State Offices Win Top Honors for Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation from OSM

Editors note: Awards given to state agencies in Colorado, Indiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Utah.

(Durango, CO)Five state offices responsible for reclaiming mines abandoned prior to passage of the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act of 1977(SMCRA) were awarded top honors for the 2008 competition sponsored by the US Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM). [more] [ 49 KB]

2009 Call For Nominations

The awards program is designed so that state and federal regulators can transfer outstanding reclamation methods and techniques to the coal mine operators who work under the Surface Mining Law nationwide. The winners are coal mine operators who developed innovative reclamation techniques or who have completed reclamation that resulted in outstanding on-the-ground performance. Today, active mines are turned into farmland, forests, parks, housing sites, and habitat. To read more about the nominiation process[ 2009 Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Awards [245 KB] (Deadline: March 13, 2009)].

To give well-earned public recognition to those responsible for the nation's most outstanding achievements in abandoned mine land reclamation the Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement began the annual Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards Program in 1992. The program publicly recognizes outstanding abandoned mine land reclamation and publizes exemplary reclamation techniques. To read more about the nomination process[ 2009 Abandoned Mine Reclamation Awards [343 KB] (Deadline: March 17, 2009)].

Historic Partnership Aids Restoration Effort of Forest Monarch

OSM is cementing its commitment to help bring back the American chestnut from near extinction by signing a pledge to aid The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) in its reforestation efforts.   For more information on this historic agreement, see joint TACF-OSM press release. [ more] [ 53 KB]

OSM Announces Final Environmental Impact Statement For Revised “Excess Spoil Minimization -- Stream Buffer Zone” Rule

(Washington, DC) The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) today announced the availability of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) evaluating potential changes to the excess spoil and coal mine waste disposal rules as well as the stream buffer zone rule.

The final environmental impact statement provides decision makers with information about the impacts that could result if these rules are revised.

The rulemaking alternatives considered in the FEIS address two requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA): to prevent additional contributions of sediment to streams outside the permit area, and to minimize adverse impacts on fish and wildlife and related environmental values. The alternatives would address environmental concerns about the impacts of disposal of excess rock from coal mine excavation (“excess spoil”), coal mine waste, and other coal mining activities in and around streams. They would require minimization of impacts from these activities, and would clarify existing requirements that are not now interpreted consistently. [more] [ 123 KB] 


The FEIS is a two book set: Book 1 and Book 2. To go directly to the FEIS, see links below.

Book 1 (the main body of the FEIS) OSM's Final Environment Impact Statement (FEIS) for the revised "excess spoil minimization - stream buffer zone" proposed rule is available for review and download from the following links at regulations.gov. http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&d=OSM-2007-0008-0553

Book 2 (which contains copies of comments and the agencies response to those comments. The FEIS evaluates potential changes to the excess spoil, coal mine waste, and stream buffer zone regulations, and will allow decision makers in OSM and Department of Interior to make informed decisions on changing or not changing the associated rules.) http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&d=OSM-2007-0008-0553.1

OSM Requests Proposals On Projects Demonstrating Improved Techniques in Mining and Reclamation

(Washington, DC) The Interior Department’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is requesting proposals for projects that develop and demonstrate improved technologies addressing environmental issues related to surface coal mining and reclamation.

OSM has identified seven high priority topics that will receive additional points in the project selection process: reforestation; blasting; hydrology; soils-based crop yield predictor; carbon dioxide gas intrusion; coal mine voids and fires; and invasive species. All projects must be directly related to coal mining and reclamation and must include a letter of endorsement on official letterhead signed by management official representing either a State, Indian, or Federal Abandoned Mine Land or Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Regulatory Authority. Proposals without such an endorsement will not be considered for funding.

Total funding in past years was FY 2006 $935,298; FY 2007 $950,678; and FY 2008 $1,345,000. OSM will announce the total amount of FY 2009 funding at a later date. Applicants may request funding, not to exceed $200,000, for FY 2009. The vehicle for awarding funds will be a cooperative agreement.

The full announcement is available electronically on line at the applied science page of http://www.techtransfer.osmre.gov/ . More information can also be found at www.grants.gov . Use the Basic Search function and enter the keyword OSM. Select the Applied Science Program announcement. In order to receive a paper copy, please contact:

Team Leader Kimery C. Vories (kvories@osmre.gov)
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
501 Belle St.
Alton, IL 62002 [more] [ 47 KB] 

See ANNOUNCEMENT TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS [ 59 KB].

Supplementary Materials:   OSM-47 [ 23 KB] , OSM-51 [ 69 KB] , SF-424 [ 261 KB] , Evaluation Form [ 42 KB] , and the SF-LLL [ 56 KB] are located on the Technology Transfer website at http://www.techtransfer.osmre.gov/.

OSM Technology Transfer

OSM’s Technology Development and Transfer supports and enhances the technical skills that States and Tribes need to operate their regulatory and reclamation programs and to effectively implement the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.

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