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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 96-1640

NOTICES

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking--Underground Coal Mining; Mine Subsidence Control, Subsidence Damage Repair and Water Supply Replacement

[26 Pa.B. 4693]

   The Department of Environmental Protection is soliciting comments on proposed changes to its regulations in response to public interest in the matters which will be addressed. The proposed changes are of interest to residents of the bituminous coal fields of western Pennsylvania whose buildings and water supplies may be affected by underground coal mining or mine subsidence. The changes are also of interest to mine operators whose duties and responsibilities will be established by these regulations. For these reasons the Department wishes to obtain comments from a broad segment of the concerned public before proceeding with a formal rulemaking proposal.

   The changes revise the Department's regulations on underground bituminous coal mining. Specifically, these changes address mine operators' duties to repair subsidence damage, replace affected water supplies, and employ appropriate subsidence control measures as prescribed under Pennsylvania and Federal law. These changes are intended to bring the Department's regulations into conformance with the Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act, as amended by Act 54 of 1994, and with Federal requirements for State primacy.

   While there is no legal requirement to provide an opportunity to comment upon the Department's recommendations for proposed rulemaking, the Department believes further discussion would serve the public interest in this instance.

   A copy of the draft proposed regulations is available from the Bureau of Mining and Reclamation at (717) 783-8845. Written comments on the draft proposed regulations must be received by October 28, 1996. No telefax comments will be accepted. Comments or requests for copies should be addressed or delivered to Evan T. Shuster, Chief, Division of Monitoring and Compliance, Bureau of Mining and Reclamation, P. O. Box 8461, Rachel Carson State Office Building, Harrisburg, PA 17101-8461. The draft proposed regulations are also available electronically through the DEP Web site (http://www.dep.state.pa.us). Comments may be transmitted electronically to RegComments@A1.dep.state.pa.us, and must also be received by October 28, 1996. A subject heading of the proposal and a return name and address must be included in each transmission. If an acknowledgement of electronic comments is not received by the sender within 2 working days, the comments should be retransmitted to ensure receipt.

JAMES M. SEIF,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 96-1640. Filed for public inspection September 27, 1996, 9:00 a.m.]


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