State-Federal Cooperative Agreement
The Governor of the State of Indiana (Governor) and the Secretary of the Department of the Interior (Secretary) enter into a Cooperative Agreement (Agreement) to read as follows:
This Agreement is authorized by section 523(c) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), 30 U.S.C. 1273(c) , which allows a State with a permanent regulatory program approved by the Secretary under section 503 of SMCRA, 30 U.S.C. 1253 , to elect to enter into an Agreement for the State regulation of surface coal mining and reclamation operations (including surface operations and surface impacts incident to underground mining operations) on Federal lands. This Agreement provides for State regulation of coal exploration operations not subject to 43 CFR part 3400 and surface coal mining and reclamation operations in Indiana on Federal lands (30 CFR Chapter VII Subchapter D), consistent with SMCRA and State and Federal laws governing such activities and the Indiana State Program (Program).
The purposes of this Agreement are to (a) foster Federal-State cooperation in the regulation of surface coal mining and reclamation operations and coal exploration operations not subject to 43 CFR part 3400 ; (b) minimize intergovernmental overlap and duplication; and (c) provide uniform and effective application of the Program on all lands in Indiana in accordance with SMCRA, the Program, and this Agreement.
The Natural Resource Commission (NRC) and the Division of Reclamation (DOR) of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources will be responsible for administering this Agreement on behalf of the Governor under the approved Indiana Regulatory Program. The Office of Surface and Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) will administer this Agreement on behalf of the Secretary.
After being signed by the Secretary and the Governor, this Agreement will take effect 30 days after publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER as a final rule. This Agreement will remain in effect until terminated as provided in Article XI.
The terms and phrases used in this Agreement which are defined in SMCRA, 30 CFR Parts 700, 701 and 740, the Program, including the OSM approved State Act (I.C. 14-34), and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to those Acts, will be given the meanings set forth in said definitions. Where there is a conflict between the above referenced State and Federal definitions, the definitions used in the Program will apply.
In accordance with the Federal lands program, the laws, regulations, terms and conditions of the Program are applicable to Federal lands in Indiana except as otherwise stated in this Agreement, SMCRA, 30 CFR 740.4 , 740.11(a) and 745.13 , and other applicable laws, Executive Orders, or regulations.
The Governor and the Secretary affirm that they will comply with all the provisions of this Agreement.
The State may use the existing year's budget totals, adjusted for inflation and workload considerations in estimated regulatory costs for the following grant year. OSM will notify DOR as soon as possible if such projections are not acceptable.
OSM will provide DOR with a copy of any final evaluation report prepared concerning State administration and enforcement of this Agreement. DOR comments on the report will be appended before transmission to the Congress, unless necessary to respond to a request by a date certain, or to other interested parties.
At a minimum, the PAP will satisfy the requirements of 30 CFR 740.13(b) and include the information necessary for DOR to make a determination of compliance with the Program and for OSM and the appropriate Federal agencies to make determinations of compliance with applicable requirements of SMCRA, the Federal lands program, and other Federal laws, Executive Orders, and regulations for which they are responsible.
In accordance with 30 CFR 740.4(c)(1) , DOR will assume responsibility for the analysis, review and approval, disapproval, or conditional approval of the permit application component of the PAP for surface coal mining and reclamation operations in Indiana where a mining plan is required, including applications for revisions, renewals and transfer sale and assignment of such permits. OSM will, at the request of the State, assist to the extent possible in this analysis and review.
DOR will be the primary point of contact for applicants regarding the review of the PAP for compliance with the Program and State law and regulations.
DOR will be responsible for informing the applicant of all joint State-Federal determinations.
DOR will to the extent authorized, consult with the Federal land management agency and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) pursuant to 30 CFR 740.4(c)(2) and (3) , respectively. On matters concerned exclusively with regulations under 43 CFR part 3480, Subparts 3480 through 3487, BLM will be the primary contact with the applicant. BLM will inform DOR of its actions and provide DOR with a copy of documentation on all decisions.
