Backfilling and Grading

Document 2026-01569 is a Final Rule published by the Department of Interior in the Federal Register on January 27, 2026, with an effective date of March 30, 2026. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is delaying the effective date of the direct final rule "Backfilling and Grading," published on November 28, 2025. The direct final rule rescinded a regulation that prescribed time and distance performance standards for the completion of rough backfilling and grading for surface mining operations, which was suspended by the Secretary of the Interior in 1992 but never removed from the Code of Federal Regulations. During the comment period, OSM received comments that require further review and consideration to determine whether they are significant adverse comments warranting a response, withdrawal, or modification of the final rule. View the original at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/27/2026-01569/backfilling-and-grading.

No. Document 2026-01569 is not classified as economically significant under Executive Order 12866. Economically significant rules require OIRA review and are estimated to have impacts of $100 million or more per year.