Montana Regulatory Program

Published

Sep 1, 2026

Effective

Sep 21, 2026

Citation

91 FR 56050

Docket

SATS No. MT-041-FOR, Docket No. OSM-2023-0002, S1D1S SS08011000 SX064A000 266S180110

Agencies

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Final rule; correction.

Summary

The Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) issued a corrective rule for the Montana regulatory program that implements the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The correction fixes a clerical mistake in the previously published final rule—an extra, duplicate paragraph was mistakenly added to the Code of Federal Regulations at 30 CFR 926.12(c). By removing the duplicate language, the rule now accurately reflects the agency’s decision, which was to deny Montana’s proposed amendment to its mining program except for one specific allowance that was approved. The rule applies to mining operators, state regulators, and other stakeholders in Montana who must follow federal surface‑mining standards. It does not change the substantive requirements of the program; it simply ensures the regulatory text matches the agency’s intended decision. The correction was published in the Federal Register on September 1, 2026 (91 FR 56050) and became effective on September 21, 2026. Because the amendment is a technical correction to an already‑final rule, there is no new public comment period. The corrected regulation is now in force, and mining activities in Montana must comply with the clarified provisions as they continue to be overseen by OSM and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

AI-generated summary — verify against the Federal Register text.

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