DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                               news release
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OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING
     RECLAMATION & ENFORCEMENT

For Release March 3, 1995                    Alan Cole (202) 208-2719
   
                     STATES AND TRIBES JOIN WITH OSM
         IN SHARED COMMITMENT TO ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION

     Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt today announced the
signing of a Declaration of Shared Commitment between an association 
representing state and tribal programs that carry out abandoned
mine reclamation and Interior's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement (OSM), their counterpart in the federal government.

     The National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs,
comprising 28 states and three Indian tribes, has joined with OSM in
a formal declaration of shared commitment to public service,
teamwork, responsibility, and integrity in carrying out the abandoned
mine land (AML) reclamation program of the Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act, he said.

     "OSM is to be commended for a national program where most
day-to-day decisions are made on the ground by the affected states
and tribes," Babbitt said.  "In an era where government is often
accused of micromanaging local matters from afar, this OSM program
stands as a real guidepost."

     He added:  "In formalizing their shared commitment, OSM and the
states have reached the right federal-state balance -- without too
much federal control and without making the states go it alone, but
with an appropriate partnership role on each side that is mutually
supported and mutually respected."

     "This is one of Interior's most successful programs of
federal-state cooperation," Babbitt said.

     Robert J. Uram signed the joint declaration on behalf of OSM. 
Paul F. Rothman, president of the National Association of Abandoned
Mine Land Programs, signed on behalf of the reclamation states and
tribes.  Rothman is Director of the Division of Abandoned Lands in
the Department for Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement,
Commonwealth of Kentucky.  Uram is Director of OSM.

     "This unprecedented agreement is a major step forward for OSM
and the states," Uram said.  "It sets forth the principles that will
guide our mission for today and shape our vision for the future as we
continue working together in what has become America's most
successful environmental repair program."

     "The spirit of cooperation, trust, and dedication to
environmental restoration that we are mutually pledging to follow is
vital to our continued success in restoring abandoned mine lands and
meeting the needs of the affected citizens," Uram said.  "This is the
way government should work."

     According to Uram, OSM is fine-tuning its state relationships to
ensure that states have the appropriate level of authority while OSM
focuses on overall compliance and maintains a "level playing field"
from state to state.

     "This shared commitment on AML reclamation activities represents
fundamental agreement among the states, the tribes, and OSM about our
respective roles and basic operating principles," Uram said. 
"Meanwhile, we are working with the states on a shared commitment
agreement covering the regulatory aspects of the state-OSM
relationship."

     The National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs
represents 23 states and three tribes that operate Interior-approved,
federally funded AML reclamation programs.  (Arizona, Michigan, South
Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington also are members.)  The tribes
belonging to the Association are the Crow, Hopi, and Navajo.  The
states with Interior-funded programs are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas,
Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and
Wyoming.  Tennessee, Michigan, and Washington cooperate with OSM on
AML reclamation without conducting formal, Interior-approved
programs.
                               --oOo--

                                -DOI-
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