OSM Renews Rules for Western Coal Valley Mining
Published Date: 6/22/2026
Notice
Summary
The Office of Surface Mining wants to keep collecting info to make sure coal mining west of the 100th meridian doesn’t harm farming or water systems in alluvial valley floors. This renewal helps protect important land and water while mining happens. If you’re involved in mining or live nearby, you can share your thoughts by August 21, 2026—no new costs or big changes, just keeping the rules working smoothly.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Reporting Burden on Mine Operators
If you are a coal mine operator (or a State Regulatory Authority) this renewal keeps an information collection that requires responses totaling 52 submissions per year across 3 respondents. Each response is estimated at 160 hours, for a total estimated annual burden of 4,550 hours; the collection reports zero annual non-hour costs and is a one-time frequency.
Monitoring Systems Required for Permittees
Under 30 CFR 822.13, permittees must install, maintain, and operate a monitoring system to safeguard alluvial valley floors (AVFs). This requirement is applied to permittees to verify protection of AVFs during mining and reclamation.
AVF Protections for Farming and Water
The information collection supports rules that ensure coal mining operations west of the 100th meridian do not interrupt farming on alluvial valley floors (AVFs), do not materially damage the hydrologic systems supplying AVFs, and preserve essential hydrologic functions during mining and reclamation.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-12483 — Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Technical Evaluation Surveys; Agency Information Collection Activities: Technical Evaluation Surveys
The Office of Surface Mining wants to keep using surveys that ask for feedback on their technical help and outreach efforts. These surveys help them improve services and meet government goals. If you have thoughts, you can share them by August 21, 2026—no cost or big changes, just a smooth renewal!
Next: 2026-12485 — Approval of Subzone Status; Phillips 66 Company; Billings, Montana
Phillips 66 in Billings, Montana just got the green light to become a special subzone under Foreign-Trade Zone 274. This means they can enjoy some cool trade benefits while staying within a 2,000-acre limit. The approval happened on June 17, 2026, and it could help the company save money and speed up their operations.