OSM NEWS
U. S. Department of the Interior
Office of Surface Mining

For Release:  March 24, 2000                 Jerry Childress (202) 208-2719        
                                                                           jchildre@osmre.gov

      OSM EXTENDS WAITING PERIOD FOR DIRECTOR'S DECISION ON FALL 
CREEK FALLS FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
     
     Kathy Karpan, Director of the Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), today announced that OSM is extending the
waiting period for the Director's decision on the Fall Creek Falls final environmental
impact statement (EIS) on a petition to designate lands within the watershed that includes
Fall Creek Falls State Park and Natural Area in Van Buren and Bledsoe Counties in
Tennessee as unsuitable for mining until after Wednesday, May 3, 2000.

     According to Karpan, OSM made the decision to extend the waiting period after a
request from the petitioners asking for additional time to review the EIS.   "OSM wants to
be sure that everyone gets the chance to review the document," she said.

     Persons wishing to obtain a copy of  the final environmental impact statement or
who require additional information,  should contact Beverly Brock, Office of Surface
Mining, 530 Gay Street S.W., Suite 500, Knoxville, TN 37902; telephone: (865) 545-
4103; e-mail: bbrock@osmre.gov.    

                              -OSM-

  
                                                                                                                                     
                  CENSUS 2000 ----- YOU COUNT !
OSM news release and other information may be downloaded from OSM's Homepage at:
(http://www.osmre.gov.).  Frequently requested information about OSM is available 24 hours a
day by Fax-on-Demand at: (202) 219-1703.