West Virginia Regulatory Program
What happened
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) approved two amendments to West Virginia's regulatory program under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. These revisions, proposed by West Virginia, cover electronic permit filing, pre-subsidence surveys, show cause orders, and certain fees for surface mining permits. They finalized approval for permit fee provisions that were tentatively approved in an interim rule effective July 14, 2011.
Why it matters
This action standardizes the regulations for surface coal mining in West Virginia, ensuring compliance with federal law. It also makes final specific permit fee increases, including the State's surface mining permit filing fee of $3,500 and the permit renewal fee of $3,000.
Who it affects
- ›Surface coal mining operators in West Virginia
- ›West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP)
- ›Applicants for surface mining permits
- ›Federal agencies overseeing mining regulations
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