Department of the
Interior
Departmental Manual
Effective Date: 10/27/04
Series: Organization
Part 116: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement
Chapter 3: Program Support
Originating Office: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement
116 DM 3
3.1 Program Support Directorate. This Directorate, within goals provided by
the Director, formulates national policy, procedures, and guidelines for
implementing OSM's programmatic requirements under Titles IV and V of the Surface
Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) (Public Law 95-87). The Directorate has responsibility for
interpreting SMCRA and ensuring that the implementing regulations are
consistent with the Act. Operating
within guidance provided by the Director, the Directorate facilitates
nationwide consistency of policy application.
The Directorate manages OSM's rulemaking process and ensures and
coordinates the approval, publication and related information requirements for
regulations implementing SMCRA, as well as the approval and amendment of State
regulatory programs and abandoned mine land plans. The Directorate also coordinates regulatory
development and legislative analyses with other Bureaus and Departmental
officials. The Directorate works with
the Regions to develop guidance needed to facilitate their work in the Title IV
and Title V programs. Additionally, the
Directorate conducts nationwide training in technical and programmatic areas;
coordinates technical policy and initiatives at the national level; coordinates
OSM's international program; and maintains the COALEX and LEXIS systems for the
Bureau.
The Assistant Director provides
program direction and managerial leadership to the Divisions of Reclamation
Support, Regulatory Support and Technical Training and for the rulemaking
coordination/liaison and administrative record functions located in the
Assistant Director's immediate office.
A. Division
of Reclamation Support. This
Division provides guidance on nationwide programmatic issues concerning SMCRA's
Title IV Abandoned Mine Land (AML) reclamation program. Such guidance includes developing policy for
OSM's wide variety of financial assistance programs; ensuring compliance with
other Federal laws; and developing or coordinating the development of
legislation, policy and procedural directives on Title IV issues identified by
the Director or Regions. The Division
acts as the Bureau point-of-contact on grants issues and facilitates resolution
of policy questions. The Division also
coordinates the allocation and distribution of all funds through OSM's various
grants programs. Additionally, the
Division
maintains
the national inventory of AML problems and coordinates the Clean Streams
initiative and other partnership activities to remediate the effects of acid
mine drainage by providing policy and field coordination and participating in
outreach activities.
B. Division
of Regulatory Support. This Division provides guidance on
nationwide issues affecting SMCRA's Title V regulatory program, including
developing or coordinating development of policy on State and Federal
regulatory programs, Federal and Indian lands programs, oversight of State
regulatory programs and national standards for inspection and enforcement. The Division provides national policy
direction to ensure OSM compliance with other Federal laws and develops or
coordinates development of legislation, policy and procedural directives on
Title V issues identified by the Director or the Regions. The Division assists with or coordinates
development of regulations implementing SMCRA and manages information
collection for all Federal SMCRA regulations.
The Division also provides input into and processes mine plan decisions
and State/Federal cooperative agreements, and it provides national coordination
with the Department of the Interior's Office of the Solicitor. The Division serves as a national, Bureau
point-of-contact for technical issues; coordinates technical projects and
initiatives; and assists in the analysis and development of technical
policies.
C. Division
of Technical Training. The Division
provides training
to States, Tribes, OSM and other parties on the technical and programmatic
aspects of the regulatory and reclamation programs of SMCRA and develops and conducts
national technology transfer activities; and coordinates the dissemination of
national technical guidance related to OSM's various programs. Further, the Division coordinates and
maintains the COALEX and LEXIS support systems for the Bureau. The Division coordinates OSM's International
Program.
10/27/04
#3659
Replaces 6/29/01 #3368