North Dakota Regulatory Program

OSM is approving, with certain exceptions, a proposed amendment to the North Dakota regulatory program (hereinafter referred to as the ``North Dakota program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). North Dakota proposed revisions to and additions of rules pertaining to: areas unsuitable for mining; permit applications (environmental monitoring plans); permit application approval procedures; permit revisions, renewals, and transfer or sale; performance bond; resoiling performance standards; sediment pond performance standards; contemporaneous reclamation performance standards; and enforcement actions. The amendment is intended to revise the North Dakota program to be consistent with the corresponding Federal regulations, address required program amendments, clarify ambiguities, correct cross-references, and improve program efficiency.