Abandoned Mine Lands (AML)

The Western Region of the Office of Surface Mining administers the Federal Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Program, which includes restoration of coal mine hazards in western states and tribes which do not have a state/tribe AML program approved under the Surface Mining Law. These include: California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and most tribal lands.

Applicant Violator System (AVS)

The Applicant Violator System (AVS) is a nationwide database for OSM’s Federal, State, Indian Land programs to store information about mine applicants, permittees, operators, application and permit records, as well as unabated or uncorrected environmental violations of SMCRA.

Bonding

OSMRE is the Regulatory Authority (RA) for determining the amount of the bond set for a coal mine operation.

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).

Grants

In the OSMRE Western Region, Regulatory Program Grants and Abandoned Mine Land Grants are awarded annually for the following States and Tribes: Alaska, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, Crow, Hopi, and Navajo.

Indian Lands Program

Currently, OSMRE is the Regulatory Authority for coal mining operations that occur on Indian lands in the Western United States.

National Technology Transfer Team (NTTT)

OSMRE Technology Transfer provides a forum to guide, coordinate, communicate and advance solutions to technical challenges in the surface mining and reclamation arena.

State and Tribal Oversight

OSMRE is responsible for the oversight to State and Tribal surface mining regulations. You can review those oversight reports in our Oversight Documents System (ODocs)

Technical Disciplines

OSMRE Western Region supports these Technical Disciplines: Cultural Resources, Engineering, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Hydrology, Remote Sensing, Soils, and Vegetation.

Technical Innovation and Professional Services (TIPS)

The TIPS program provides specialized hardware, scientific software, customized software training, and technical assistance to its user community.

Training

OSMRE provides courses in a variety of technical fields, such as hydrology, historic and archaeological resources, and effective writing.

Tribal Partners

OSMRE Western Region works with three tribal partners to carry out the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA): the Crow Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, and the Navajo Nation.

Washington State Federal Regulatory Program

OSMRE Western Region administers a federal regulatory program in Washington State since 1987 when the state decided not to submit a program.