[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 43, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 43CFR1610.7-1]

[Page 22]
 
                    TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS: INTERIOR
 
    CHAPTER II--BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 
PART 1600_PLANNING, PROGRAMMING, BUDGETING--Table of Contents
 
                Subpart 1610_Resource Management Planning
 
Sec. 1610.7-1  Designation of areas unsuitable for surface mining.

    (a)(1) The planning process is the chief process by which public 
land is reviewed to assess whether there are areas unsuitable for all or 
certain types of surface coal mining operations under section 522(b) of 
the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. The unsuitability 
criteria to be applied during the planning process are found in Sec. 
3461.1 of this title.
    (2) When petitions to designate land unsuitable under section 522(c) 
of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act are referred to the 
Bureau of Land Management for comment, the resource management plan, or 
plan amendment if available, shall be the basis for review.
    (3) After a resource management plan or plan amendment is approved 
in which lands are assessed as unsuitable, the District Manager shall 
take all necessary steps to implement the results of the unsuitability 
review as it applies to all or certain types of coal mining.
    (b)(1) The resource management planning process is the chief process 
by which public lands are reviewed for designation as unsuitable for 
entry or leasing for mining operations for minerals and materials other 
than coal under section 601 of the Surface Mining Control and 
Reclamation Act.
    (2) When petitions to designate lands unsuitable under section 601 
of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act are received by the 
Bureau of Land Management, the resource management plan, if available, 
shall be the basis for determinations for designation.
    (3) After a resource management plan or plan amendment in which 
lands are designated unsuitable is approved, the District Manager shall 
take all necessary steps to implement the results of the unsuitability 
review as it applies to minerals or materials other than coal.