OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION & ENFORCEMENT

For Release August 30, 1991
Alan Cole (202) 208-2719

ADDED STAFF, FUNDS NEEDED FOR WEST VIRGINIA SURFACE MINING PROGRAM,
ACCORDING TO FEDERAL-STATE ANALYSIS

Adding $4.7 million to the annual budget and hiring 64 new
inspectors, plus 178 support personnel, will be needed to upgrade
West Virginia's program for regulating surface coal mine
reclamation, according to a joint report prepared by the West
Virginia Division of Energy (WVDOE) and the Interior Department's
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM).

The report calls for adding 64 inspectors, plus 45 more personnel
in inspection support, 34 in permitting, 26 in data management, and
30 for screening permit applications through the Applicant Violator
System.  Staff increases totaling 43 are recommended in such
functions as enforcement, civil penalties, alternative bonding,
administration, and legal support.

The $4.7 million budget increase would pay costs of the staff
additions, plus direct costs of vehicles, travel, supplies,
contract services, equipment, uniforms, training, and helicopter
rental.  It would also cover indirect costs for rent,
administration, personnel benefits, telephone, and utilities.

In a letter to West Virginia Governor Gaston Caperton, OSM Director
Harry M. Snyder said the increases could be phased in over three
years.

"Commissioner Wayland and I have discussed a three year program
improvement schedule with approximately thirty-three percent
implementation per year with OSM monitoring West Virginia's
performance annually," Snyder said. "If we can agree to an
implementation plan, we will need to develop a document detailing
all aspects of the plan within sixty days."

Snyder said West Virginia's cost increases for regulating surface
coal mines will be shared by the federal government.  "OSM is
prepared to fully match all additional West Virginia program costs
on a 50-50 basis," he said.

To help the state while it starts building up its surface mine
regulatory program, Snyder said OSM would be willing to consider
extending current arrangements under which state inspection and
regulation activities are being temporarily augmented by federal
personnel from OSM.  "This approach would allow West Virginia to
absorb the increases in an efficient manner and establish a
practical and effective hiring schedule over this time period,"
Snyder said.

Under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
(SMCRA), which is administered nationally by OSM, coal mining
states have primary responsibility for regulating surface mining
and carrying out reclamation activities on abandoned mine lands.

States like West Virginia receive financial and technical support
from OSM, and are subject to OSM oversight of state program
performance.  OSM oversight findings in recent years indicated a
decline in the performance of West Virginia's surface mining
program, caused by inadequate resources.  Since then, both OSM and
the state government of West Virginia have been planning ways to
strengthen the state's program so that it can retain primacy over
surface coal mine regulation.

Snyder commended the OSM and West Virginia officials who performed
the financial analysis for the state program.  "WVDOE and OSM staff
are to be congratulated for exemplary efforts towards completion of
this very thorough and excellent analysis.  This professional
approach and cooperative effort to resolve a very complex issue
reflect extremely well upon your office and the State of West
Virginia," Snyder told the Governor.

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