Utah Regulatory Program and Utah Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AMLR) Plan

OSM is approving, with additional requirements, a proposed amendment to the Utah regulatory program and Utah AMLR plan (hereinafter referred to as the ``Utah program'' and the ``Utah plan'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The amendment consists of proposed revisions to the Utah Coal Mining and Reclamation Act of 1979. The revisions to the Utah program concern definitions of new terms; rulemaking authority and procedures; administrative procedures; Division of Oil, Gas and Mining (Division) action on permit applications; informal conferences; appeals and further review; release of performance bonds; revegetation standards on lands eligible for remining; operator requirements for underground coal mining; contest of violation or amount of penalty; violations of Utah's program or permit conditions; judicial review of rules and orders; repeal of specific sections of the Utah Code Annotated 1953; and repeal dates of certain provisions of the Utah program. The revisions to the Utah plan concern lands and water eligible for reclamation, recovery of reclamation costs, and liens against reclaimed lands. The amendment is intended to revise the Utah program to be consistent with the Utah Administrative Procedures Act, and to revise the Utah program and Utah plan to be consistent with SMCRA, and improve operational efficiency.