The State of West Virginia received approval for its Regulatory Program on January 21, 1981, and its Abandoned Mine Lands Program on February 23, 1981. The cabinet level Department that manages both the Regulatory and Abandoned Mine Land Programs is the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP). Within the WVDEP, the Division of Mining and Reclamation implements the Regulatory Program (permitting and inspection) and the Abandoned Mine Lands and Reclamation Program implements the restoration of abandoned mine sites. Under the WVDEP's Division of Land Restoration, the Special Reclamation Program is tasked with reclamation of permit forfeitures.

Oversight Program

The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) created the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) in the Department of the Interior (DOI). SMCRA provides authority to OSMRE to oversee the implementation of and provide Federal funding for State Regulatory and Abandoned Mine Land Programs that have been approved by OSMRE as meeting the minimum standards specified by SMCRA.

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.