OSM NEWS
U.S. Department of the Interior
Office of Surface Mining

For Release January 31, 1996 
Jerry Childress (202) 208-2719

NEW SURFACE MINE OVERSIGHT DIRECTIVE FOCUSES ON RESULTS

Robert J. Uram, Director of the Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), today released the newly revised OSM
Directive REG-8, "Oversight of State Regulatory Programs," which establishes new
policies, procedures, and responsibilities for evaluating state regulatory programs for
coal mining operations.

The new directive is based on recommendations of an OSM/State Oversight Team. 
According to Uram, it incorporates a new "fundamentally different" results-based
oversight strategy.  It applies to all OSM organizational units and personnel involved
in oversight of state programs after January 1, 1996.

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt noted that the new oversight concept will
mainly benefit the families who live and  work in America's coalfields, OSM's primary
customers.  "OSM's  achievement with the states in improving oversight is an
example  of what we mean by 'reinventing government'," Babbitt said.  "By  working
together to achieve consensus, target funding based on  state needs, and avoid
duplication, OSM and the primacy states  will meet a specific goal of this
Administration, namely better  oversight of surface coal mine reclamation."

"The efforts of the oversight team and OSM's oversight steering committee have
contributed significantly to OSM's vision of shared commitment by developing an
oversight concept that focuses on the successes of the states in meeting the Surface
Mining Control and Reclamation Act's goals for environmental protection and prompt,
effective reclamation of land mined for coal," Uram said.

"I realize the changes we are making in the way we conduct oversight are major,"
Uram said.  "However, we believe the new approach will result in more meaningful
oversight, and eliminate unnecessary paperwork, procedural details, and data
collections.  The main focus has shifted from process to on-ground results."

Under the directive, OSM Field Offices and Regional Coordinating Centers, in
cooperation with state regulators, will develop a state-specific evaluation plan tailored
to the unique conditions of each state's surface mining program.  OSM's role will not
involve any duplication of the state's program implementation, according to OSM
officials.

"State program evaluation will no longer be driven by the Washington mandates of
the past," Uram said.  "Instead, we have substituted performance agreements worked
out by consensus with each state."

Further, Uram said, "Oversight will now focus on identifying financial, technical, and
other assistance states need to strengthen their surface mining programs, and in fact
will be the first step in providing targeted assistance."
      
Uram said the directive is being released in interim form to ensure that oversight
policies and procedures are in place for the new evaluation year, which started
January 1, 1996.  

"However, recognizing that we are embarking on an entirely new oversight course, I
want to provide the users of the directive the opportunity to supply comments and
feedback to the oversight steering committee by March 31, 1996.  The steering
committee will then refine the document as necessary, with all final changes to the
directive being made by July 1."

OSM officials said that the steering committee will monitor implementation
continuously to improve the oversight process, and will be a source of information to
respond to any questions about the directive.

Requests for additional information or copies of Directive REG-8 should be directed
to James Fulton, OSM Western Regional Coordinating Center, Suite 3320, 1999
Broadway, Denver, CO 80225, (303) 672-5524.

-DOI-