OSM Proposes Rule Changes in Tennessee

The OSM in Tennessee is proposing three MAJOR rule changes, and allowing for public comment.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM or Office), are proposing three revisions to the Tennessee Federal program. The revisions would:
(1) Provide regulations establishing trust funds or annuities to fund the treatment of long-term postmining pollutional discharges;
(2) delete the minimum requirements of eighty percent (80%) ground cover for certain postmining land uses and provide that herbaceous ground cover be limited to that necessary to control erosion and support the postmining land use; and
(3) exempt areas developed for wildlife habitat, undeveloped land, recreation, or forestry from the requirements that bare areas shall not exceed one-sixteenth (1/ 16) acre in size and total not more than ten percent (10%) of the area seeded.

Take ACTION below:

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The comment deadline is 4 p.m. on May 8
You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
• E-Mail:{encode=”tdieringer@osmre.gov” title=”tdieringer@osmre.gov”}. Include docket number 1029- AC50 in the subject line of the message.
• Mail: Knoxville Field Office, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 710 Locust Street, 2nd Floor, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902.
• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

About JW Randolph

Raised on the banks of the Tennessee River, JW's work to create progress in his home state and throughout Appalachia has been featured on the Rachel Maddow Show, The Daily Kos and Grist. He served first as Appalachian Voices’ Legislative Associate and then Tennessee director until leaving to pursue a career in medicine in 2012.