I. AUTHORITY

Office of Surface Mining, U.S. Department of the Interior

The mission of the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) is to carry out the
requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) in
cooperation with States and Tribes.  OSM's primary objectives are to ensure
that coal mines are operated in a manner that protects citizens and the
environment during mining and assures that the land is restored to beneficial
use following mining, and to mitigate the effects of past mining by aggressively
pursuing reclamation of abandoned mines. 

In reclaiming abandoned mine lands, OSM, together with participating states and
tribes, pursues reclamation with a primary emphasis on correcting problems
related to public health, safety, and the general welfare, as well as problems
affecting the environment. 

In demonstrating leadership in mining and reclamation, OSM promotes the
development of the highest quality technical information and expertise and seeks
the transfer of technology to those who would benefit.  As part of its
Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative, OSM is working with watershed
associations throughout Appalachia to enhance citizen participation in
environmental cleanup, particularly the remediation of Acid Mine Drainage.

Authority for this agreement is Section 413 of the SMCRA.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) enters into this agreement under the
authority of Section 5(o) of the National Foundation on the Arts and the
Humanities Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 954(o)) and Section 601 of the
Economy Act of June 30, 1932, as amended (31 U.S.C. Section 1535), and under the
provisions of the general and pertinent regulations of the Comptroller General.
 The NEA is mandated by statute to promote the continued vitality and excellence
of the arts in all mediums and disciplines throughout 
the United States.  It does so by awarding grants to nonprofit organizations 
as well as through its own leadership activities.

The NEA enters into partnerships with other Federal agencies to maximize support
to communities that are utilizing the arts and arts organizations in 
their strategies to address critical problems.

II. PURPOSE and BACKGROUND

The purpose of this Agreement is to create the Arts and Appalachian Clean
Streams Program that will support pilot projects demonstrating the importance
and value of the involvement of artists and designers in creating effective and
imaginative acid mine drainage remediation projects in Appalachia.
  
The largest environmental challenge in Appalachia is Acid Mine Drainage (AMD),
the acidic water seeping or gushing from abandoned coal mines throughout the
region.  As part of its Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative, the Office of
Surface Mining is working directly with citizen-driven watershed groups in
twelve states to develop the watershed plans and the treatment systems essential
to river cleanup and community wellbeing.

At present, AMD treatment systems often are developed by engineers with limited
aesthetic and cultural design training.  The results work, but they often fail
to incorporate larger aesthetic opportunities for visual interest, habitat
enhancement, historic and/or environmental interpretation, recreation or
community interest.

This interagency agreement will create a special focus program, within the
Office of Surface Mining's Watershed Cooperative Agreement program, to
specifically encourage the participation of designers, artists and other
professionals working with community watershed groups and engineers, in the
creation of AMD treatment systems that are effective in their technical purpose
of remediating acid mine drainage  and of high quality in their visual standards
to ensure their long-term use and maintenance in the communities in which they
reside.

III.    RESPONSIBILITIES

The Office of Surface Mining will:

Provide up to $50,000 for the Arts and Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative.
Develop and issue a Request for Proposals, coordinate the review of the
resulting proposals, and administer the resulting cooperative agreements.  
Secure the services of a public art consultant who will assist the selected  
sites in putting together teams and developing plans.
Work with NEA to complete a final evaluation and recommendation.

The National Endowment for the Arts will:

Transfer $25,000 to the Office of Surface Mining for the Arts and Appalachian
Clean Streams Initiative.
Assist the OSM in developing the Request for Proposals, selecting the public
art consultant, identifying applicants, selecting reviewers, reviewing site
proposals, and approving the final teams.
Join OSM in preparing a final evaluation and recommendation.


IV. DESCRIPTION OF ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

This proposal for an arts-based Appalachian Clean Stream design/development
initiative will create a variety of currently unavailable opportunities in a
region characterized by poverty and frequent despair.

Economic Development
The arts can help transform environmental liabilities into community assets,
strengthening these small communities as more livable places with remarkable,
place-based AMD art environments.  AMD-afflicted watersheds are the
"Brown-fields" of Appalachia: doing something about them strengthens both the
economy and the culture.

Community Development
Design that incorporates multiple community interests stimulates increased
community involvement, especially when scientific, environmental, and
historical content for educational purposes can be designed into the treatment
system.  The arts can directly assist in "whole-place" design that helps
residents connect current efforts to a broader engagement in the future.

Civic Entrepreneurship
Incorporating a serious arts component can broaden the base of constituents
willing to actively engage in community improvement.  In a region at times
characterized by a passive "company town" mind-set, arts projects that address
a seemingly immutable environmental problem can open the way for active
community advocacy.

Leadership
Adding arts to AMD remediation adds new professionals to watershed initiatives
and new opportunities for engaging students, community leaders, civic groups,
artists and designers, to work with community members to accomplish community
goals, skills that can then be applied to other arenas as well.

Community Heritage
Every AMD discharge originates in a coal-mined area with a history.  Many of
these discharge/treatment sites are constructed on the site of former mining
activity and offer the opportunity for direct, onsite, place-based
interpretation   that links past actions with present efforts and future hopes. 

V. AGENCY CONTACTS  

The Office of Surface Mining's Project Officer for this interagency agreement is
  T. Allan Comp, Ph.D., Program Analyst, Division of Reclamation Support; the
National Endowment for the Arts' Project Officer is Anthony Tighe,
Intergovernmental Affairs Specialist, Partnership Division.

VI. OTHER ACTIVITIES

When possible, OSM and the Endowment will cooperate in other activities   (e.g.,
participation in conferences, training, publications) to further the goals    
of this Agreement.

VII. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Office of Surface Mining and the Arts Endowment's support of these projects
shall be appropriately acknowledged by the grantees with material provided by
the agencies.

VIII.   REPORTING REQUIREMENTS and EVALUATION

Upon completion of the awards, OSM shall forward to the Arts Endowment a summary
of the accomplishments or outcomes including, but not limited to: locations,
artists involved, community partners, type of work, and a description of the 
process leading to the development of the project, the selection of 
the artist, and the implementation of the project.  A budget summary including
direct and in-kind contributions over and above the grant amount will also be
submitted.

The Office of Surface Mining and the National Endowment for the Arts will
evaluate this Initiative to determine next steps, if any, in light of the
quality        of the pilot projects, funding availability, and agency mission
convergence.

IX. EFFECTIVE DATE

This Interagency Agreement will become effective upon signature by the Chairman
of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Director of the Office of Surface
Mining.  Either of the agencies may terminate the Agreement upon 90 days written
notice to the other agency; the provisions of the Agreement will be reviewed
periodically and amended or supplemented as may be agreed upon mutually.

X. TRANSFER OF FUNDS

Payment of funds will be made utilizing the OPAC system.  OSM will submit
supporting documentation to the following address:


National Endowment for the Arts
Finance Division, Room 624
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20506
Phone: 202-682-5407
Fax:  202-682-5679

ALC -  59-00-0002
DOC #  G99-67
Department of the Interior
Office of Surface Mining
Interior South Building
1951 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20240

ALC -
Appropriation:
Object Class:


SIGNATORIES

Entered into this agreement on the 3rd day of September, 1999.





________________________________        ________________________________
Bill Ivey                                                         Kathy Karpan
Chairman                                                      Director
National Endowment for the Arts                     Office of Surface Mining