to ``2.2- 4000A.''
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4 VAC 25-130-843.12 Notices of violation.
The proposed amendment revises Subsection (j) by changing the citation of the Virginia Code section from ``9-6.14:1'' to ``2.2- 4000A.''
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4 VAC 25-130-843.13 Suspension or revocation of permits; pattern of violations.
The proposed amendment revises Subsection (b) by changing the citation of the Virginia Code section from ``9-6.14:12'' to ``2.2- 4020.'' Subsection (e) is amended by clarifying that the ``Division of Mined Land Reclamation'' is now the ``Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy.'' As amended, Subsection (e) provides as follows:
(e) All requests for hearing, or appeals for review and reconsideration made under this section; and all notices of appeal for judicial review of a Hearing Officer's final decision, or the final decision on review and reconsideration shall be filed with the Director, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Post Office Drawer 900, Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219.
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4 VAC 25-130-843.15. Informal public hearing.
The amendment revises Subsection (c) by changing the citation of the Virginia Code section from ``9-6.14:11'' to ``2.2-4019.''
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4 VAC 25-130-843.16 Formal review of citations.
Subsection (e) is amended by clarifying that the ``Division of Mined Land Reclamation'' is now the ``Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy.'' As amended, Subsection (e) provides as follows:
(e) All requests for hearing before a Hearing Officer, or appeals for review and reconsideration, made under this section, and all notices of appeal for judicial review of a Hearing Officer's final decision or a final decision on review and reconsideration, shall be filed with the Director, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Post Office Drawer 900, Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219.
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4 VAC 25-130-845.13 Point System.
Subsections (c)(1) and (d) are amended to correct typographical errors.
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At Subsection (c)(1), the phrase ``(a) and'' is added immediately before ``(b),'' and the phrase ``and (c)'' is deleted. As amended, Subsection (c)(1) provides as follows:
(c) Credit for good faith in attempting to achieve compliance.
(1) The division shall deduct from the total points assigned under Subsections (a) and (b) points based on the demonstrated good faith of the permittee in attempting to achieve rapid compliance after notification of the violation. Points shall be deducted as follows.
Subsection (d) is amended by adding ``(a),'' immediately before ``(b);'' adding ``and'' immediately following ``(b),'' and deleting ``and (d)'' immediately following (c). As amended, the language of Subsection (d) provides as follows:
(d) Determination of base penalty. The division shall determine the base amount of any civil penalty by converting the total number of points calculated under Subsections (a), (b), and (c), of this section to a dollar amount, according to the following schedule.
Subsection (e), concerning credit for additional penalties for previous history is amended at (e)(1) by adding the words ``[e]xcept for a violation that resulted in personal injury or fatality to any person.'' As amended, Subsection (e)(1) provides as follows:
(1) Except for a violation that resulted in personal injury or fatality to any person, the division shall reduce the base penalty determined under Subsection (d) by 10% if the permittee has had no violations cited by the division within the preceding 12-month period.
Subsection (f), concerning maximum penalty which the division may assess, is amended by adding the words ``except that if the violation resulted in a personal injury or fatality to any person, then the civil penalty determined under Subsection (d) shall be multiplied by a factor of twenty (20), not to exceed $70,000.'' As amended, Subsection (f) provides as follows:
(f) The maximum penalty which the division may assess under this section for each cessation order or notice of violation shall be $5,000, except that if the violation resulted in a personal injury or fatality to any person, then the civil penalty determined under Subsection (d) shall be multiplied by a factor of twenty (20), not to exceed $70,000. As provided in 4 VAC 25-130-845.15, each day of continuing violation may be deemed a separate violation for the purpose of assessing penalties.
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4 VAC 25-130-845.15 Assessment of separate violations for each day.
Subsection (a) is amended in the last sentence by adding the words ``or more'' immediately following the words ``a penalty of $5,000.'' As amended, Subsection (a) provides as follows:
(a) The division may assess separately a civil penalty for each day from the date of issuance of the notice of violation or cessation order to the date set for abatement of the violation. In determining whether to make such an assessment, the division shall consider the factors listed in 4 VAC 25-130-845.13 and may consider the extent to which the person to whom the notice or order was issued gained any economic benefit as a result of a failure to comply. For any violation which continues for two or more days and which has been assigned a penalty of $5,000 or more under 4 VAC 25- 130-845.13, the division shall assess a penalty for a minimum of two separate days.
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4 VAC 25-130-845.18 Procedures for assessment conference.
The proposed amendment revises subsection (b)(1) by changing the citation of the Virginia Code sections from ``9-6.14:11'' to ``2.2- 4019.''
