Show Garn asks to clarify mining regulations US U.S. Senator Jake Garn last week authored a letter to be signed by other western western- Senators in wl which ch he recommends recommends mends to the Bureau of Land Management that it make new surface mining regulations better understood by miners In Inthe Inthe Inthe the letter to Director Curt Berklund Garn and his colleagues make two suggestions First we believe that the interest of the country would be served by a series of meetings in the field to discuss with concerned parties the current thinking of or the Bureau as to the direction the regulations ought to take the Garn letter states Following this series of meetings we feel it would be appropriate for the Bureau to issue the regulations once more as proposals with the final regulations to follow 30 or 60 days later SECONDLY whatever regulations arc are finally adopted should take effect only after the end of the current field season the letter continues Senator Garn Caro noted that the rules are arc arenow arenow now set set- setto to go into effect February 5 Since operators are right now contracting for formen formen formen men drilling rigs and other equipment which will be needed this summer any regulations changing the rules under which they operate would only cause incredible confusion if they were to become effective for this season The field season ends in September and we would therefore suggest that the regulations should be effective effective effective ef ef- ef- ef Oct 1 We believe that such an effective date w would uld provide ample lead time for familiarization and adjustment In order to provide the kind of certainty that is needed it is essential that there be a clear statement to this effect from your office and that this statement be made as soon as possible Since there is no legislative deadline for these regulations we feel that there are no barriers to such a statement Garn said he wrote the letter because even though the regulations dealing with the reclamation of mined land were proposed December 6 1976 many miners are only now lea learning of the proposal and are unfamiliar with its details We can hardly expect them to comply with the regulations regulation if a decent effort is not made to familiarize them with their responsibilities |