EPA is amending the current regulations for the Coal Mining Point Source Category by adding two new subcategories to the existing regulation. EPA is establishing a Coal Remining Subcategory that will address pre-existing discharges at coal remining operations. EPA also is establishing a Western Alkaline Coal Mining Subcategory that will address drainage from coal mining reclamation and non-process areas in the arid and semiarid western United States. These amendments do not otherwise change the existing regulations. The establishment of new subcategories has the potential to create significant environmental benefits at little or no additional cost to the industry. Establishing the Coal Remining Subcategory will encourage remining activities and will reduce hazards associated with abandoned mine lands. The new subcategory has the potential to significantly improve water quality by reducing the discharge of acidity, iron, manganese, and sulfate from abandoned mine lands. EPA projects total monetized annual benefits of $0.7 million to $1.2 million due to remining. Additionally, EPA expects that this regulation will result in significant ecological and public safety benefits that could not be quantified and/or monetized. EPA projects that the annual compliance cost for this new subcategory will be $0.33 million to $0.76 million. EPA estimates that the Western Alkaline Coal Mining Subcategory will result in a net cost savings to affected surface mine operators. The monetized and non-monetized benefits for this subcategory are a result of adopting alternative sediment control technologies for reclamation and non-process areas in the arid west. These technologies are projected to increase the volume of storm water drainage to arid watersheds and avoid the disturbance of approximately 600 acres per year, thus reducing severe erosion, sedimentation, hydrologic imbalance, and water loss. EPA projects that the subcategory will result in annualized monetized benefits of $0.04 t