Montana Regulatory Program

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 30 CFR Part 926 [SATS No. MT-041-FOR; Docket ID: OSM-2023-0002; S1D1S SS08011000 SX064A000 212S180110; S2D2S SS08011000 SX064A000 21XS501520] AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior. ACTION: Final rule; not approving, with one exception. SUMMARY: The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is not approving, with one exception, an amendment to the Montana regulatory program under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The Montana legislature, specifically Montana House Bill 328, proposes to add a definition of affected drainage basin to the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). Additionally, House Bill 328 proposes changes to the Montana Code Annotated, pertaining to bond release application requirements. DATES: The effective date is September 21, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Fleischman, Division Chief, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 100 East B Street, ( printed page 54219) Casper, Wyoming 82602, Telephone: (307) 204-4397, Email: jfleischman@osmre.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background on the Montana Program II. Submission of the Amendment III. OSM's Findings IV. Summary and Disposition of Comments V. OSM's Decision VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews I. Background on the Montana Program Subject to OSM's oversight, section 503(a) of the Act permits a State to assume p…