OSM NEWS
U. S. Department of the Interior
Office of Surface Mining
For Release: December 28, 1999           Jerry Childress (202) 208-2719
                                         jchildre@osmre.gov


       OSM ISSUES NATIONAL HYDROLOGY/AMD INITIATIVES REPORT

     Kathy Karpan, Director of the Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining
(OSM) today released a National Hydrology/Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Initiatives
Report which outlines OSM initiatives and actions for both ongoing and planned actions
to strengthen overall efforts to prevent and control AMD and to address water related
issues in the regulatory and abandoned mine land programs.

     Karpan noted that acid drainage from active and abandoned coal mines has
already destroyed thousands of miles of streams nationwide. "While States and the
mining industry have made progress in preventing acid mine drainage from active
operations, we have more work ahead to prevent AMD from future mining and to
remediate past damage," Karpan said.  "Thus, the prevention of acid and toxic
discharges from coal mining operations into surface and ground waters, and the
remediation of mining-related pollutant discharges, are among the Office of Surface
Mining's highest priorities."

     To advance these priorities, OSM established the Appalachian Clean Streams
Initiative, with a primary focus on AMD from abandoned mines, and the Acid Drainage
Technology Initiative, which concerns both the mediation and prevention of AMD from
future mining.  To complement these efforts, OSM developed policy goals, objectives,
and strategies to protect the hydrologic balance in coal mining areas from the effects of
AMD.  

     According to Karpan, OSM developed the outline to provide a framework for the
above initiatives and other OSM actions.  "This initiative details the policy, oversight,
training, and cooperative efforts with State and Federal agencies and other groups for
AMD problem prevention and clean up," she added.  "This is a work in progress and will
be updated as needed."

     Karpan said that OSM is inviting comments on the initiatives from other federal,
state, and local agencies, the coal industry, and coalfield citizens.  (Copies of the report
can be downloaded from OSM's web site at: www.osmre.gov/reg/1228hydrology.htm, or 
obtained from Richard Bryson at OSM headquarters in Washington, D.C., on 
(202) 208 -2776.)  "OSM appreciates your valuable input to this important effort," Karpan 
said.  "We hopeeveryone with an interest in these issues will review the outline and 
provide us with comments."

                              -OSM-