Mining Cleanup Reports Face Another Routine Renewal

2025-21443 — Rescission of Fee Rates

The Office of Surface Mining is officially wiping away old coal fee rates that covered 2012 to 2021 because they’re outdated. New fee rates have been in place since October 1, 2021, and this rule makes it official starting January 27, 2026—unless folks speak up by December 29, 2025. This change mainly affects coal producers and keeps the fee system fresh and fair for years to come.

2026-10722 — Montana Regulatory Program

Montana’s mining rules just got an upgrade! Starting June 29, 2026, mining companies can now define “material damage” more clearly and even submit their own water impact info if the state or feds can’t provide it. This change helps miners and regulators work smarter, keeping Montana’s land and water safer without slowing down permits or adding big costs.

2026-10202 — Kentucky Regulatory Program

Kentucky’s surface mining rules just got a fresh update! The state fixed some old rules, removed temporary ones, and cleaned up wording to keep things clear and smooth. These changes kick in on June 22, 2026, affecting coal mining companies and regulators, but won’t cost anyone extra.

2026-06892 — Wyoming Regulatory Program

Wyoming wants to update its coal mining rules to make it easier to adjust reclamation bond estimates without treating them as bond release requests. This change affects coal companies and regulators by clarifying how bonds are handled, with no new costs expected. You can share your thoughts by May 11, 2026, and there might be a public hearing on May 4 if enough people ask for it.

2026-06197 — Backfilling and Grading

The Office of Surface Mining is officially removing an old rule about how quickly mining sites must be backfilled and graded, a rule that’s been on the books but never really used since 1992. After checking public feedback, they found no big issues and confirmed the rule change will take effect on March 30, 2026. This update affects mining companies by giving them clearer, simpler guidelines without extra deadlines or costs.

2025-21791 — West Virginia Regulatory Program

The Office of Surface Mining has approved some updates to West Virginia’s rules for coal mining permits, focusing on bonding, topsoil care, and land cleanup. These changes affect mining companies renewing permits or managing inactive sites and start on January 2, 2026. The updates aim to keep mining safer and cleaner without adding big costs or delays.

Previous: 2026-12281 — Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

The CDC wants your thoughts on a plan to keep checking workplace health hazards like chemicals and noise. This affects workers, employers, and safety pros who rely on these checks to stay safe. Comments are open until August 17, 2026, and the goal is to keep the process smooth without adding extra paperwork or costs.

Next: 2026-12285 — 737th Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)

The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) is meeting July 8-10, 2026, to focus on updating how nuclear reactors get licensed and checked for safety. They’re trimming down their work to only the most important and new issues, thanks to a recent government order. This means faster, smarter reviews that affect nuclear plant operators and the public, with meetings open for remote participation and no big cost changes expected.