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| | MAY 28, 1999 COURT DECISION (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-09) |
 | | On May 28, 1999, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued its decision regarding the National Mining Association's challenge to the Office of Surface Mining's interim final ownership and control rules (62 FR 19450, April 21, 1997). |
 | | In consolidated district court ac- tions the National Mining Association (NMA) challenged all three final rules and the district court granted summary judgment to OSM in each action. |
 | | The Arch court, however, based its holding on the premise that, contrary to OSM's position, a permit block is an "action, suit or proceeding for the enforcement of any civil fine, penalty, or forfeiture," without considering whether the Congress in enacting SMCRA intended to exempt such blocks from section 2462. |
| www.osmre.gov /courtdecision052899.htm (3117 words) |
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