OSM FACT SHEET
U.S. Department of the Interior                                    
Office of Surface Mining                     
February 1, 1999
                                                                                                                                                
                  OSM AWARDS OHIO $97, 531
          FOR SMALL COAL OPERATORS ASSISTANCE

          Ohio has received a $97, 531 grant from the Interior 

Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

 (OSM) for the state's Small Coal Operator's Assistance Program (SOAP).

     SOAP helps coal operators producing less than 300, 000 tons

annually with the costs of obtaining data for their mining permit
 
applications.  The data include hydrological evaluations the results of 

test borings or core sampling.

                                                              -DOI-
                                
For additional information about the grant contact Linda Trent (614) 265-

1053.