OSM FACT SHEET
U.S. Department of the Interior    Office of Surface Mining

OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING
         RECLAMATION & ENFORCEMENT

For release May 8, 1997                    Alan Cole (202)  208-2719
                                                           acole@osmre.gov

HOPI TRIBE AWARDED $114,680 TO DEVELOP
               SURFACE MINING PROGRAM

     The Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) has awarded $114,680 to the
Hopi Tribe to help develop a coal surface mining reclamation
regulatory program for tribal coal lands in Arizona.

     The grant is designed to assist the Hopi Tribe in developing
a regulatory program under the Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act (SMCRA) that can lead to primacy over surface
coal mine regulation on Indian lands, on the same basis as state
surface mining programs, once Congress provides authority for
Indian primacy.

     The grant is authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and
funded by appropriations for the current fiscal year.   It will
support the Hopi Tribe's anticipated workload to develop tribal
regulations and SMCRA program policies, to assist OSM with
surface coal mine inspections and enforcement (including
permitting activities, mine plan review, and bond release), and
to sponsor employment training and education in the area of
mining and mineral resources.

-DOI-