OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING
For Release February 6, 1990

OSM SEEKS COMMENTS ON LOWER PERMIT FEES FOR SMALL COAL MINES

The Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement (OSM) is seeking public comments on whether its
proposal to charge fees for federal coal mine permits should
include reduced fees for small mines.

Official notice was printed in the Federal Register of February 6,
1990.

The request for public comment is related to OSM's 1988 proposal to
start charging fees for federal coal mine permits, based on the
cost of processing.

Most coal mines operate under state permits, and some states
already charge fees for processing permit applications-   Federal
permits are required in states where surface coal mining is
federally regulated (for example, Tennessee, North Carolina,
Georgia, and Washington).  Federal permits are also required to
mine coal on Indian lands, and on federal lands not covered by
cooperative permitting agreements with the state where the land is
located.

Written comments on reduced permit fees for small coal mines should
be sent to OSM Administrative Record, Room 5131-L, 1951
Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240, no later than
March 8,  7990.

-DOI-