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Abandoned Mine Land Program
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Abandoned Mine Land Inventory
Purpose
An inventory of land and water impacted by
past mining (primarily coal mining) is maintained by OSM to provide information
needed to implement the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
(SMCRA).
The inventory contains information on the
location, type, and extent of AML impacts, as well as, information on the
cost associated with the reclamation of those problems. The inventory is
based upon field surveys by State, Tribal, and OSM program officials. It
is dynamic to the extent that it is modified as new problems are identified
and existing problems are reclaimed.
The Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Act
(AMRA) of 1990, amended SMCRA. The amended law expands the scope of data
OSM must collect regarding AML reclamation programs and progress. In addition,
section 403(c) of SMCRA now requires the
Secretary of the Interior to establish standardized procedures for updating
and maintaining the data base. On a regular basis, but not less than annaully,
the projects completed uner OSM's AML program shall be so noted on the
inventory. This requirement includes additional reclamation programs established
in the 1990 amendment such as acid mine drainage plans, coal interim site
funding, and coal insolvent surety site funding.
Who maintains the information in the AML Inventory
The information is developed and/or updated
by the States and Indian Tribes managing
their own AML programs under SMCRA or by the OSM office responsible for
States and Indian Tribes not managing thier
own AML problems.
Where is the AML Inventory
Kept
OSM maintains the AML Inventory on a computerized
system called the Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System (AMLIS).
Types of Problems
"High Priority"
The most serious AML problems are those posing
a threat to health, safety and general welfare of people (Priority 1 and
Priority 2, or "high priority"). These are the only problems which the
law requires to be inventoried. There are 17
Priority 1 and 2 problem types.
Emergencies
Most AML problems have
existed for some time and the States/Indian tribes and OSM have plans for
reclaiming them. But, some AML problems occurr suddenly. A person may wake
up to find a subsidence hole in their front yard, or heavy rain may trigger
a slide of old mine spoil material down onto homes, roads, railroads and
streams. These suddenly occurring problems are addressed by the emergency
program.
Initially OSM carried out all of the emergency
AML reclamation. Thirteen States are now
responsible for their own emergency reclamation. Currently information
is only kept in the AML Inventory on State-managed emergency projects (completed
projects). Information on Federally-managed emergency problems is kept
elsewhere.
Environmental
AML problems impacting the
environment are known as Priority 3 problems. While SMCRA does not require
OSM to inventory every unreclaimed priority 3
problem,
some program States and Indian tribes have chosen to submit such information.
Information for priority 3 problem types is required when reclamation activities
are funded and information on completed reclamation of priority 3 problems
is kept in the inventory.
Other Coal Mine Related Problems
Information is also kept
on lower priority coal related AML problems such as lower priority coal-related
projects involving public facilities, and the development of publicly-owned
land. The lower priority problems are also catigorized-- priority
4 and 5 problem types.
Non-coal Mine Related
AML Problems
The non-coal problems are primarily problems
reclaimed by States/Indian tribes that have "Certified"
that they have addressed all known eligible coal related problems.
States and Indian tribes manageing their
own AML programs may also reclaim non-coal problems prior to addressing
all their coal related problems under SMCRA SEC.
409-- FILLING VOIDS AND SEALING TUNNELS at the request of the Govonor
of the state or the governing body of the Indain tribe if the Secretary
of the Department of the Interior determines such problems meet the criteria
for a priority 1 , extreme hazard, problems.
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