OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING
For Release  May 17,.  1990
Alan Cole (202) 208-2719

FINAL RULE APPROVED ON WEST VIRGINIA PERMANENT REGULATORY PROGRAM

The Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining (OSM) Director
Harry Snyder today announced approval of rules governing the State
of West Virginia's permanent coal mine regulatory program.

The decision, to be published in the Federal Register on May 23,
1990, approves regulations designed to make provisions of the West
Virginia regulatory program no less effective than corresponding
Federal requirements.

The Secretary of the Interior approved the West Virginia permanent
regulatory program on January 21, 1981, granting the state primacy
and full regulatory authority for surface coal mining and
reclamation operations within the state.

On February 7, 1990, the West Virginia Department of Energy (DOE)
submitted a formal regulatory program amendment which modified
previous submittals containing emergency regulations.

The amendment makes major reforms to the State's surface mining
regulatory program, and is intended to correct previous conditions
of program approval.

The State of West Virginia will also submit further changes for OSM
review in the near future and intends to initiate emergency
rulemaking to address other critical requirements.   The revised
West Virginia program will form a sound basis for regulation of
surface coal mining and reclamation operation in the State.

OSM Director Harry M. Snyder said, "Governor Caperton and his staff
deserve congratulations for a well-thought-out program.  This
program is the result of many long hours of negotiation, and I'm
fully satisfied with the results."

-DOI-