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• PROGRAMS
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  • Tribal Partners
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• CURRENT INITIATIVES
  • Black Mesa Project
    • Environmental Impact Statement
  • Kayenta Mine
    • Renewal
  • Four Corners & Navajo Energy Project
  • Navajo Mine
    • Approved Navajo Mine Permit Application
    • Area IV North
    • Pinabete Permit Application Package
  • CHIAs
    • What is a CHIA?
    • Kayenta Complex 2011
    • Navajo Mine 2012
• Resources
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  • Bond Calculation Handbook
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  • Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA)
• Success Stories
  • Alaska
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• OSM Library

Programs

Federal Lands

The Federal Lands Program is for regulation of coal mining and reclamation operations on Federal lands pursuant to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (MLA). SMCRA defines Federal lands to mean any land, including mineral interests, owned by the United States without regard to how the United States acquired ownership of the land and without regard to the agency having responsibility for management thereof.

In the West, OSMRE has delegated the administration of SMCRA on Federal lands to regulatory agencies in the States of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. This delegated authority is pursuant to Section 523(c) of SMCRA and State-Federal Cooperative Agreements between the Secretary of the Interior and the Governor of the respective State. These State-Federal Cooperative agreements are found at 30 CFR Parts 906, 926, 934, 931, 944, and 950 , for the respective States. The cooperative agreements provide that the States perform all permitting activities, as well as day-to-day inspections and enforcement on those mines.

Contact Information

Western Region Contacts   |   Search Western Region Site   |   Western Region Site Index   |   Email: Western Region WEB Master

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WEB Page Last Updated: 06/01/2010
Website Last Updated:
January 25, 2013