|
Federal Register /Val. 60, No. 62 / Fiiday. Mazch 31, 1995 /Rules and Regulations 16733
<br />Indian lands, are required to comply . Acq clea;lynoted Chat
<br />with these pmvisipns'~for operations-~ were riptyco'{prohibit.
<br />~~ cut~uiucted afro O~tubetu3..1992. .: '~ undiar~raun3poul''min
<br />~,~ ~Themajorltyofc0iriinentersd6r3ed ~,WittiouE;thp~Fd~pensa
<br />that the prOVisign to,rGquire the ' ~.; ~comrnertter asserted tki
<br />,.,. permrttee:to:Peomptly,tePlaoa ant.:.:'^ woyi'si,befortec).to~cea
<br />dcuCking,domesuc`orreSidential water they;couldn t ieplacet
<br />necessary to implement d'te provLSlon of
<br />' ~.unequtvocally require ropliwetneui ~ ubl{ge1 go;take mlilunization meaiurus
<br />sectien 720(a) (2)'. ~, ~
<br />new SMCRA ,'Further; OSM does not anticipate that" ` . that are technologically and ~ . `" '
<br />While commenters support the :''underground mining Operalionswill he ; economically'feasil~le.;Upon wiitten
<br />.adoption of [he proposed rt,la, rhey,;~~ ~~: d:imabte to~comply with this sranrrnry , ` rnnsant'a,P,eha.ovy~iC,is of such struMurt
<br />maintain that it is ~nm. necessary to.,-;• ~: ~ ; ;mandate: For example, if the pertnittee~': ~~ 'or'focilltiaslnv;rninimizatiarrmeasures
<br />monitor each water well in order to' ~ is unable to restore a spring ar aquifer, would be ~r aired:'."
<br />establish that subsidence has impacted.
<br />a water supply well. OSM agrees that in
<br />many Instances it may not be necessary
<br />to monitor each well. The location and
<br />&eyuenay of well monitoring will be
<br />addressed an a ease-bycase basis .
<br />pursuant to existing paraggraphs
<br />7R6.14(Yt)(1) and 817.41(c).
<br />, A commenter asked for clarificatrdn
<br />that this provision would not in any
<br />the petmittee should still be able to '
<br />provide }voter from an altemadve
<br />source, duck as a public water supply,
<br />or by pipeline from another location.
<br />Seetlon 8~7.121(a)•-Subsidence Conual
<br />OSM isradoP~6 Paragraph ....
<br />817.121(x)(1) as proposed.,The ~.
<br />requirement provides that the.perinittee
<br />must either adoptttreasures consistent
<br />Secuan 2504 (a) (2) (1J).: of the Energy
<br />Policy Adc piiivideS, chat any tvletnaklnp
<br />regarding protecd¢n of natural gas or
<br />petroleum pipelines from subsidence
<br />damage is to be dona~ after the study
<br />which OSM >s riiandated to perform
<br />pursuant to.pa~ag{aph 2504(a){2)(A) of
<br />the Energy'policy.Atx Some,.
<br />rommenteis express cdncent that
<br />propose(i'paragraph 817:121(x) (2)
<br />way affect prope[ty rights under existing with known technology which preyent,_.;. _proludged;this issYte, while~others
<br />state water laws consistent with subsidencecausing malarial darrmge w.., , support the min (recttusc.dtq}r.Lelicve it
<br />paragraph 71'7(x). Another commenter. 'the extent technologically and °'-:.'l--":~doea'ittipose':a8tlitional subsidence '
<br />i
<br />'s
<br />f
<br />l
<br />i
<br />e
<br />S
<br />further recommended titer OSM amend n
<br />:...,
<br />easib
<br />ze m
<br />e, maxim
<br />economically s:
<br />;damage prOteuWn Eric pipelin
<br />ince
<br />the provision to regatta that wa[errights stability, and maintain the vaMae anti . ' OSM has: t~otyercnmptvrrrf the aci~riy
<br />regarding the'affected wall or.spting be ~ reasdnably foreseeable:uae~of surface ='_~
<br />~ mandated by, the'Energy Policy~Aa,
<br />approved by the State Engineer or .',::. . lands: oradopt mining technology ~ ~ OSM doesnot intend this iulemaking to
<br />othetwlselx: recognized under State ,which provideg for planned subsidence
<br />' affect, interpret,`or clarify the status quo
<br />law: OSM paints out that nothing in this .
<br />in a predictable and cOntmlled manner regarc ifing.subsiaeiieetontrol
<br />requirement is Intended to create an This laggtiage is not Sntended to t>e a- : - regtiiremenrs fot'riatural gas or
<br />'
<br />exceptfon to section T37(a) of SMCRA.
