Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2012/05/02/2012-10567/iowa-regulatory-program
Timestamp: 2017-10-23 16:16:16
Document Index: 696560804

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 700', 'art 700', 'art 700', 'art 700', 'arts 701', 'art 705', 'art 707', 'art 865', 'art 710', 'art 715', 'art 716', 'art 761', 'art 762', 'art 764', 'art 772', 'art 773', 'art 774', 'art 777', 'art 778', 'art 779', 'art 780', 'art 783', 'art 784', 'art 785', 'art 795', 'art 800', 'art 810', 'art 815', 'art 816', 'art 817', 'art 819', 'art 823', 'art 827', 'art 840', 'art 845', 'art 846', 'art 850', 'art 955', 'art 775', 'art 775', 'art 775', 'art 775', 'art 775', 'art 775', 'art 775', 'art 775', 'art 775']

77 FR 25868
25868-25872 (5 pages)
Docket No. IA-016-FOR
Docket ID OSM-2011-0014
2012-10567
OSM-2011-0014
Adoptions by Reference of 30 CFR Part 700 to End Revised as of July 1, 2010
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2012-10567 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2012-10567
We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are announcing our approval of a proposed amendment to the Iowa regulatory program (Iowa program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Iowa proposed to revise its regulatory program by updating its adoption by reference of applicable portions of 30 CFR part 700 to End from the July 1, 2002, version to the July 1, 2010, version. Additionally, Iowa proposed to revise its Program related to ownership and control by updating its dates and adding new citations. Iowa intends to revise its program to be no less effective than the corresponding Federal regulations.
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 this Act * * *; and rules and regulations consistent with regulations issued by the Secretary pursuant to this 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 Iowa program effective April 10, 1981. You can find background information on the Iowa program, including the Secretary's findings, the disposition of comments, and the conditions of approval, in the January 21, 1981, Federal Register (46 FR 5885). You can also find later actions concerning the Iowa program and program amendments at 30 CFR 915.10, 915.15, and 915.16.
By letter dated August 25, 2011 (Administrative Record No. IA-451), Iowa sent us an amendment to its Program under SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.). Iowa sent the amendment in response to a September 30, 2009, letter we sent to Iowa in accordance with 30 CFR 732.17(c), concerning multiple changes to ownership and control requirements (Administrative Record No. IA-450.1). Iowa proposed to revise its regulatory program by updating its adoption by reference of applicable portions of 30 CFR 700 to End from the July 1, 2002, version to the July 1, 2010, version.
We announced receipt of the proposed amendment in the October 17, 2011, Federal Register (76 FR 64043). In the same document, we opened the public comment period and provided an opportunity for a public hearing or meeting on the adequacy of the amendment. We did not hold a public hearing or meeting because no one requested one. The public comment period ended on November 16, 2011. We did not receive any public comments.
Following are the findings we made concerning the amendment under SMCRA and the Federal regulations at 30 CFR 732.15 and 732.17. We are approving the amendment, as described below. Any revisions that we do not specifically discuss below concern nonsubstantive wording or editorial changes.
Iowa updated its adoption by reference of applicable sections of 30 CFR 700 to End from those in effect as of July 1, 2002, to those in effect as of July 1, 2010. Iowa also revised dates and added citations in its ownership and control requirement sections listed in the table below.
27-40.1 (17A, 207)(1) Authority and scope Part 700.
27-40.3 (207) General Part 700.
27-40.4 (207) Permanent regulatory program and exemption for coal extraction incidental to the extraction of other minerals Parts 701 and 702.
27-40.5 (207) Restrictions on financial interests of State employees Part 705.
27-40.6 (207) Exemptions for coal extraction incident to government—financed highway or other constructions Part 707.
27-40.7 (207) Protection of employees Part 865.
27-40.11 (207) Initial regulatory program Part 710.
27-40.12 (207) General performance standards—initial program Part 715.
27-40.13 (207) Special performance standards—initial program Part 716.
27-40.21 (207)(3) and (7) Areas designated by an Act of Congress Part 761.
27-40.22 (207)(1) Criteria for designating areas as unsuitable for surface coal mining operations Part 762.
27-40.23 (207) State procedures for designating areas unsuitable for surface coal mining operations Part 764.
27-40.30 (207) Requirements for coal exploration Part 772.
