Zasoby i środowisko · 2/14/2012

Ohio Regulatory Program

We are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Ohio regulatory program (the "Ohio program") under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act) and reopening the public comment period. The comment period is being reopened to incorporate changes that Ohio made to its initial amendment submission of 2007 regarding Ohio's alternative bonding system. We did not make a decision on that submission since Ohio planned to submit additional revisions in response to OSM's review of the submission. The comment period is being reopened to incorporate recent amendment submissions, which consist of changes in response to OSM's concerns and other changes that Ohio made at its own initiative. Taken together, the revised amendment includes legislative and regulatory actions regarding subjects such as bond program changes, AML provisions, program funding, permitting standards, valid existing rights, re-mining, blasting, and topsoil handling. It also includes two actuarial reports on Ohio's bonding program and letters to Ohio's Governor from the Reclamation Forfeiture Fund Advisory Board of Ohio with recommendations regarding these reports. This document gives the