The Maryland Bureau of Mines is a Division of the Maryland Department of Environment, Land Management Administration, Mining Program, and it administers the State's program that regulates coal mining. The Bureau's mission is to protect the public and the environment from the potential impacts of active mining, and to promote the restoration and enhancement of active and abandoned mine lands and water resources.

The Bureau enforces Maryland's coal mining laws and regulations to control areas disturbed during mining and to minimize any long-term adverse environmental impacts. It processes applications for permits to mine coal; verifies compliance with bonding requirements; and manages permit records, databases, and permit-related information.

The Bureau also works to eliminate health and safety hazards and reclaims lands and waters damaged by coal mining that occurred prior to today's stricter reclamation laws. This includes: reclamation of underground mine openings, dangerous highwalls, mine subsidence, and other mining related problems.

Oversight Program

OSMRE, in collaboration with each state to the extent possible, develops a state-specific Performance Agreement/Evaluation Plan tailored to the unique conditions of each state program. Performance Agreements/Evaluation Plans between OSMRE and the states establish how oversight is conducted during each evaluation year. OSMRE's Pittsburgh Field Division will draft Annual Performance Agreement/Evaluation Plans with Maryland for each evaluation year July 1 through June 30. We will use this page to announce Oversight Outreach Development and Review Periods as they occur.

What is Oversight?

OSMRE defines "oversight", as the "process of evaluating and assisting states [and tribes] in the administration, implementation, and maintenance of approved programs. In collaboration with each state/tribe, OSMRE develops a Performance Agreement/Evaluation Plan tailored to the unique conditions of each state/tribe program. Performance Agreements/Evaluation Plans between OSM and the states establish how oversight is conducted during each evaluation year.

Learn more about OSMRE's National Oversight Program.

Oversight Documents

To view oversight documents visit, OSMRE's REG-8 Oversight Database:

Public Participation and Outreach

OSMRE along with respective State and Tribal Programs jointly develop an Annual Performance Agreement* July 1 to June 30 to establish how oversight is conducted. We are responsive to public and industry concerns, and desire input and involvement in our oversight activities. We will use this page to announce Oversight Outreach Development and Review Periods as they occur. All of our REG-8 Oversight documents, proposed and final, can be found by searching our REG-8 Oversight Database, ODocs.

*Somes states develop "bi-annual" performance plans.