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This rule revises our regulations to be consistent with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which was signed into law on November 15, 2021 and which included the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Amendments of 2021 (the 2021 amendments). The rule reflects the extension of our statutory authority to collect reclamation fees for an additional thirteen years and to reduce the fee rates. In addition, we are revising our rule provisions to reflect the statutory extension of the dates when moneys derived from these fees will be available to eligible States and Tribes for grant distributions.

Overall Description of Deadline: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law amendments to the SMCRA AML fee provisions are self-implementing, the current rules are inconsistent with the 20% reduction in the AML fee rates and the reinstatement of OSMRE's fee collection authority as provided by the BIL. The concurrent extension of our fee collection authority and reduction in reclamation fee rates, if not clearly understood by coal mine operators, could result in delayed payment of further quarter reclamation fees due January 30, 2022.