Recipient of award for forestry reclamation excellence named

Logan, WV – The Appalachian Region Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) named Appalachian Fuels, LLC recipient of its 2007 Excellence in Reforestation Regional Award here recently.

Description of Photo: (From left) Don Cooke and Dave Maynard, both from Appalachian Fuels, LLC, accept the Appalachian Region Regional Reforestation Initiative’s 2007 Excellence in Reforestation Regional Award from Brent Wahlquist, Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. (OSM photo by Linda Keene)

This award recognizes those individuals, operators and organizations that exemplify excellence in forestry reclamation on surface coal mine sites. ARRI is a partnership of individuals and organizations, including OSM, interested in growing healthy forests on reclaimed surface coal mine sites. Winners must meet ARRI’s exacting standards to win at the state level. The best of the best is selected for this regional award.

The award was present on behalf of ARRI by Brent Wahlquist, Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, to Don Cooke, Engineer, and Dave Maynard, General Manager, both from Appalachian Fuels, LLC. [more]

Technology Leads to Safer Coalfields

San Diego, California — Many of the nearly 15,000 scientists, researchers, business leaders and government officials gathered for an international geographic information systems (GIS) conference watched as OSM was recognized for its vision and leadership in using technology to make the Nation’s coal mines safer for the public and to protect the environment.

Description of Photo: Jack Dangermond (left), President of ESRI, congratulates OSM’s Greg Morlock on the bureau’s vision and leadership in using geographic information systems (GIS) to make the Nation’s coal mines safer for the public and to help protect the environment. Morlock accepted the Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award on behalf of OSM’s team working to build a central repository for boundaries of abandoned and active coalmines. OSM Photo

While OSM has long promoted efforts to utilize sound science and cutting-edge technology to ensure the safe extraction of coal and the successful reclamation of coal mine sites, this may be the single largest group ever to see OSM’s efforts recognized.

Earning the spotlight was an OSM pilot project to use geographic information system technology to create a national centralized repository for boundaries of abandoned and active coal mines collected in real time from servers in multiple state locations.  [more]

OSM Issues Proposed Rules for the Abandoned Mine Land Program

(Washington DC) – The U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) announced today publication of a proposed rule that would align current regulations with amendments to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) which the President signed into law on December 20, 2006. 

The amendments significantly changed the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program, including dramatically increasing the funds available for reclamation of abandoned coal mines.  After an initial phase-in period, approximately 83% of fees collected annually will be allocated for this reclamation. [more] [ 46 KB]  

A Children's Workbook, Reclaiming the Land

[ 4.08 MB]

The workbook, through pictures, puzzles, and word games, help children to understand the dangers of old abandoned mines and the positive impact on their communities when the mines are reclaimed. Soccer fields, playgrounds, and housing for the community are built on reclaimed abandoned mine sites.

OSM Technology Transfer

OSM’s Technology Development and Transfer supports and enhances the technical skills that States and Tribes need to operate their regulatory and reclamation programs and to effectively implement the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.

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