U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
For Release September 16, 1994
Alan Cole (202) 208-2719

$2 MILLION MORE IN MINE RECLAMATION FUNDS TARGETED AT KENTUCKY
LANDSLIDES

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt today said he is making an
additional $2 million available for emergency reclamation in parts
of eastern Kentucky threatened by landslides from abandoned surface
coal mines. The money comes on top of $5.1 million in federal funds
made available for Kentucky emergency reclamation in April.

The emergency reclamation funds came from a supplemental
appropriation aimed at helping parts of the country affected by
natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, and landslides.

Babbitt said, "The additional emergency reclamation funds will help
protect the homes of more coalfield residents in eastern Kentucky,
where state and Federal programs are working hard to protect the
people who are still at risk from the danger of abandoned surface
mine landslides."

The Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement (OSM) handles emergency reclamation in Kentucky and
several other coal states that have not yet added emergency
response capability to their Federally Financed regular reclamation
programs. According to OSM Director Robert J. Uram, Kentucky has
bene~ted twice previously this year from extra federal funding for
this purpose. 'W~re previously expedited a grant of $5 million to
Kentucky out of regular, state-share funds, to help them deal with
landslides. Then President Clinton made an additional $5.1 million
in supplemental appropriations available to deal with the landslide
situation.' Now, this added $2 million will enable us to protect
more people and their property this year."

Uram said Kentucky Senator Wendell Ford and Kentucky 5th District
Congressman Hal Rogers both played a major role in securing
supplemental appropriations containing funds for emergency
reclamation. "With so much attention earlier in the year on
emergency funds for flood relief in the Midwest and repairing
earthquake damage in California, the leadership of Senator Ford and
Congressman Rogers was essential in making sure funds were
available to address emergency landslide reclamation in eastern
Kentucky," Uram said.

Senator Ford said, "I am pleased with the cooperation our state has
had with OSM in providing extra funds where needed to deal with
emergency landslides. I am confident the Commonwealth will take the
prudent course in relation to future abandoned mine emergencies."

Said Congressman Rogers, 'This is good news for the families in
eastern Kentucky whose homes are still being threatened or still in
need of repair. I witnessed the devastation first-hand when I
brought Director Uram to the area. Getting relief to slide victims
has been one of my top priorities this year; this funding is
critical to our effort."

Uram said the new $2 million in supplemental appropriation funds
will finance 24 emergency reclamation projects to be carried out by
OSM's federal reclamation office in Ashland, Kentucky. "Ultimately,
the long-term solution to the problem of funding emergency
reclamation adequately is for Kentucky to set up its own Federally
funded emergency program, following the lead of Virginia, West
Virginia, Ohio, and seven other major coal states," Uram said.
"Meanwhile, OSM will continue to handle emergency projects in
Kentucky and will work with state reclamation personnel to help
them build the capability to transfer of this function from the
federal government to the state."

-DOI-