New Mexico Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Plan

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is approving, with certain exceptions and additional requirements, a proposed amendment to the New Mexico abandoned mine land reclamation (AMLR) plan (hereinafter, the ``New Mexico plan'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). New Mexico proposed to amend its plan by adding plan provisions pertaining to contractor responsibilities, exclusion of certain sites from eligibility for reclamation, and reports. In addition, New Mexico proposed revising the State AMLR statute pertaining to its purpose, definition, creation of the abandoned mine reclamation fund, objectives of the fund, acquisition and reclamation of land adversely affected by past mining practices, liens, and emergency powers. The amendment was intended to revise the New Mexico plan to be consistent with SMCRA and meet the requirements of the corresponding Federal regulations, and to improve operational efficiency.