Wyoming Turns Dead Wind Turbines Into Coal Mine Stuffing
Published Date: 1/13/2025
Rule
Summary
Wyoming’s mining rules just got a cool update! Now, old wind turbine blades and towers can be safely buried in coal mining sites, making cleanup smarter and greener. These changes kick in on February 12, 2025, and affect mining companies and the environment, with no extra costs expected.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 4 costs, 1 mixed.
Wyoming OKs turbine blade burial in mine pits
Wyoming’s approved rule lets mining operators place ‘‘inert decommissioned wind turbine blades and towers’’ as backfill in end walls or final pit voids, subject to conditions. The rule requires placement at least 20 feet above the pre-mining potentiometric surface of the coal aquifer and at least 20 feet below the final regraded spoils surface, excludes nacelles and mechanical/electrical components, and is effective February 12, 2025.
25% revenue share to State for disposal
If an operator collects revenues for disposing of inert turbine blades or towers, the rule requires the operator to pay Wyoming 25 percent of any such revenues to the State on a quarterly basis.
Monitoring, permit, and bonding obligations
Operators who accept turbine blades/towers must include specified groundwater monitoring (including installing wells per Chapter 4, Section 8(b)(iv)(A)), vegetation monitoring, and other permit conditions; monitoring must continue until final bond release and operators must meet existing bonding requirements. Wyoming may require adjustments to bonds if disposal causes unanticipated impacts.
Must meet landfill and federal criteria (RCRA overlap)
Disposal facilities (including SMCRA sites receiving turbine blades/towers) must be permitted and meet Wyoming's Construction and Demolition Landfill Regulations in Chapter 4 and the Federal criteria at 40 CFR part 257, subpart A, as interpreted by EPA; OSMRE conditioned approval on meeting those standards.
Deed disclosure and surface-owner consent required
Where inert turbine blades and towers are disposed on a site, Wyoming requires a disclosure of that disposal be placed on the real property deed for the described lands before final bond release, and the State requires surface-owner consent before disposal; Federal lands require necessary Federal agency approvals.
Agency finds no significant small-entity impact
OSMRE certified under the Regulatory Flexibility Act that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, and the rule is not a 'major rule' under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-17390, Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Electronic Export Manifest for Rail Cargo
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is revising its regulations pursuant to the Trade Act of 2002 requiring the transmission of export manifest data electronically in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) for cargo transported by rail for any train departing the United States. This rule mandates the electronic transmission of rail export manifest information, identifies the parties eligible to transmit information, and describes the time frames prior to departure in which the information is due. This rule enables CBP to address important cargo security concerns while providing efficiencies to the trade.
2026-17429, Schedules of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of Mitragynine Pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16 in Schedule I
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is issuing this temporary order to schedule three 7-hydroxymitragynine-related substances (mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16), including their isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers, whenever the existence of such isomers, esters, ethers, and salts is possible, in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. DEA bases this action on a finding that placing mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16 in schedule I is necessary to avoid an imminent hazard to public safety. This order imposes the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis with, or possess) or propose to handle these three 7-hydroxymitragynine-related substances.
2026-17389, Safety Zone; Lake St. Clair; New Baltimore, MI
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of Lake St. Clair within a 420-foot radius of Brandenburg Park on Anchor Bay in Lake St. Clair, New Baltimore, MI for the Anchor Bay Bass, Brew, BBQ fireworks. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards during a fireworks event. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Detroit or their designated representative.
2026-17366, Rescinding Portions of the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Title VI Regulations To Conform More Closely With the Statutory Text and To Implement Executive Order 14281
This rule amends the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities' (the Foundation) regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) to eliminate disparate-impact liability. These amendments align the conduct prohibited by the Foundation's regulations with Title VI text, avoid constitutional concerns, reduce compliance costs, and serve the public interest. In addition, these revisions are consistent with Executive Order 14281.
2026-17400, Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances (24-5.5e)
EPA is issuing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for certain chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs) and are also subject to an Order issued by EPA pursuant to TSCA. The SNURs require persons to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing the manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or processing of any of these chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use in the SNUR. The required notification initiates EPA's evaluation of the conditions of that use for that chemical substance. In addition, the manufacture or processing for the significant new use may not commence until EPA has conducted a review of the required notification; made an appropriate determination regarding that notification; and taken such actions as required by that determination.
2026-17378, Special Local Regulation; Lake Erie, Kelleys Island, OH
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of Lake Erie near Kelleys Island, OH. The SLR is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a sailing race. This rulemaking prohibits persons and vessels from being in the regulated area during the enforcement period unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Detroit or their designated representative.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-00081, Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems; Quality Reporting Programs, Including the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program; Health and Safety Standards for Obstetrical Services in Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals; Prior Authorization; Requests for Information; Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Eligibility; Medicaid Clinic Services Four Walls Exceptions; Individuals Currently or Formerly in Custody of Penal Authorities; Revision to Medicare Special Enrollment Period for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals; and All-Inclusive Rate Add-On Payment for High-Cost Drugs Provided by Indian Health Service and Tribal Facilities; Correcting Amendment
This update fixes small errors in a big Medicare and Medicaid rule that affects hospitals, outpatient centers, and tribal health services. It clarifies payment systems, quality reporting, safety standards for childbirth services, and special rules for people leaving jail. These changes take effect starting January 1, 2025, helping providers and patients get clearer, fairer care and payments.
Next: 2025-00257, 2025 Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustments for Oil, Gas, and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf
Starting January 13, 2025, companies drilling for oil, gas, or sulfur on the Outer Continental Shelf will face slightly higher daily fines if they break the rules. This change bumps up penalties by about 2.6% to keep up with inflation from last year. It’s a smart move to keep penalties fair and effective, making sure everyone plays by the rules while protecting our oceans.