OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION & ENFORCEMENT For Release October 24, 1995 Jerry Childress (202) 208-2719 PUBLIC MEETING SET ON OSM BUDGET PLANNING Robert J. Uram, Director of the Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), today invited "maximum participation" by OSM customers in planning the agency's fiscal 1997 budget at a day-long public meeting Tuesday, November 28, 1995. The meeting, which starts at 9:00 a.m., will be held in the auditorium of the South Interior Building, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. "OSM intends to give each of its customers and stakeholders -- state regulators, coal mine operators, environmental groups, coalfield citizens, anyone with a stake in our business lines and program activities -- an opportunity to weigh in about how we should prioritize our programs and use our resources in fiscal 1997," Uram said. "We are aiming for maximum participation." "As part of our effort to be a more customer-driven agency, we are offering the public a chance to discuss with the OSM Management Council how we should use our limited resources on a program by program basis, and how we should set our priorities to best serve public needs," Uram said. "We acknowledge that not everyone with ideas to offer can be in Washington for the meeting," Uram said, "so we want members of the public to feel free to communicate their views with OSM field and regional offices as well. Our goal is open communication, not a limited time or exclusive place for communication." A notice about the meeting was published in the Federal Register on October 25, 1995. The Federal Register notice also tells how people can offer input to the budget process even if they don't attend the meeting. Anyone who wants to provide oral comments, or participate in a series of public roundtable discussions to be held in conjunction with the meeting, should notify OSM by telephone (202-208-7851), FAX (202-501-4734), or E-Mail (Internet: vchristi@osmre.gov), by November 21, 1995. OSM will also accept written input for the FY-97 budget until 4:00 p.m. (EST) November 28, 1995. Written comments should be mailed or hand-delivered to Victor J. Christiansen, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Room 244, 1951 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240, or to one of the state offices listed below. OSM will not formally respond to written comments as it does with public comments on rulemaking, but may call on commenters to discuss key points and as time allows will engage in interactive dialogue at the meeting. All input will be considered in the Management Council's deliberations, according to Uram. "This is an experimental effort. If it works, we will continue to use it in the future," he added. The November 28 meeting takes the place of a similar meeting that had been called for October 31 but was postponed. Questions about the OSM budget process or the public meeting should be directed to Christiansen at 202-208-7851. OSM offices accepting comments through November 28: Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center Office of Surface Mining 10 Parkway Center Pittsburgh, PA 15220 Knoxville Field Office Office of Surface Mining 530 Gay Street Knoxville, TN 37902 Birmingham Field Office Office of Surface Mining 135 Gemini Circle, Suite 215 Homewood, AL 35209 Albuquerque Field Office Office of Surface Mining 505 Marquette Avenue N.W., Suite 1200 Albuquerque, NM 87102 Big Stone Gap Field Office Office of Surface Mining 1941 Neely Rd., Suite 201 Big Stone Gap, VA 24219 Casper Field Office Office of Surface Mining 100 East "B" Street - Room 2128 Casper, WY 82601-1918 Charleston Field Office Office of Surface Mining 1027 Virginia Street Charleston, WV 25301 Columbus Field Office Office of Surface Mining Eastland Professional Plaza 4480 Refugee Road - Suite 201 Columbus, OH 43232 Harrisburg Field Office Office of Surface Mining Harrisburg Transportation Center - Suite 3C 4th & Market Streets Harrisburg, PA 17101 Indianapolis Field Office Office of Surface Mining Minton-Capehart Federal Building 575 North Pennsylvania Street - Room 301 Indianapolis, IN 46204 Lexington Field Office Office of Surface Mining 2675 Regency Road Lexington, KY 40503-2922 Tulsa Field Office Office of Surface Mining 5100 East Skelly Drive - 4th Floor Tulsa, OK 74135 Western Regional Coordinating Centerr Office of Surface Mining 1999 Broadway - Suite 3320 Denver, CO 80202-5733 Mid-Continent Regional Coordinating Center Office of Surface Mining Alton Federal Building 501 Belle Street Alton, IL 62002 - DOI -