3/24/83 

Under 30 CFR 843.15 

Purpose. This directive establishes the Office of surface Mining's (OSMI 

policy on infernal public hearings under 30 CPR 843 .15, August 16, 1982. 

2. Definitions. None. 

3. Policy/procedures. 

a. B3ckgrouncl. 30 CFR 843.15 provides that a notice of violation or 

cessation order which requires cessation of mining ... shall expire within 30 

days after it is served unless an informal public hearing has been held with~n 

that tirr.e. 

30 CFR 843.15(b) provides =:-.at written notice be delivered or sent by 

certified mail to the per:son to whom the notice Of violation or cessation order 

was issued no later than five days after service of the notice of violation or 

the cessation order. 

b. Policy. 

(1) OS!l will make diligent ef!"orts to conduct informe.l hearings under 

30 CFR 843.15. 

(2) 'ltle attachment, "N:Jtice of Right to Informal PUblic Hearing,• and 

the :"'ormatted resp:Jnse will be used to satisfy t!1e written notice requirement 

of 30 CFR 843.15(b) (1) (i). 

c. Procedures. 

(l) Hhen a cessation order or notice of violation requ1nng cessation 

of m~n1ng 1s served, the attached form letter 'Notice of Right to Informal 

PUblic Hearing• shall be included. 

(2) !n the event that the "l\'otice of Right to Informal PUblic Hearinc;• 

is not served personally or by certified rr.ail, with t.'">e cessation order or 

notice of violation, it must be served personally or sent by certified ".ai1 

within five days. 

{3) If a request for an informal hearing is received on or after t.l-Je 

21st day after service of t.'Je notice of violation or cessation order, t.'Je 

;>erraittee will be deemed to have consented to an extension of tiJne for holding 

the hearing. The extension of tiJne shall b€ equal to the nurrber o~ Gays 

elapsed after the 21st day. 
3.c.(3) 

(4) l·:'her. citing v:.c!.!ticr.s, insr.-ectcrs s~.ou:c £-<=j:arate vio:at.'.cm: ,"h".:ch 

require an inforrm! r.J.nesite hearing from t.::ose \·'hie~ Co not, ar:C iS<:ue 

Sf1l5..rtt.e not.'.cE£ cf. ~ic-loticn !c~ eact-. t)-pe. 

(5) Inspectors shou1C: recorC: service of the "t:otice of Rigtt to 

Informal Public Hearing• :.n the ir.spection report. Refu.::al of the permittee to 

acknowledge receipt of the form Coes not invalidate its service. 

4. Rewrting Reouirerrer>t-s. !:ee paragraph 3.c.(5) at:ove 

5. References. 

(a) secticn 521 of the SUrface llir.ing Control ana Reclar:-atior. Act of 1977. 

(b) 30 CFR 843.15 

6. E:'fects on Other r:ccl!l'lents. Replaces Directive, "Inforr..e.l Public llearing 

uncer 30 CFR 722 .Is, • If:t:-6. 

7. Effective Date. L~n issuance 

8. ContaC':.. Chief, Branch cf Inspection on (F':'S-343-5384) 

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Nc:'lCE OF P.IQ:':' 'X It:FCR!'AL P~l,IC HEARING 

FUrs~ant to Federal regulation 30 CFR 843.15, yo~ are entitled to an Informal 

Pllblic Hearin;; to be held v.·ithin 30 days of service of notice of violation/ 

cessation order ~ served on . ':'his 

informal pub~ic heonng lS tr. accation to yo~r ngnt to a forf.la1 p~blic 

hearing before an administrative law j~dge under 30 CFR 8~3.16. 

you will be deemed to have v.·aivecl yocr right to this hearing unle.ss a request 

is received within 30 days after service of the notice or order, at 

;Field (Area Off~ces] 

You may use t.'le attachecl sheet to rec;:uest a hearing. \·iaiver of this heari~g 

does not constitute a waiver of yo~.:r rigtt to revie1~ of the notice, order, or 

any proposed assessment pursuant to 30 CFR 845.19 or yo~r right to an ~nforr.,al ASSeSSr.lent Co:lferenCE p.lrsuant to 30 CFi: 845.18. 

Pl.lrsuant to 30 CFR 843.15(d), notice of the time and place of the informal 

hearing r.1ust be posted at t.~e Fielcl/Area Office closest to the f.linesite and 

must be p.lblished, 11here practicable, in a newspaper of general circulation. 

Any person has t.'1e right to participate in the hearing. 

I!: your rec;:uest is received within 30 clays of your beins served ~<ith t:-.e 

a~ve notice of violation or cessation order as provided in 30 CFR 8?3.15, 

you will be contacte= by thiE cffice to arrange for an informal hearing. :f 

your request :.s received on or after the 21st Cay <:.fter you were served with 

the above notice of violation or cessation order, you will be deemecl to have 

consented to an extension of ti.r.le for holding the inforr..al ~earing. ':'he 

eKtension of ti.J:le shall be ec;:ual to the n\Jr.lber of days elapsed after the 21st 

day. 

Aut.'1orizecl Representative 

Person served wit.'! tl:ltice :Date .of Service 
[FielG Cffice J..c'Ciess] 

Dear Sirs: 

Pursuar.t to 30 C"F. 043.15, I re<;:ue.st an inforr..al pt:blic h€arir.g in res.,ril 

to notice of violation(c) # ancC/or cessation orCer(s) ~ t(J' te 1epncne r.ur.ber 1!' ( ) ___________ _ 

ll~.::-e o~ ?errr.it::Ee or Operator 

.;Cdress of Perr.i~tee cr Operator 

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