{"abstract":"We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are amending our regulations concerning stream buffer zones, stream-channel diversions, siltation structures, impoundments, excess spoil, and coal mine waste. Among other things, this rule requires that surface coal mining operations be designed to minimize the creation of excess spoil and the adverse environmental impacts of fills constructed to dispose of excess spoil and coal mine waste. We have revised the stream buffer zone rule to more closely reflect the underlying provisions of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), to adopt related permit application requirements, to require that disturbance of perennial and intermittent streams and their buffer zones generally be avoided unless it is not reasonably possible to do so, to identify exceptions to the requirement to maintain an undisturbed buffer zone for perennial and intermittent streams, and to clarify the relationship between SMCRA and the Clean Water Act.","action":"Final 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/2008/12/12/E8-29150.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":780,"title":30},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":784,"title":30},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":816,"title":30},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":817,"title":30}],"citation":"73 FR 75814","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This rule is effective January 12, 2009. The incorporation by reference of the publication listed in the rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of January 12, 2009.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket ID No.: OSM-2007-0007"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"E8-29150","effective_on":"2009-01-12","end_page":75885,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2008/12/12/E8-29150.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2008/12/12/E8-29150/excess-spoil-coal-mine-waste-and-buffers-for-perennial-and-intermittent-streams","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/E8-29150?publication_date=2008-12-12","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2008-12-12/E8-29150/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":72,"page_views":{"count":668,"last_updated":"2026-07-27 02:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2008-12-12/pdf/E8-29150.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"2008-12-12","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2008/12/12/E8-29150.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"1029-AC04":{"issue":"200810","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1029-AC04/placement-of-excess-spoil","title":"Placement of Excess Spoil","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200810&RIN=1029-AC04&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["1029-AC04"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2011-11-15T06:08:56Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":75814,"subtype":null,"title":"Excess Spoil, Coal Mine Waste, and Buffers for Perennial and Intermittent Streams","toc_doc":"Excess Spoil, Coal Mine Waste, and Buffers for Perennial and Intermittent Streams","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Environmental protection","Incorporation by reference","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Surface mining","Underground mining"],"type":"Rule","volume":73}