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Office of Surface Mining To Issue New Rule Tightening Restrictions on Excess Spoil, Coal Mine Waste, and Mining Activities in or Near Streams

(Washington DC) – The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) announced today its plans to publish a new Federal rule that places new restrictions on how coal mine operators can dispose of coal mine waste and the excess spoil created by the mining operation. The rule also requires that mine operators avoid disturbing perennial and intermittent streams to the extent possible and clarifies when mine operators must maintain an undisturbed buffer between the mine and adjacent streams. [more] [ 70 KB]

Summary of Major Changes Made to Final Rule [more] [ 32 KB]

OSM Issues Final Rules for the Abandoned Mine Land Program

(Washington DC) – The U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) announced today publication of a final rule that aligns current regulations with amendments to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) enacted in 2006.

Signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 20, 2006, the amendments significantly changed the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program, including dramatically increasing the funds available for reclaiming abandoned coal mines. After an initial phase-in period, about 83 percent of fees collected annually will be allocated for this reclamation.

“Publishing this rule brings OSM’s regulations into line with the changes brought about by the 2006 amendments to the agency’s organic act,” said Brent Wahlquist, Director of OSM. “This rule sets the course for how the agency will collect fees that improve water quality and provide other benefits by funding important reclamation activities,” he added.  [more] [ 46 KB]   AML Final Rule [ 386 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)].

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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