27-40.31 (207)(9), (10), and (11) Requirements for permits and permit processing Part 773.
27-40.32 (207)(7) Revision or amendment; renewal; and transfer, assignment, or sale of permit rights Part 774.
27-40.33 (207) General content requirements for permit applications Part 777.
27-40.34 (207) Permit application—minimum requirements for legal, financial, compliance, and related information Part 778.
27-40.35 (207) Surface mining permit applications—minimum requirements for information on environmental resources Part 779.
27-40.36 (207)(2) Surface mining permit applications—minimum requirements for reclamation and operation plan Part 780.
27-40.37 (207) Underground mining permit applications—minimum requirements for information on environmental resources Part 783.
27-40.38 (207)(6) Underground mining permit applications—minimum requirements for reclamation and operation plan Part 784.
27-40.39 (207)(2) and (3) Requirements for permits for special categories of mining Part 785.
27-40.41 (207) Permanent regulatory program—small operator assistance program Part 795.
27-40.51 (207) Bond and insurance requirements for surface coal mining and reclamation operations under regulatory programs Part 800.
27-40.61 (207) Permanent program performance standards—general provisions Part 810.
27-40.62 (207) Permanent program performance standards—coal exploration Part 815.
27-40.63 (207) Permanent program performance standards—surface mining activities Part 816.
27-40.64 (207) Permanent program performance standards—underground mining activities Part 817.
27-40.65 (207) Special permanent program performance standards—auger mining Part 819.
27-40.66 (207) Special permanent program performance standards—operations on prime farmland Part 823.
27-40.67 (207) Permanent program performance standards—coal preparation plants not located within the permit area of a mine Part 827.
27-40.71 (207) State regulatory authority—inspection and enforcement Part 840.
27-40.74 (207) Civil penalties Part 845.
27-40.75 (207) Individual civil penalties Part 846.
27-40.81 (207) Permanent regulatory program requirements—standards for certification of blasters Part 850.
27-40.82 (207) Certification of blasters Part 955.
27-40.91 (17A, 207) Procedural rules—contested cases and public hearings Part 775.11 and 775.13.
27-40.92 (17A, 207)(8) Contested cases Part 775.11 and 775.13.
27-40.93 (17A, 207) Commencement of proceeding Part 775.11 and 775.13.
27-40.94 (17A, 207) Appeals of division notices and orders Part 775.11 and 775.13.
27-40.95 (17A, 207) Prehearing motions Part 775.11 and 775.13.
27-40.96 (17A, 207) Issuance of notices of hearing Part 775.11 and 775.13.
27-40.97 (17A, 207) Hearing procedures Part 775.11 and 775.13.
27-40.98 (17A, 207) Posthearing procedures Part 775.11 and 775.13.
27-40.99 (17A, 207) Decision of the administrative law judge, procedure in appeals before the committee, extensions of time, public hearings, and judicial review of the committee decision Part 775.11 and 775.13.
We find that Iowa's revised regulations adopted by reference are no less effective than the corresponding Federal regulations, and we are approving them.
On August 31, 2011, under 30 CFR 732.17(h)(11)(i) and section 503(b) of SMCRA, we requested comments on the amendments from various Federal agencies with an actual or potential interest in the Iowa program (Administrative Record No. IA-451.1). We did not receive any comments.
Under 30 CFR 732.17(h)(11)(ii), we are required to get a written concurrence from EPA for those provisions of the program amendment that relate to air or water quality standards issued under the authority of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) or the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). None of the revisions that Iowa proposed to make in this amendment pertain to air or water quality standards. Therefore, we did not ask EPA to concur on the amendment. However, by letter dated August 31, 2011, under 30 CFR 732.17(h)(11)(i), we requested comments on the amendment from the EPA (Administrative Record No. IA-451.1). The EPA did not respond to our request.
Under 30 CFR 732.17(h)(4), we are required to request comments from the SHPO and ACHP on amendments that may have an effect on historic properties. By letter dated August 31, 2011, we requested comments on the amendment (Administrative Record No. IA-451.1), but neither responded to our request.
Based on the above findings, we approve the amendment Iowa sent us on August 25, 2011.
Ervin J Barchenger,
[FR Doc. 2012-10567 Filed 5-1-12; 8:45 am]