{"abstract":"The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is proposing to amend its regulations to redefine the circumstances under which a person has valid existing rights (VER) to conduct surface coal mining operations in areas where these operations are otherwise prohibited by section 522(e) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or ``the Act''). OSM also is proposing to establish requirements and procedures and define responsibilities for the submission and processing of requests for VER determinations, modify and clarify the applicability of the existing operation exemption, remove the requirement that requests for compatibility determinations for surface coal mining operations on national forest lands be accompanied by a permit application, and, with certain exceptions, require a VER determination as a prerequisite for approval of coal exploration activities that may result in substantial disturbance of the lands listed in section 522(e) of SMCRA. The proposed rule also contains numerous editorial revisions and organizational changes intended to improve overall consistency and clarity. If the proposed rule becomes final, it would result in removal of all existing suspensions of the affected regulations.","action":"Proposed rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR","name":"Interior Department","id":253,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/interior-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/253","parent_id":null,"slug":"interior-department"},{"raw_name":"Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement","name":"Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Office","id":480,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/surface-mining-reclamation-and-enforcement-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/480","parent_id":253,"slug":"surface-mining-reclamation-and-enforcement-office"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/1997/01/31/97-2184.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":null,"title":30},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"740","title":30},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"745","title":30},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"761","title":30},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"772","title":30}],"citation":"62 FR 4836","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":"1997-06-02","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Electronic or written comments: OSM will accept electronic or written comments on the proposed rule until 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on June 2, 1997.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":[],"dockets":[],"document_number":"97-2184","effective_on":null,"end_page":4863,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":null,"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1997/01/31/97-2184/valid-existing-rights","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/97-2184?publication_date=1997-01-31","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-1997-01-31/97-2184/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":28,"page_views":{"count":82,"last_updated":"2026-10-24 06:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1997-01-31/pdf/97-2184.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"1997-01-31","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/1997/01/31/97-2184.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"1029-AB42":{"issue":"199910","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1029-AB42/definition-and-criteria-for-valid-existing-rights","title":"Definition and Criteria for Valid Existing Rights","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=199910&RIN=1029-AB42&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["1029-AB42"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2011-09-20T23:45:22Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":4836,"subtype":null,"title":"Valid Existing Rights","toc_doc":null,"toc_subject":null,"topics":[],"type":"Proposed Rule","volume":62}