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Science & Stewardship
Since the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act:
  • About 29.5 billion tons of coal have   been mined under SMCRA regulation.
       
  • The coal industry has reclaimed more   than 2 million acres of mined lands.
       
  • Almost 240,000 acres of high-priority   Abandoned Mine Lands have been reclaimed.
       
  • The Abandoned Mine Land Program has   eliminated safety and environmental hazards on 314,108 acres, including   all three coal priority categories and non-coal problems in 27 states and   on the lands of three Indian tribes. 
       
  • Since 1977, OSM has addressed 5,099 Abandoned Mine Land   emergencies, while the States and Tribes have dealt with 2,764.

Source: http://www.osmre.gov/
OSM Marks 30th Anniversary of Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act; Milestone Environmental Law Set Standards for Coal Mining
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Growing seedling surrounded by dirt
Photo by OSM.
OSM helps establish culturally significant plants on reclaimed lands in Arizona. This seed was collected near mines then germinated and grown in special nurseries. With establishment of plants such as this one, reclaimed lands will provide long-term benefits to the many Navajo and Hopi people who retain traditional values.

On August 23, 2007, the Office of Surface Mining celebrated a milestone – the 30th anniversary of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. This landmark environmental law established national standards for the regulation and reclamation of surface and underground mines. It also created the Office of Surface Mining, Regulation and Enforcement.

An agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior, OSM works with states and Indian tribes to ensure that citizens and the environment are protected during coal mining and that the land is restored to beneficial use when mining is finished. Along with its partners, states and Indian tribes, OSM is responsible for reclaiming and restoring lands and water degraded by mining operations before 1977.

In its beginning, OSM directly enforced mining laws and arranged cleanup of abandoned mine lands. Today, however, most coal states have developed their own programs to do those jobs themselves, as Congress envisioned. OSM now focuses on overseeing state programs and on developing new tools to help the states and tribes get the job done. It trains hundreds of state and tribal professionals each year.

Additionally, OSM is furthering the science of reclaiming mined lands and of protecting the environment through its work with other federal agencies, states, colleges and universities. It also promotes initiatives to plant more trees and to establish much needed wildlife habitat.

Through the act and strong, productive partnerships, OSM continues to strike a balance between protecting the environment and meeting the nation’s need for energy. Since the act was signed into law in 1977, about 29.5 billion tons of coal has been mined responsibly.

Related Link: http://www.osmre.gov/annualreports/annualreport06.htm


With more than 275 billion tons of recoverable reserves, the United States possesses one-fourth of the world’s coal reserves.  Nationwide, coal-fired utilities generate more than half of the electricity in our homes. With its abundance and our nation’s need to rely on its own reserves, coal makes a crucial contribution to maintaining our energy security.

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UPDATED: August 06, 2007
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