Pennsylvania Regulatory Program

We are removing a required amendment to the Pennsylvania regulatory program (the Pennsylvania program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The amendment required Pennsylvania to demonstrate that the revenues generated by its collection of the reclamation fee will assure that Pennsylvania's Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Fund can be operated in a manner that will meet the alternative bonding system requirements contained in the Federal regulations. In addition, the amendment required Pennsylvania to clarify the procedures to be used for bonding the surface impacts of underground mines and the procedures to reclaim underground mining permits where the operator has defaulted on the obligation to reclaim. In response to the amendment, Pennsylvania submitted information to us describing existing and planned changes and enhancements to its bonding program that we have found satisfactorily address the amendment's requirements.