OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

For Release November 8, 1991                   
Jerry Childress (202) 208-2719

OSM PROPOSES RULES TO IMPLEMENT ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION ACT OF
1990

The Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement (OSM) is proposing rules to assist in implementing the
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Act of 1990 (AMRA).

The proposed rules were published in the Federal Register of
November 8, 1991, for public review and comment.

The AMRA, which was signed into law November 5, 1990, and became
effective October 1, 1991, makes a number of amendments to Title IV
of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). The most
important change is a three-year extension of the Abandoned Mine
Land (AML) fee on coal output.  Authority for OSM to collect the
tonnage-based fee, which generates about $200 million annually for
the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Fund, has been extended through
September 30, 1995.

OSM charges coal producers 35 cents per ton of surface mined coal
and 15 cents per ton of coal mined underground. The money pays for
reclaiming coal mine lands that were abandoned before the surface
mining law was enacted in 1977.

The proposed rules address other major changes enacted by AMRA,
including:

--An increase in the ownership and control information required
from mine operators on Form OSM-1, the quarterly Coal Production
and Reclamation Fee Report;

--AML eligibility for reclaiming certain high-priority surface
mining sites mined after the enactment of SMCRA on August 3, 1977;

--Investment of the portion of the AML fund not needed for current
use, with interest credited to the fund's federal share balance;

--Expanding the rights of states that have certified the completion
of all known coal mine reclamation problems to use state share AML
funds for non-coal reclamation purposes;

--Setting aside funds for acid mine drainage control and future
coal reclamation projects;

--Modifications to the allocation of the fund;

--An inventory of coal AML sites designated Priorities One and Two;

--Eligibility for public enhancement projects in areas affected by
coal mining; and

--Increasing the annual tonnage limit, from 100,000 to 300,000
tons, under which small-scale mines can qualify for technical help
through the Small Coal Operators Assistance Program.

OSM Director Harry M. Snyder said that the new rules emphasize
Congressional direction and OSM policy to concentrate on first
reclaiming abandoned coal mine sites endangering public health,
safety, and general welfare. "Until the Priority One and Two coal
mine reclamation problems are completed, we are proposing funding
for Priority Three sites only if they are associated with a higher
priority reclamation problem," Snyder explained.

Written comments on the proposed rules should be sent to the
Administrative Record, Office of Surface Mining, Room 5131-L, 1951
Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20240, (202) 208-5365 no
later than January 7, 1992. Requests for hearings or additional
information should be directed to D.M. Lytton, Office of Surface
Mining, 1951 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20240, (202)
208-5365.