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AI Summary: This regulation amends the existing Federal Lands Cooperative Agreement between West Virginia and the U.S. Department of the Interior, specifically the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE). The amendment allows West Virginia to continue regulating surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Federal lands within the state under its approved permanent regulatory program, as authorized by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The revised agreement expands West Virginia's authority to regulate coal exploration activities on Federal lands, excluding those managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and grants it primary responsibility for reviewing and approving coal mining permits involving leased Federal coal. The agreement details the responsibilities of both the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) and OSMRE, including procedures for permit applications, inspections, enforcement, and bonding, while clarifying reserved Federal authorities. The effective date of this amended agreement is March 23, 2026.