OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

For Release April 25, 1994             Alan Cole (202) 208-2719

SUPPLEMENTAL EMERGENCY MINE RECLAMATION FUNDS
TARGETED AT KENTUCKY LANDSLIDES

     Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt today said he is making $5.1
million available for emergency reclamation in parts of eastern Kentucky hard
hit by landslides from abandoned surface coal mines.

     The emergency reclamation funds came from a supplemental appropriation
aimed at helping parts of the country affected by natural disasters like
floods, earthquakes, and landslides.

     "The supplemental appropriation is badly needed for emergency
reclamation in eastern Kentucky," Babbitt said.  "Without it, the Interior
Department would be essentially out of money to deal with reclamation
emergencies in Kentucky for the rest of the current fiscal year."

     Bob Armstrong, Interior's Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals
Management, explained:  "Kentucky has not yet established its own federally
funded emergency reclamation program.  This means the federal government has a
key role in the protection of homes, schools, churches, and roads from
abandoned mine landslides on an emergency basis."

     The Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement (OSM) administers emergency reclamation in Kentucky and several
other coal states which have not yet taken over responsibility for emergency
reclamation.  According to OSM Director Robert J. Uram, heavy snowmelt
followed by heavy rains in eastern Kentucky created more landslides than OSM
could handle within reclamation spending limits originally set by Congress for
fiscal 1994.  "In March we expedited a grant of $5 million to Kentucky out of
regular, state-share funds, to help the state deal with landslides. 
Kentucky's willingness to use its regular federal grant from the Abandoned
Mine Land Fund for emergencies this year has been extremely beneficial.  Both
OSM and state employees have worked long and hard to
respond to citizens' complaints.  The efforts of Phil Shepard and Dave
Rosenbaum in this area are greatly appreciated.  The availability of this
additional $5.1 million in supplemental appropriations will enable us to
safeguard more people and their property this spring."  Mr. Shepard is
Secretary of Kentucky's Natural Resources Protection Cabinet, and Mr.
Rosenbaum is Commissioner of the state's Department for Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement.

     Uram also credited Kentucky Senator Wendell Ford and Kentucky 6th
District Congressman Hal Rogers with a major role in securing the supplemental
appropriation.  "With so much concentration on emergency funds for flood
relief in the Midwest and repairing earthquake damage in California, the
leadership of Senator Ford and Congressman Rogers was essential in making sure
there were also funds to address emergency landslide reclamation in eastern
Kentucky," Uram said.

     Uram explained that the $5.1 million supplemental appropriation will
finance emergency reclamation projects by OSM's federal reclamation office in
Ashland, Kentucky.  "Ultimately, OSM would like to see Kentucky fully
administer the emergency program, following the lead of Virginia, West
Virginia, Ohio, and seven other major coal states," he said.  "While Kentucky
is coming to grips with that, OSM will continue to handle emergency projects. 
We look forward to working with state reclamation personnel to assist in an
orderly transfer of this function from the federal government to the state,
when Kentucky is ready, willing, and able to take over this important
responsibility."


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