81 FR 20591 - Texas Regulatory Program

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 68 (April 8, 2016)

Page Range		20591-20592
FR Document		2016-08168

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Texas regulatory program (Texas program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Texas proposes revisions to its regulations regarding annual permit fees. Texas intends to revise its program to improve operational efficiency. This document gives the times and locations that the Texas 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.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 68 (Friday, April 8, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20591-20592]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08168]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 943

[SATS No. TX-067-FOR; Docket ID: OSM-2016-0001; S1D1S SS08011000 
SX064A000 167S180110; S2D2S SS08011000 SX064A000 16XS501520]


Texas Regulatory Program

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

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

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SUMMARY: We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 
(OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Texas 
regulatory program (Texas program) under the Surface Mining Control and 
Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Texas proposes revisions to 
its regulations regarding annual permit fees. Texas intends to revise 
its program to improve operational efficiency.
    This document gives the times and locations that the Texas 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 on this amendment until 4:00 
p.m., c.t., May 9, 2016. If requested, we will hold a public hearing on 
the amendment on May 3, 2016. We will accept requests to speak at a 
hearing until 4:00 p.m., c.t. on April 25, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by SATS No. TX-067-FOR, 
by any of the following methods:
     Mail/Hand Delivery: Director, Tulsa Field Office, Office 
of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1645 South 101st East 
Avenue, Suite 145, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74128-4629.
     Fax: (918) 581-6419.
     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 this document.
    Docket: For access to the docket to review copies of the Texas 
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 Tulsa Field Office or going 
to www.regulations.gov.
    Director: Tulsa Field Office, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation 
and Enforcement, 1645 South 101st East Avenue, Suite 145, Tulsa, 
Oklahoma 74128-4629, Telephone: (918) 581-6430.
    In addition, you may review a copy of the amendment during regular 
business hours at the following location: Surface Mining and 
Reclamation Division, Railroad Commission of Texas, 1701 North Congress 
Avenue, Capitol Station, P.O. Box 12967, Austin, Texas 78711-2967, 
Telephone: (512) 463-6900.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Tulsa Field Office. 
Telephone: (918) 581-6430. Email: Debbie Dale at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background on the Texas Program
II. Description of the Proposed Amendment
III. Public Comment Procedures
IV. Procedural Determinations

I. Background on the Texas 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 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

[[Page 20592]]

criteria, the Secretary of the Interior conditionally approved the 
Texas program effective February 16, 1980. You can find background 
information on the Texas program, including the Secretary's findings, 
the disposition of comments, and the conditions of approval of the 
Texas program in the February 27, 1980, Federal Register (45 FR 12998). 
You can also find later actions concerning the Texas program and 
program amendments at 30 CFR 943.10, 943.15, and 943.16.

II. Description of the Proposed Amendment

    By letter dated November 17, 2015 (Administrative Record No. TX-
705), Texas sent us an amendment to its program under SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 
1201 et seq.) at its own initiative. Below is a summary of the changes 
proposed by Texas. The full text of the program amendment is available 
for you to read at the locations listed above under ADDRESSES.
    Texas proposes to revise its regulation at 16 Texas Administrative 
Code (TAC) section 12.108(b) regarding annual permit fees by:
    (1) Removing paragraph (b)(1), regarding fees for each acre of land 
within the permit area on which coal or lignite was actually removed 
during the calendar year;
    (2) Increasing the amount of the fee, from $12.00 to $13.05, for 
each acre of land within a permit area covered by a reclamation bond on 
December 31st of the year; and
    (3) Increasing the amount of the fee, from $6,540 to $6,600, for 
each permit in effect on December 31st of the year.
    Texas fully funds its share of costs to regulate the coal mining 
industry with fees paid by the coal industry. Texas charges three fees 
to meet these costs, a permit application fee and two annual fees as 
mentioned above. The proposed fee revisions are intended to provide 
adequate funding to pay the State's cost of operating its regulatory 
program, and provide incentives for industry to accomplish reclamation 
and achieve bond release as quickly as possible.