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4 VAC 25-130-845.19 Request for hearing.
The proposed amendment revises Subsection (c) by changing the citation of the Virginia Code sections from ``9-6.14:12'' to ``2.2- 4020.''
New Subsection (d) is added to provide as follows:
All requests for hearing or appeals for review and reconsideration made under this section shall be filed with the Director, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Post Office Drawer 900, Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219.
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4 VAC 25-130-846.14 Amount of the individual civil penalty.
Subsection (b) is amended by adding new language to the end of the first sentence. As amended, Subsection (b) provides as follows:
(b) The penalty shall not exceed $5,000 for each violation, except that if the violation resulted in a personal injury or fatality to any person, then the civil penalty determined under 4 VAC 25-130-845.13(d) shall be multiplied by a factor of twenty (20), not to exceed $70,000. Each day of a continuing violation may be deemed a separate violation and the division may assess a separate individual civil penalty for each day the violation, failure or refusal continues, from the date of service of the underlying notice of violation, cessation order or other order incorporated in a final decision issued by the Director, until abatement or compliance is achieved.
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Public Comment Procedures
Under the provisions of 30 CFR 732.17(h), we are seeking your comments on whether the amendment satisfies the applicable program approval criteria of 30 CFR 732.15. If we approve the amendment, it will become part of the Virginia program.
Written Comments
Send your written or electronic comments to OSM at the address given above. Your written comments should be specific, pertain only to the issues proposed in this rulemaking, and include explanations in support of your recommendations. We may not consider or respond to your comments when developing the final rule if they are received after the close of the comment period (see DATES). We will make every attempt to log all comments into the administrative record, but comments delivered to an address other than the Big Stone Gap Field Office may not be logged in.
Electronic Comments
Please submit Internet comments as an ASCII Word file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Please also include Attn: SATS NO. VA-122-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 Big Stone Gap Field office at (540) 523-4303.
Availability of Comments
We will make comments, including names and addresses of respondents, available for public review during normal business hours. We will not consider anonymous comments. If individual respondents request confidentiality, we will honor their request to the extent allowable by law. Individual respondents who wish to withhold their name or address from public review, except for the city or town, must state this prominently at the beginning of their 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. (local time), on July 5, 2005. If you are disabled and need special accommodations to attend a public hearing, contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. We will arrange the location and time of the hearing with those persons requesting the hearing. If no one requests an opportunity to speak, we will not hold a hearing.
To assist the transcriber and ensure an accurate record, we request, if possible, that each person who speaks at the public hearing provide us with a written
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copy of his or her comments. The public hearing will continue on the specified date until everyone scheduled to speak has been given an opportunity to be 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 everyone scheduled to speak and others present in the audience who wish to speak, have been heard.
Public Meeting
If only one person requests an opportunity to speak, we may hold a public meeting rather than a public hearing. If you wish to meet with us to discuss the amendment, please request a meeting by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All such meetings will be open to the public and, if possible, we will post notices of meetings at the locations listed under ADDRESSES. We will make a written summary of each meeting a part of the Administrative Record.
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Procedural Determinations
Executive Order 12630--Takings
This rule does not have takings implications. This determination is based on the analysis performed for the counterpart Federal regulation.
Executive Order 12866--Regulatory Planning and Review
This rule is exempt from review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 12866.
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 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 the Federal regulations at 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 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 pursuant to SMCRA.
Executive Order 13175--Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments
In accordance with Executive Order 13175, we have evaluated the potential effects of this rule on federally-recognized Indian tribes and have determined that the rule does not have substantial direct effects on one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes. The basis for this determination is that our decision is on a State regulatory program and does not involve a Federal regulation involving Indian lands.
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
This rule does not require an environmental impact statement because section 702(d) of SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1292(d)) provides that agency decisions on proposed State regulatory program provisions do not constitute major Federal actions within the meaning of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).
Paperwork Reduction Act
This rule does not contain information collection requirements that require approval by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3507 et seq.).
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Department of the Interior certifies that this rule will not have 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. 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: (a) Does not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million; (b) Will not cause a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies, or geographic regions; and (c) 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 analysis performed under various laws and executive orders for the counterpart Federal regulations.
Unfunded Mandates
This rule will not impose an unfunded mandate on State, local, or tribal governments or the private sector of $100 million or more in any given year. This determination is based upon the analysis performed under various laws and executive orders for the counterpart Federal regulations.
List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 948
Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.
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Dated: May 23, 2005. James M. Taitt, Acting Regional Director, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center.
[FR Doc. 05-11979 Filed 6-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-U