<br />~ change from the rules promulgated in
<br />~ petroleum ttansmi
<br />ssio» pipelines.
<br />-
<br />Seeuon 717(a),requltros deform rte w 1Bg3),
<br />1383. (.°~ee i8 PR 24663.1une 1. _
<br />branch antl gathering linca. or
<br />State water law an questions of water and relies on the basis and purpose
<br />' dis~rlbution males, For, these and other
<br />_
<br />allocation and use. OSM irtterprets stated in 19$3: TYi1s rulemaking makes reaspris discussed below,'OSM leas
<br />~
<br />secuon 720 and rhr implementing rules minor editing changes intended to more ..
<br />decided to limit 817;121(x) (2) [o those
<br />as not requfring the replacement of clearly elect the tneanins of the , ,structures protec[ed`.underrhe Energy :.
<br />water supplies to the extent existing tile, Thus.'under this policy Act namely:rioncommerttsl
<br />underground muting activities Consume.;,, , as an alternative W adopting
<br />provisio building;.and occtigied~.re8ldential
<br />'
<br />or legitimately use the water supply ~~ ~
<br />measur aoiisis[cnt wilt lu wwu ucturex.
<br />aWellings and relatedsti
<br />under a senior waterrfgitt determined: technologywhichprevents subsidence-° -Commentets'tiaimthaCthe proposed
<br />.'.' ~ ~utiderappl4cableStatelaw::See:'Xnre :°.'
<br />~ causingtnaterial:datnage;[o,theextent
<br />~ provision.tk)at,iequiredpectnitteesto;;_
<br />"Prrrirar7en[:,ur£ece Mining Rcgulottort :~. teehnblogiplly and economically
<br />~ minimize damage.fmm~plannari .*
<br />~
<br />Llt~atlon II, Round III, 820 F.~Supp. feasible. an permittee mayadOpt mining
<br />' .
<br />subsidence operations was vague and
<br />'
<br />1519, 1525 (D.C.D.1:: 1985). However. ' provides for planned
<br />technology which unworkable since little guidance was
<br />OSM believes Chat section T 17 (a) subsidence in a predictable and provided as to what ntirtirrtizing damage
<br />.
<br />concerns rights under Stale water law to Controlled matuter. .
<br />would antall, Commenters argue [hat
<br />. .consumption ar~usa of water, acid was OSM is adopting paragraph OSM's contenHon.that the new rule
<br />no[ intended ro address destruction or 817.121(a)(Z) with modification from would Clarify an unresolvedissue over
<br />damage or Ctre source of vraler, Vr the peoposcd rule. Under the proposed the meaning of paragraph 817.121(x)
<br />cantaminadon of the water supply. rule, if a pet'mittee employed mitring was misguided, since the proposed rule
<br />Thus. OSM anticipates that technology which provides for planned did little to Uadfy the issue and would
<br />underground mining acuHties which ~ subsidence in a predictable and likely result Sn even more lidliadon.
<br />cause destruction or damage of a water controlled manner, the permittee would Cattunanters also allege trier, rather than
<br />'
<br />supply source, or contamination of a ~ ~~ ~ have been required to take necessary rirted
<br />clarify the obligation of pla
<br />water supply. wotild be subject to the`:`'. and prudent measures, cOnsisten[ with subsidence operations coriceming
<br />replacement requirements of secnon 720 the mining method employed, to subsidence damage, the prdposea cute
<br />even it the petmittee possessed senior ..: minimize material damage to suuface would effectively remove (he exception
<br />weer rghts. '
<br />' lands. structures or facilities to rho granted in SMCRA for planned
<br />:. ~
<br />A commenter recommended that eMen[ technologically acrd ecutionilcally subsidence. These commentcra
<br />cgtnpensadon be available as an option feasible Under the final rule, the questioned the effect of OSM's proposed
<br />b
<br />id
<br />d
<br />for those: limited circumstances where respons~bllity to minimize damage is s
<br />ence
<br />su
<br />provision on the planne
<br />an:unpaCted Supply can't bn rra[ated. limited to structures listed in the Energy axeaption at section 5I6(h) (t) of SMCRA
<br />Ttie commenter went on to note that Polley Act, namely noncommercial if an operator using planned subsidence
<br />Congress, itt enacting the F.nargyPolicy ~ , haildiri~s and occupied:resldendal ~~. must adopt and daploy.the same
<br />L00Z/Z0/50
<br />
|