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OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

What's New

Welcome to our What's New page! Below is a chronological listing by date to help you quickly access new information that has been added to our website. You will also find links to content that has been significantly updated to keep you abreast of what's happening at the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

Prior What's New information can be found in our Archive

August 27, 2010

  • Protecting Threatened Bats at Coal Mines: A Technical Interactive Forum (August 31 - September 3, 2010, in Charleston, West Virginia)

    This forum will assess the impact to all hibernating bat species in the eastern half of the U.S. of the recent deadly outbreak and spread of a fungus, new to the North American continent, known as the White-nose Syndrome. The forum will assess the effectiveness of the newly developed Range-wide Indian Bat Protection and Enhancement Plan Guidelines for developing coal mining permits for an endangered bat species developed as a joint effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Office of Surface Mining, and the Interstate Mining Compact Commission. This forum is necessary to inform all the affected states and agencies of these cooperative efforts that will be necessary to protect this important life form. [more]
  • Annual Evaluation Reports for States: Alabama, Lousiana, Mississippi.

    OSM issues an annual report concerning both OSM and State activities under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977. Information in the report is gathered from individual evaluation reports of both regulatory and AML programs in the States and on Indian lands. SMCRA or the Act created two major programs. The first one, in Title IV of the Act, is an abandoned mine land (AML) reclamation program to address adverse impacts from pre-SMCRA mining operations. The second one, in Title V, is a regulatory program to ensure that mining operations initiated or in existence after the effective date of the Act are conducted and reclaimed in an environmentally sound manner. [more]

August 17, 2010

  • Five State Regulatory Agencies, Six Mining Companies Win Reclamation Awards from the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

    (Washington, D.C.) – They represent the best of American mining and reclamation efforts in the coal mining industry and state and tribal regulatory programs. This fall, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) will recognize the accomplishments of several state regulatory agencies and mining companies under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (the Surface Mining Act). [more]

August 16, 2010

  • Federal Register Final Rules Index with Proposed Rule Cites

    We have begun to add the Federal Register Final Rules Index cites to our website. This Index is a list of Federal Register cites of Final Rules relating to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s regulation of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977’s requirements. The Index covers Federal Register documents published beginning with the first surface mining documents published in August 1977 and is in PDF format by year. [more]

August 6, 2010

  • Public Submits Thousands of Comments on Environmental Impact Statement for New Rule to Protect Streams

    (Washington, D.C.) – Officials at the Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) have received a strong public response to the bureau’s call for comments on the scope of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a new rule to better protect streams from the adverse effects of surface coal mining. OSM held nine open houses in eight coalfield states (covering more than 95 percent of the coal-producing areas in the U.S.) between July 19 and July 29. [more]

August 2, 2010

  • We celebrate SMCRA’s 33rd Anniversary on August 3, 2010! OSM Director Pizarchik and OSM employees commemorate the 33rd Anniversary of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

    On August 3, 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) into law. Today, OSM takes pride in its many accomplishments over the last 33 years. While we reflect on what we have accomplished under SMCRA, we realize there is still work to be done - and that work has begun. As we commemorate the 33rd Anniversary of SMCRA, we also recognize the dedicated employees of OSM who work hard to contribute to the mission of SMCRA. [more]

July 23, 2010

  • The unofficial compilation of P.L. 95-87, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), passed August 3, 1977 is now available online. It includes all revisions to SMCRA through December 20, 2006, and is word searchable. [more]

July 8, 2010

  • Public Notice: View detailed information of each Open House for the Stream Protection Rule Environmental Impact Statement. The purpose of the Open Houses is to provide information regarding the proposed Stream Protection Rule and possible alternatives and to receive comments from the public regarding its scope.