III. 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 State program.

Electronic or Written Comments

    If you submit written comments, they should be specific, confined 
to issues pertinent to the proposed regulations, and explain the reason 
for any recommended change(s). We appreciate any and all comments, but 
those most useful and likely to influence decisions on the final 
regulations will be those that either involve personal experience or 
include citations to and analyses of SMCRA, its legislative history, 
its implementing regulations, case law, other pertinent State or 
Federal laws or regulations, technical literature, or other relevant 
publications.
    We cannot ensure that comments received after the close of the 
comment period (see DATES) or sent to an address other than those 
listed (see ADDRESSES) will be included in the docket for this 
rulemaking and considered.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Public Hearing

    If you wish to speak at the public hearing, contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by 4:00 p.m., c.t. on 
April 25, 2016. If you are disabled and need reasonable 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 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 
are 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.

IV. Procedural Determinations

Executive Order 12866--Regulatory Planning and Review

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

Other Laws and Executive Orders Affecting Rulemaking

    When a State submits a program amendment to OSMRE for review, our 
regulations at 30 CFR 732.17(h) require us to publish a notice in the 
Federal Register indicating receipt of the proposed amendment, its text 
or a summary of its terms, and an opportunity for public comment. We 
conclude our review of the proposed amendment after the close of the 
public comment period and determine whether the amendment should be 
approved, approved in part, or not approved. At that time, we will also 
make the determinations and certifications required by the various laws 
and executive orders governing the rulemaking process and include them 
in the final rule.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 943

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: February 11, 2016.
Len Meier,
Acting Regional Director, Mid-Continent Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-08168 Filed 4-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-05-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 68 / Friday, April 8, 2016 / Proposed Rules 20591

Example 8. [The text of proposed published elsewhere in this issue of the Reclamation and Enforcement, 1645
Example 8 of § 1.7874–4(j) is the same Federal Register.] South 101st East Avenue, Suite 145,
as the text of Example 8 of § 1.7874– ■ Par. 17. Section 1.7874–12 is added to Tulsa, Oklahoma 74128–4629.
4T(j) as redesignated and revised read as follows: • Fax: (918) 581–6419.
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
§ 1.7874–12 Definitions. www.regulations.gov. Follow the
Register.]
Example 9. [The text of proposed [The text of proposed § 1.7874–12 is instructions for submitting comments.
Example 9 of § 1.7874–4(j) is the same the same as the text of § 1.7874–12T Instructions: All submissions received
as the text of Example 9 of § 1.7874– published elsewhere in this issue of the must include the agency name and
4T(j) as redesignated and revised Federal Register.] docket number for this rulemaking. For
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal detailed instructions on submitting
John Dalrymple,
Register.] comments and additional information
Deputy Commissioner for Services and on the rulemaking process, see the
(k) introductory text [Reserved]. Enforcement.
(1) [The text of proposed § 1.7874– ‘‘Public Comment Procedures’’ heading
[FR Doc. 2016–07299 Filed 4–4–16; 5:00 pm]
4(k)(1) is the same as the text of of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
BILLING CODE 4830–01–P section of this document.
§ 1.7874–4T(k)(1) published elsewhere
in this issue of the Federal Register.] Docket: For access to the docket to
(k)(2) through (k)(3) [Reserved]. review copies of the Texas program, this
■ Par. 11. Section 1.7874–6 is added to DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR amendment, a listing of any scheduled
read as follows: public hearings, and all written
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation comments received in response to this
§ 1.7874–6 Stock transferred by members and Enforcement document, you must go to the address
of the EAG.
listed below during normal business
[The text of proposed § 1.7874–6 is 30 CFR Part 943 hours, Monday through Friday,
the same as the text of § 1.7874–6T excluding holidays. You may receive
[SATS No. TX–067–FOR; Docket ID: OSM–
published elsewhere in this issue of the 2016–0001; S1D1S SS08011000 SX064A000 one free copy of the amendment by
Federal Register.] 167S180110; S2D2S SS08011000 contacting OSMRE’s Tulsa Field Office
■ Par. 12. Section 1.7874–7 is added to SX064A000 16XS501520] or going to www.regulations.gov.
read as follows: Director: Tulsa Field Office, Office of
Texas Regulatory Program Surface Mining Reclamation and
§ 1.7874–7 Disregard of certain stock
attributable to passive assets. AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Enforcement, 1645 South 101st East
[The text of proposed § 1.7874–7 is Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior. Avenue, Suite 145, Tulsa, Oklahoma
the same as the text of § 1.7874–7T 74128–4629, Telephone: (918) 581–
ACTION: Proposed rule; public comment
published elsewhere in this issue of the 6430.
period and opportunity for public In addition, you may review a copy of
Federal Register.] hearing on proposed amendment.
■ Par. 13. Section 1.7874–8 is added to the amendment during regular business
read as follows: SUMMARY: We, the Office of Surface hours at the following location: Surface
Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Mining and Reclamation Division,
§ 1.7874–8 Disregard of certain stock (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a Railroad Commission of Texas, 1701
attributable to multiple domestic entity North Congress Avenue, Capitol Station,
proposed amendment to the Texas
acquisitions. P.O. Box 12967, Austin, Texas 78711–
regulatory program (Texas program)
[The text of proposed § 1.7874–8 is under the Surface Mining Control and 2967, Telephone: (512) 463–6900.
the same as the text of § 1.7874–8T Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
published elsewhere in this issue of the Act). Texas proposes revisions to its Director, Tulsa Field Office. Telephone:
Federal Register.] regulations regarding annual permit (918) 581–6430. Email: Debbie Dale at
■ Par. 14. Section 1.7874–9 is added to ddale@osmre.gov.
fees. Texas intends to revise its program
read as follows:
to improve operational efficiency. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
§ 1.7874–9 Disregard of certain stock in This document gives the times and
I. Background on the Texas Program
third-country transactions. locations that the Texas program and II. Description of the Proposed Amendment
[The text of proposed § 1.7874–9 is proposed amendment to that program III. Public Comment Procedures
the same as the text of § 1.7874–9T are available for your inspection, the IV. Procedural Determinations
published elsewhere in this issue of the comment period during which you may
Federal Register.] submit written comments on the I. Background on the Texas Program
■ Par. 15. Section 1.7874–10 is added to amendment, and the procedures that we Section 503(a) of the Act permits a
read as follows: will follow for the public hearing, if one State to assume primacy for the
is requested. regulation of surface coal mining and
§ 1.7874–10 Disregard of certain
DATES: We will accept written reclamation operations on non-Federal
distributions.
comments on this amendment until 4:00 and non-Indian lands within its borders
[The text of proposed § 1.7874–10 is p.m., c.t., May 9, 2016. If requested, we by demonstrating that its program
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

