OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT ISSUES RULE: BACKFILLING AND GRADING

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 -- Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement has issued a rule called: Backfilling and Grading.

The rule was published in the Federal Register on Nov. 28 by Leslie Shockley Beyer, Assistant Secretary, Land Minerals Management.

Summary: This direct final rule revises the Federal regulations to rescind an obsolete regulation that was suspended by the Secretary of the Interior in 1992 and that has been inoperative for 33 years. The regulations prescribed time and distance performance standards for the completion of rough backfilling and grading for surface mining operations.

For more information, contact James Tyree, Chief, Division of Regulatory Support, 202/208-4479, [e-mail] in the Unite...