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Lexington Field Office (LFO)
The Lexington Field Office (LFO) is responsible for the oversight of the Kentucky coal regulatory and abandoned mine land (AML) programs to ensure that surface coal mining operations which includes the surface effects of underground coal mining operations and the reclamation of abandoned mine lands are conducted in accordance with the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The Kentucky Department for Natural Resources is the regulatory authority for the surface coal mining regulatory program and the designated agency for the AML reclamation program. OSM conditionally approved the Kentucky regulatory program on May 18, 1982. The Kentucky Division of Abandoned Mined Lands (AML) conducts all abandoned mine land reclamation which includes emergency complaint investigations, high priority and water line projects..
LFO is responsible for gathering oversight data about coal mining and reclamation operations in the State, assisting Kentucky in improving inspection and enforcement activities, and recommending actions needed to address program deficiencies. The accomplishment of these tasks assists Kentucky in the implementation of both the Regulatory and AML programs and also ensures proper reclamation of land. The annual Performance Agreement outlines an overall strategy that emphasizes a plan to measure "on the ground" reclamation success through federal oversight inspections and special studies on specific program areas selected for special emphasis during the evaluation year.
Additional field office responsibilities include:
- Reviewing and analyzing proposed state program amendments, monitoring and evaluating Kentucky’s regulatory programs, cooperative agreements, and AML reclamation programs.
- Assisting in resolving identified program issues.
- Developing an annual performance agreement with Kentucky that defines the oversight and assistance activities for the current evaluation year.
- Soliciting stakeholder comments concerning oversight.
- Conducting performance reviews in accordance with the negotiated performance agreement. Inspecting mines in accordance with existing OSM policy, citizen concerns or concerns from routine program and document review.
- Providing technical assistance or access to technical assistance on issues related to mine permitting, compliance monitoring, mitigation, AML issues, or reclamation decisions.
- Reviewing grant documents and assuring programmatic compliance with all grant conditions.
- Assisting Kentucky in aggressively pursuing reclamation of the most serious and high priority AML sites.
- Participating in technical forums, meetings, and conferences to maintain technical expertise and stay abreast of developments in mining and reclamation technology.
Please click on this link to view the Kentucky Oversight page. The purpose of this page is to provide a publically accessible web site to review current and past oversight documents, as well as announcements for public participation in the federal oversight process. Comments regarding the annual performance agreements, annual evaluation reports or other concerns are always welcomed and may be submitted by clicking the above link.
Kentucky AML Projects
Please click here to view Kentucky AML Projects information and documents.
The Lexington Field Office includes area offices in London, Madisonville (the Pikeville Office has been closed).
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
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Robert Evans
Office of Surface Mining |
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| London Area Office |
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421 West Highway 80
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If you have an abandoned mine land emergency, please contact the Kentucky Division of Abandoned Mine Lands' toll free number:
1 -877-495 - 9552
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