# Montana Regulatory Program and Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Plan
> **Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement** · Final rule; approval of amendment. · Published 1999-01-22 · Effective 1999-01-22 · 64 FR 3604
## Document
- **Document number:** 99-1445
- **Category:** mining
- **Sub-agency:** Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
- **State:** MT
- **Federal Register citation:** 64 FR 3604
- **CFR reference:** 30 CFR 926
- **Publication date:** 1999-01-22
- **Effective date:** 1999-01-22
- **Interior docket:** SPATS No. MT-017-FOR
## Abstract

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is approving, with certain exceptions and additional requirements, a proposed amendment to the Montana regulatory program (hereinafter, the ``Montana program'') and abandoned mine land reclamation plan (hereinafter, the ``Montana plan'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). Montana proposed statutory revisions pertaining to the designation of the Montana State Regulatory Authority and the reclamation agency SMCRA, statutory definitions of ``Prospecting'' and ``Prime farmland,'' revegetation success criteria for bond release, prospecting under notices of intent, and permit renewal. The amendment was intended to revise the Montana program to be consistent with the corresponding Federal regulations and SMCRA, as amended by the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101- 508), to provide additional flexibility afforded by the revised Federal regulations, to provide additional safeguards, to clarify ambiguities, and to improve operational efficiency.

## Source
- [Federal Register document](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1999/01/22/99-1445/montana-regulatory-program-and-abandoned-mine-land-reclamation-plan)
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