OSM NEWS
U.S. Department of the Interior		  	
Office of Surface Mining
		  			        			 
For Release:  May 17, 2002			Jerry Childress (202) 208-7941

OSM ISSUES ADVANCE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING
ON FINANCIAL ASSURANCE MECHANISMS 
FOR TREATMENT OF LONG-TERM AMD DISCHARGES

	Jeff Jarrett, Director of the Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining 
Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) today issued an advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking to seek comments on bonding issues and other financial assurance 
mechanisms for treatment of long-term acid or toxic mine drainage (AMD) that develop 
as a result of surface coal mining operations.

	The advance notice was published in the Federal Register of May 17, 2002.

	"OSM is issuing an advance notice to involve the public in the rules process early 
on," Jarrett said.  "The idea is to reach out to everyone who would like to be involved to 
make sure we do not overlook any good ideas from anybody who cares to offer them."

	"OSM is seeking comments on what types of financial guarantees will best 
ensure adequate funding for the treatment of unanticipated long-term pollution 
discharges, including acid or toxic mine drainage, that develop as a result of surface 
coal mining operations," Jarrett said. 

 	According to Jarrett, OSM is specifically interested in views from all parties on 
how OSM can best address the proper level of treatment and number of years to use in 
calculating financial assurance amounts for AMD, appropriate financial mechanisms to 
cover treatment costs, and suggestions of appropriate enforcement in cases where 
financial assurance is not fully adequate for the long term, but AMD is still being 
treated.

	Jarrett added that should OSM decide to proceed with rulemaking, it would 
publish proposed rules, seek further public comments, and offer public hearings on the 
proposed rules, once they are developed and published in the Federal Register.

	To assure consideration, OSM must receive all comments by (60 days from date 
of publication in the Federal Register).  Comments may be mailed or hand carried to the Office of 
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Administrative Record, Room 101, 1951 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.  You may also e-mail comments to 
osmrules@osmre.gov.

	For further information contact:  Ruth Stokes, Program Support Directorate, 
OSM, telephone (202) 208-2611.    
	  
                                                          -OSM-