the same as the text of § 1.7874–10T will hold a public hearing on the
published elsewhere in this issue of the includes, among other things, ‘‘a State
amendment on May 3, 2016. We will law which provides for the regulation of
Federal Register.] accept requests to speak at a hearing
■ Par. 16. Section 1.7874–11 is added to
surface coal mining and reclamation
until 4:00 p.m., c.t. on April 25, 2016. operations in accordance with the
read as follows:
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, requirements of this Act . . .; and rules
§ 1.7874–11 Rules regarding inversion identified by SATS No. TX–067–FOR, and regulations consistent with
gain. by any of the following methods: regulations issued by the Secretary
[The text of proposed § 1.7874–11 is • Mail/Hand Delivery: Director, Tulsa pursuant to this Act.’’ See 30 U.S.C.
the same as the text of § 1.7874–11T Field Office, Office of Surface Mining 1253(a)(1) and (7). On the basis of these

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Document Created: 2018-02-07 13:50:18
Document Modified: 2018-02-07 13:50:18

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Proposed Rules
Action		Proposed rule; public comment period and opportunity for public hearing on proposed amendment.
Dates		We will accept written comments on this amendment until 4:00 p.m., c.t., May 9, 2016. If requested, we will hold a public hearing on the amendment on May 3, 2016. We will accept requests to speak at a hearing until 4:00 p.m., c.t. on April 25, 2016.
Contact		Director, Tulsa Field Office. Telephone: (918) 581-6430. Email: Debbie Dale at [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 20591
CFR Associated		Intergovernmental Relations; Surface Mining and Underground Mining

81 FR 20591 - Texas Regulatory Program

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOROffice of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 68 (April 8, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement