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OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

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(From left) Don Cooke and Dave Maynard, both from Appalachian Fuels, LLC, accept the Appalachian Region Regional Reforestation Initiative’s 2007 Excellence in Reforestation Regional Award from Brent Wahlquist, Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. (OSM photo by Linda Keene)

Forestry Reclamation Excellence

Logan, WV – The Appalachian Region Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) named Appalachian Fuels, LLC recipient of its 2007 Excellence in Reforestation Regional Award here recently. This award recognizes those individuals, operators and organizations that exemplify excellence in forestry reclamation on surface coal mine sites. ARRI is a partnership of individuals and organizations, including OSM, interested in growing healthy forests on reclaimed surface coal mine sites. Winners must meet ARRI’s exacting standards to win at the state level. The best of the best is selected for this regional award.

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Image of first railroad in New Mexico.

The National Award

New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division, Mine Reclamation Bureau, Real De Dolores Mine Safeguard Project.

Ten years after the Santa Fe Trail began, the placer mining in the Ortiz Mountains ended when in 1831 shafts were opened beginning the Santo Nino, the oldest mine in what would become New Mexico. The Santa Rosalia mine followed in 1833, a full fifteen years before the California gold rush, expanding the mining camp of Real de Delores and leading to the construction of New Mexico’s first rail line built to carry ore. Later combined as the Old Ortiz mine, production continued here into the 1940s and an open pit mine operated in the 1980s.

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U.S. Congressman Tim Murphy (left), Director Brent Wahlquist (center) and Pa. DEP Deputy Secretary J. Scott Roberts (right)

OSM Director Lends Expertise to Botanic Garden Efforts

OSM Director Brent Wahlquist (center) explains the benefits of the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) as U.S. Congressman Tim Murphy (left) and Pa. DEP Deputy Secretary J. Scott Roberts look on during a recent roundtable sponsored by the Botanic Garden of Western Pennsylvania. Director Wahlquist participated in the roundtable at the invitation of Congressman Murphy. Endorsed by the Appalachian Region Reforestation Initiative (ARRI), OSM helps promote this science-based approach because of its many benefits which include enhanced biodiversity through habitat restoration, carbon sequestration, restoration of high value forest as well as reduced runoff and flooding because of increased water infiltration. The roundtable was attended by local leaders and supporters of the Botanic Garden. (OSM photo).

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Jack Dangermond (left), President of ESRI, congratulates OSM’s Greg Morlock on the bureau’s vision and leadership in using geographic information systems (GIS) to make the Nation’s coal mines safer for the public and to help protect the environment. Morlock accepted the Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award on behalf of OSM’s team working to build a central repository for boundaries of abandoned and active coalmines. OSM Photo

Technology Leads to Safer Coalfields OSM receives award for adapting technology to help protect lives and the environment

San Diego, CA - Many of the nearly 15,000 scientists, researchers, business leaders and government officials gathered for an international geographic information systems (GIS) conference watched as OSM was recognized for its vision and leadership in using technology to make the Nation’s coal mines safer for the public and to protect the environment.

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