Ohio Regulatory Program

We are approving an amendment to the Ohio regulatory program (the "Ohio program") regulations under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The amendment that we are approving involves changes to Ohio's internal and procedural rules arising from a five-year review of the rules. The changes relate to practice and procedures before the reclamation commission, including definitions, commission meetings, appearance and practice before the commission; appeals to the reclamation commission; filing and service of papers; temporary relief; responsive pleadings; discovery; motions; pre-hearing procedures; notice of hearings and continuance of hearings; site views and location of hearings; conduct of evidentiary hearings; reports and recommendations of the hearing officer; and decisions of the commission.