DOR will send the OSM copies of any correspondence with the applicant and any information received from the applicant regarding the PAP. OSM will send to DOR copies of all correspondence with the applicant which may have a bearing on the PAP. As a matter of practice, OSM will not independently initiate contacts with applicants regarding completeness or deficiencies of the PAP with respect to matters covered by the Program.
DOR will also be responsible for obtaining the comments and determinations of other Federal agencies with jurisdiction or responsibility over Federal lands affected by the operations proposed in the PAP. DOR will request all Federal agencies to furnish their findings or any requests for additional information to DOR within 45 days of the date of receipt of the PAP. OSM will assist DOR in obtaining this information, upon request of DOR.
DOR will be responsible for approval and release of performance bonds under 30 CFR 740.4(c)(4) in accordance with Article IX of this Agreement, and for review and approval under 30 CFR 740.4(c)(6) of exploration operations not subject to 43 CFR part 3480, Subparts 3480-3487.
DOR will prepare documentation to comply with the requirements of NEPA under 30 CFR 740.4(c)(7) ; however, OSM will retain the responsibility for the exceptions in 30 CFR 740.4(c)(7)(i)-(vii) .
Responsibilities and decisions which can be delegated to the State under other applicable Federal laws may be specified in working agreements between OSM and DOR, with concurrence of any Federal agency involved, and without amendment to this Agreement.
Where necessary to make the determination to recommend that the Secretary approve the mining plan, OSM will consult with and obtain the concurrences of the BLM, the Federal land management agency and other Federal agencies as required.
The Secretary reserves the right to act independently of DOR to carry out his responsibilities under laws other than SMCRA or provisions of SMCRA not covered by the Program, and in instances of disagreement over SMCRA and the Federal lands program.
When OSM is responding to a citizen complaint of an imminent danger to the public health and safety, or of significant, imminent environmental harm to land, air or water resources, pursuant to 30 CFR 842.11(b)(1)(ii)(C) , it will contact DOR no less than 24 hours prior to the Federal inspection, if practicable, to facilitate a joint Federal/State inspection. All citizen complaints which do not involve an imminent danger or significant, imminent environmental harm will be referred to DOR for action. The Secretary reserves the right to conduct inspections without prior notice to DOR to carry out his responsibilities under SMCRA.
The following actions will be taken when requests for determinations of VER pursuant to section 522(e) of SMCRA or for determinations of compatibility pursuant to section 522(e)(2) of SMCRA, and received prior to or at the time of submission of a PAP that involves surface coal mining and reclamation operations and activities:
For private in holdings within section 522(e)(1) areas, DOR, with the consultation and concurrence of OSM, will determine whether surface coal mining operations on such lands will or will not affect the Federal interest (Federal lands as defined in section 701(4) of SMCRA). OSM will process VER determination requests on private in holdings within the boundaries of section 522(e)(1) areas where surface coal mining operations affects the Federal interest.
In the case that VER is determined not to exist under section 522(e)(3) of SMCRA or 30 CFR 761.11(c) , no surface coal mining operations will be permitted unless jointly approved by DOR and the Federal, State or local agency with jurisdiction over the publicly owned park or historic place.
This Agreement may be terminated by the Governor or the Secretary under the provisions of 30 CFR 745.15 .
If this Agreement has been terminated in whole or in part it may be reinstated under the provisions of 30 CFR 745.16 .
This Agreement may be amended by mutual agreement of the Governor and the Secretary in accordance with 30 CFR 745.14 .
Each party to this Agreement will notify the other, when necessary, of any changes in personnel, organization and funding, or other changes that may affect the implementation of this Agreement to ensure coordination of responsibilities and facilitate cooperation.
This Agreement will not be construed as waiving or preventing the assertion of any rights that have not been expressly addressed in this Agreement that the State or the Secretary may have under laws other than SMCRA or their regulations including but not limited to those listed in appendix A.
Dated: October 26, 1999.
Frank O'Bannon,
Governor of Indiana.
Bruce Babbitt,
Secretary of the Interior.
Appendix A
30 C.F.R. §914.30