OSM NEWS
U. S. Department of the Interior
Office of Surface Mining
For Release: September 15, 1999              Jerry Childress (202) 208-2719
                                             jchildre@osmre.gov

           OSM RELEASE FINAL VIRGINIA OVERSIGHT REPORT 
      AND ACTION PLAN TO ADDRESS MOUNTAINTOP MINING ISSUES 

     Kathy Karpan, Director of the Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement (OSM), today announced the release of OSM's final oversight report evaluating
mountaintop mining and postmining land uses in Virginia.

     According to Karpan, "This report finalizes the conclusions and recommendations included
in the draft report released in June.  Because only minor changes were made as a result of public
outreach, OSM chose not to republish the draft report in its entirety.  If interested, persons should
refer to the draft report for further discussion of the findings and analyses that led to the conclusions
and recommendations  being announced today."  

     "The final report includes the action plan addressing the weaknesses that were identified,"
Karpan said.   "OSM and Virginia have worked cooperatively throughout the entire review process
to identify program strengths and weaknesses.  Virginia has sought input from its stakeholders in
developing solutions to the weaknesses that were identified."

     Karpan said that the action plan addresses all of the issues raised in the OSM oversight
report.  In order to achieve consistency among the states, Virginia has agreed to develop a guidance
document to assist permit reviewers in making approximate original contour determinations.  To
address review findings, Virginia is also revising database systems, findings documents, and
reviewing postmining land uses.

     For more information regarding the Virginia report, or media inquiries, please contact Al
Klein, OSM Appalachian Regional Director, telephone: (412) 937-2828.  Electronic copies of both
the draft report and the final report may be viewed and down loaded from OSM's Web page at:
http://www.osmre.gov/mtindex.htm.  Additionally,  copies of the final report may be obtained from
OSM's Big Stone Gap Field Office, 1941 Neeley Road, Suite 201, Compartment 116, Big Stone
Gap, Virginia 24219, telephone (540) 523-4303.
                         
                              -OSM-