OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING
     RECLAMATION & ENFORCEMENT

For Release August 30, 1995              Alan Cole (202) 208-2719

SURFACE MINING EMPLOYEES GET SEPARATION NOTICES

     The Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) has sent notices of separation
from government service to approximately 265 of its 920 federal
civil service employees in response to budget cuts passed by the
U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives for Fiscal Year
1996. Fiscal Year 1996 starts October 1, 1995.

     The separations become effective in 60 days. Employees in 26
OSM locations across the country are affected. In addition, more
than 70 vacant positions will be abolished.

     Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt said the cuts will
significantly impair OSM's ability to administer the Surface
Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), which protects
citizens and the environment from the adverse impacts of mining.
"Losing this many people with this much professional talent will
make it virtually impossible for the Office of Surface Mining to
function effectively," Babbitt said. "Getting adequate funding
restored for this and other key environmental and Native American
programs is absolutely essential."

     OSM Director Robert J. Uram said, "The House-Senate
conferees who are writing the final Interior appropriations bill
are the key to the future of the surface mine reclamation
program. We cannot function at these levels. The conferees should
restore OSM funding. Only if that happens would it be possible to
withdraw the separation notices and maintain OSM's critical role
in protecting public health, safety, and the environment in the
nation's coal fields."

     Uram said employees separated by the reduction in force
(RIF), except those who can take regular or early retirement,
will be eligible for severance payments. In addition,
outplacement counseling and job search assistance will be
provided wherever possible.

     "Everyone inside and outside OSM should understand that the
employees being separated were identified strictly according to
federal RIF regulations. RIF procedures do not take into account
their integrity, hard work, and dedication to public service.
Separation under these difficult circumstances is absolutely no
reflection on how well they do their jobs. I am extremely
concerned, and I regret that we'll be losing these valued staff
members. I hope funding will be restored," Uram said.
     Approximate numbers of RIF separations by location are
listed below.

72 - Washington, DC

34 - Pittsburgh, PA (RIF area includes Wilkes-Barre, PA, &
     Ashland, KY)

31 - Reclamation Fee Collections & Audits (Pittsburgh &
     Wilkes-Barre, PA; Beckley & Morgantown, WV; Lebanon, VA;
     Ashland, Lexington, London, Madisonville, & Pikeville, KY;
     Kansas City, MO; Birmingham, AL; Knoxville, TN)

29 - Knoxville, TN (including Norris, TN)

24 - Denver, CO

13 - Charleston, WV (including Beckley, Logan, & Morgantown, WV)

12 - Lexington, KY (including Applicant Violator System [AVS],
     also including London, Madisonville, & Prestonsburg, KY)

10 - Harrisburg, PA (including Johnstown, PA)

 8 - Springfield, IL

 8 - Columbus, OH

 5 - Birmingham, AL

 4 - Albuquerque, NM

 4 - Big Stone Gap, VA

 3 - Casper, WY

 3 - Kansas City, MO

 3 - Tulsa, OK

 2 - Indianapolis, IN

    Issuance of separation notices to affected employees in
Albuquerque, N.M., has been postponed pending completion of
negotiations with Local 2148, National Federation of Federal
Employees.  Notices to employees in the Appalachian Regional
Coordinating Center (ARCC), Pittsburgh, Pa. (including field
units reporting to ARCC), has been postponed pending completion
of a quality assurance review of the RIF procedures used by ARCC. 
Upon completion of the negotiations and review, required notices
will be issued to the affected Albuquerque and ARCC employees.

    In addition to the RIF, Uram cited the following major
impacts of the budget cuts as well:

   Closing field offices (Kansas City MO & Springfield IL) and
   area offices (Logan WV and Norris TN), and downsizing the
   area office in Madisonville KY.

   Cancelling office opening in Grand Junction CO.

   A near-moratorium on technical training for state & tribal
   personnel.

   Loss of abandoned mine reclamation revenue due to weakened
   fee collection & compliance audit programs (loss of $10-12
   million per year).

   Reduced emergency abandoned mine land reclamation
   capability.

   Reduced quality and quantity of SMCRA Title V & Title IV
   oversight.

   Degradation of TIPS capability; less TIPS assistance to
   states. (TIPS = Technical Information Processing System)

   Elimination of Coalex data service funding for the
   Interstate Mining Compact Commission and the Interior
   Department's Solicitor's Office.

   Postponement of general advisory board.

   Reduction in AVS customer service standards.

   Undermining of Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative.

   Delayed or shelved regulations.

   Reduced communication activities, including termination of
   awards programs (Excellence in Surface Mining Reclamation
   awards, Abandoned Mine Reclamation awards, & Morris K. Udall
   "best practices" awards).


                              -DOI-