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[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 25 (Monday, February 8, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 6479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02460]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 946

[SATS No. VA-127-FOR; Docket ID: OSM-2015-0003; S1D1S SS08011000 
SX064A000 67F 167S180110; S2D2S SS08011000 SX064A000 33F 16XS501520]

Virginia Regulatory Program

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of the public comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are reopening the public comment period on the proposed 
amendment to the Virginia regulatory program (the Virginia program) 
published on October 22, 2015. The comment period is being reopened in 
order to afford the public more time to comment. Virginia is proposing 
to revise its regulations in light of legislative changes made by the 
General Assembly of Virginia. If approved, the proposed amendment would 
incorporate these legislative changes into the approved State program. 
Additionally, the state regulations would be amended to revise the 
language of the public participation regulations to clarify proof of 
publication, remove the self-bonding instrument, and remove duplicate 
pool bond regulations already addressed under the Code of Virginia.

DATES: We will accept written comments on this amendment until 4:00 
p.m., Eastern Standard Time (E.S.T.), March 9, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by SATS No. VA-127-FOR, 
Docket ID: OSM-2015-003 by any of the following methods:
     Mail/Hand Delivery: Mr. Earl Bandy, Field Office Director, 
Knoxville Field Office, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and 
Enforcement, 710 Locust Street, 2nd Floor, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number for this rulemaking. For detailed instructions on 
submitting comments and additional information on the rulemaking 
process, see the ``Public Comment Procedures'' heading of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the proposed rule published in the 
Federal Register on October 22, 2015, (80 FR 63933).
    Docket: For access to the docket to 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, you 
must go to the address listed below during normal business hours, 
Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. You may receive one free 
copy of the amendment by contacting OSMRE's Knoxville Field Office or 
the full text of the program amendment is available for you to read at 
www.regulations.gov.
Mr. Earl Bandy, Field Office Director, Knoxville Field Office, Office 
of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 710 Locust Street, 2nd 
Floor, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902. Telephone: (865) 545-4103 ext 186. 
Email: [email protected].

    In addition, you may review a copy of the amendment during regular 
business hours at the following location: Mr. Harve A. Mooney, Legal 
Services Officer, Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, 
3405 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219. Telephone: 
(276) 523-8271. Email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Earl Bandy, Field Office Director, 
Knoxville Field Office. Telephone: (865) 545-4103 ext 186. Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 22, 2015, we published a proposed 
rule in the Federal Register that would revise the Virginia program (80 
FR 63933) (Administrative Record No. VA 2026). The amendment involves 
statutory provisions of the Virginia Coal Surface Mining Control and 
Reclamation Act of 1979 (VASMCRA) and regulation changes that revise 
the language of the public participation regulations to clarify proof 
of publication, remove the self-bonding instrument, and remove 
duplicate pool bond regulations already addressed under the Code of 
Virginia.
    On November 18, 2015, we received a request from an attorney 
representing Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards and the Sierra Club 
to extend the public comment period (Administrative Record No. VA 
2027). We are granting the request to afford the public more time to 
comment on the amendment.
    The full text of the program amendment is available for you to read 
at the locations listed above under ADDRESSES or at 
www.regulations.gov.

    Dated: December 9, 2015.
Thomas D. Shope,
Regional Director, Appalachian Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-02460 Filed 2-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-05-P
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