mining · Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement · Published 2004-09-17 · Effective 2004-09-17 · 69 FR 56122
Document
Document number
04-20997
Federal Register citation
69 FR 56122
CFR reference
30 CFR 870
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule.
Category
mining
Sub-agency
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Publication date
2004-09-17
Effective date
2004-09-17
Abstract
This rule sets forth the criteria and procedures that we will use to establish fees under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act) for coal produced after September 30, 2004, when the current statutory fees expire. We also are providing notice of the fees established for FY 2005. We are establishing the fee at a rate to provide for the transfer from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund (AML Fund or the Fund) to the Combined Benefit Fund (CBF), a total expected to be approximately $69 million for FY 2005. The fees necessary to generate the transfer amount are established as follows for each ton of coal produced for sale, transfer, or use: Surface-mined coal (except lignite), 8.8 cents per ton; Underground- mined coal (except lignite), 3.8 cents per ton; and, Lignite, 2.5 cents per ton. We also are publishing in today's Federal Register a proposed rule that includes the changes made in this final rule as well as some additional issues related to the fee and the AML Fund.