OSM FACT SHEET
U.S. Department of the Interior            Office of Surface Mining
June 26, 1997

             OSM AWARDS MONTANA $3,678,305
      FOR ABANDONED MINE LANDS PROJECTS

The Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement (OSM) is providing Montana a $3,678,305 grant to fund the State's
abandoned mine lands (AML) program.

    The grant money comes from the National Abandoned Mine Reclamation
Fund, which receives reclamation fees from active coal producers at the rate of 35
cents per ton of surface mined coal and 15 cents per ton of coal mined underground.

                                                 -DOI-

    NOTE: For further information about the grant, contact Vic Andersen (406) 444-
4972.