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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 14-1436

NOTICES

Reclamation Bond Credits; Increased Amounts Available

[44 Pa.B. 4444]
[Saturday, July 12, 2014]

 The Reclamation Bond Credit Program (Program) is a remining incentive authorized by an amendment to the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P. S. §§ 1396.1—1396.19b) by the act of May 22, 1996 (P. L. 232, No. 43). The Program provides an incentive for an operator to voluntarily reclaim an abandoned mine area that the industry would not ordinarily reclaim. An operator may earn a ''bond credit'' under a Consent Order and Agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) by reclaiming an abandoned mine land area. The area does not have to be associated with a mining permit. The special account established to financially assure bonding obligations under this Program was initially funded in 1997 with $200,000. This amount was increased by $300,000 to $500,000 in 2010.

 Chapter 86 of 25 Pa. Code (relating to surface and underground coal mining: general) established the requirements of the Program. The value of the bond credit is equal to the lesser of either the operator's cost or the Department's cost to reclaim the stipulated area. Once earned, the operator may use the bond credit instead of normal bonding on future mining permits.

 Since the inception of the Program, coal mine operators in this Commonwealth have reclaimed 50.1 acres of abandoned mine land, saving the Commonwealth approximately $553,000 in reclamation costs. There is currently $442,416 obligated for bond credits.

 Effective immediately, the Department is increasing the available amount under the Program from $500,000 to $1.1 million. This increase is supported by funds held in the Remining Financial Assurance Fund. The increase will provide financial assurance for Reclamation Bond Credits (Credits) anticipated to be issued in the near future upon the completion of the abandoned mine land reclamation. This will increase the amount obligated for Credits to $1,004,721.

 For background information and supporting documentation regarding Credits, contact the Bureau of Mining Programs, Division of Permitting and Compliance, P. O. Box 8461, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8461, (717) 787-5103.

E. CHRISTOPHER ABRUZZO, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-1436. Filed for public inspection July 11, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]


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