RMMLF Mineral Law Newsletter
(By Joseph K. Reinhart, Sean M. McGovern, Daniel P. Hido and Gina N. Falaschi)
In recent months there have been several notable updates regarding Pennsylvania’s statutory and regulatory provisions on temporary cessation of coal refuse disposal operations.
OSMRE Publishes Proposed Rule Regarding Pennsylvania Regulatory Program
As reported in Vol. XXXVI, No. 4 (2019) of this Newsletter, Act 74, P.L. 452 (2019), amending the 1968 Coal Refuse Disposal Control Act (CRDCA), 52 Pa. Stat. §§ 30.51–.66, went into effect on December 3, 2019. Act 74 amended section 6.1(i) of the CRDCA, 52 Pa. Stat. § 30.56a(i), regarding temporary cessation of operations. Prior to Act 74, section 6.1(i) required operators to install a system for preventing precipitation from contacting coal refuse disposal areas that have reached capacity, permanently ceased operation, or temporarily ceased operation for more than 90 days, but allowed the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to approve an extension of up to one year for reasons of labor strike or business necessity. Act 74 removed the one-year time limit on temporary cessation and the restriction that an extension beyond 90 days could only be granted for reasons of labor strike or business necessity.
On October 16, 2019, Pennsylvania submitted an amendment to its regulatory program under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) for approval. OSMRE published notice of the proposed program amendment in the Federal Register on February 14, 2020. See 85 Fed. Reg. 8494 (proposed Feb. 14, 2020) (to be codified at 30 C.F.R. pt. …