Hopi Tribe Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Plan

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is approving a proposed amendment to the Hopi Tribe abandoned mine land reclamation (AMLR) plan (hereinafter, the ``Hopi plan'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The Hopi Tribe proposed to revise, add, or delete plan provisions pertaining to the preface to amended reclamation plan; purpose of the Hopi plan; eligible lands and water subsequent to certification; land acquisition, management, and disposal; rights of entry; Hopi Department of Natural Resources policy on public participation; organization of the Hopi Tribe; a description of aesthetic, cultural and recreational conditions on the Hopi Reservation; and a description of the flora and fauna found on the Hopi Reservation. The amendment revised the Hopi plan to meet the requirements of the corresponding Federal Regulations and to be consistent with SMCRA; to incorporate the additional flexibility afforded by the revised Federal regulations and SMCRA, as amended; to clarify ambiguities; and to improve operational efficiency.