    Public Scoping comment period ends on July 30, 2010. View details to each Open House, Code of Conduct, and Comment Form. [more]

July 2, 2010

  • OSM Announces Open Houses to Gather Public Comments on an Environmental Impact Statement For Rule to Protect Streams
    (Washington, D.C.) – The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) has scheduled a series of open houses to accept public comment on the development of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for use in writing a new rule to better protect streams from the adverse effects of coal mining. [more] [pdf icon 169 KB]

June 18, 2010

  • OSM to Hold Open Houses to Take Public Comments on Stream Protection Rule EIS
    The Office of Surface Mining has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing public open houses in nine cities across the nation.  The purpose of the open houses is to take public comment for the record on an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which will be used to develop the Stream Protection Rule. [more] [pdf icon 122 KB]

June 10, 2010

  • We have posted the Occupant Emergency Plan for the Headquarters South Interior Building on our website. [more] [pdf icon 649 KB]

June 9, 2010

  • OSM Director Joe Pizarchik Addresses the 2010 Joint Mining Conference: OSM Director Joe Pizarchik served as the plenary session speaker at the 2010 Joint Mining Conference in Pittsburgh, PA on Monday, June 7th. The organizers asked the Director to discuss his vision of what OSM is working toward with respect to reclamation, new rules, and increased oversight of coal mining. [view speech] [pdf icon 254 KB]

  • Scheduled Web Maintenance June 11-12: Several OSM websites are scheduled to be offline for a period of time beginning about 6 a.m. EST on Saturday, June 12th. [more]

June 7, 2010

May 12, 2010

  • Conference: The 2010 Joint Mining Reclamation Conference of the 27th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, the 12th Annual Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference, and the 4th Annual Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative Mined Land Reforestation Conference is scheduled for the week of June 5-11, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This combined Conference will provide a forum for the dissemination of information and discussions that may lead to change and innovations in public policy, mining, landscape restoration, and land management issues through research, Field Tours and Technical Workshops. [more]

  • Conference: "Walking in Two Worlds: Bridging the Gap Between Native America and Government”  The Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE) presents its 7th annual National Training Conference, June 14-18, 2010, in Uncasville, Connecticut. [more]

May 10, 2010

  • Photos of Dr. Allan Comp at a recent reception honoring him for his Service to America Medal for his work with volunteers who address environmental and economic issues in coal-producing states. [more]

May 3, 2010

  • Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Employee Honored as Recipient of Service to America Medal Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Lauds Work with Volunteers in Coal Country. Dr. T. Allan Comp from the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) will be honored the evening of May 3 as the recipient of an award recognizing members of the Federal workforce who have made significant contributions to the Nation through their commitment and innovation. [more]

April 29, 2010

  • Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Announces Notice of Intent to Conduct Environmental Impact Statement, Conducts Stakeholder Meetings to Develop New Rule to Protect Streams [more]

April 20, 2010

April 6, 2010

  • 2010 Mine Reclamation Award Nominations Closing Soon. The Abandoned Mine Land Nominations are due April 16, 2010. [more]

March 24, 2010

  • 2010 Mine Reclamation Award Nominations Closing Soon. The Excellence in Surface Mining Nominations are due April 2, 2010. The Abandoned Mine Land Nominations are due April 16, 2010. [more]

  • Details of OSM's budget request for the fiscal year that begins on October 1, 2010.

    For a summary of OSM’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget, which is an excerpt from the Department of the Interior’s “Budget in Brief” document, go to http://www.doi.gov/budget/2011/11Hilites/BH027.pdf.

    For an on-line version of the “Fiscal Year 2010 Interior Budget in Brief,” go to: http://www.doi.gov/budget/2011/11Hilites/toc.html

March 11, 2010

  • OSM Extends Nomination dealines for the 2010 Excellence In Surface Coal Mining and Abandoned Mine Reclamation Awards. The Excellence in Surface Mining Nominations are now due April 2, 2010. The Abandoned Mine Land Nominations are now due April 16, 2010. [more]

February 24, 2010

  • On February 9th, with snow locking in much of the Federal government, OSM Director Joe Pizarchik caught one of the last flights out of Washington, D.C. to continue his listening tour for 2010, this time to get a firsthand look at mining operations in Kentucky. While in the Bluegrass State, Director Pizarchik met with OSM staff and state officials, and toured a couple of active and reclaimed sites.[more]

February 17, 2010

  • As part of his West Virginia listening tour, Director Pizarchik also set aside time to hear directly from the industry itself.  The meeting with the West Virginia Coal Association (which happened immediately after the aerial mine tour), provided a useful perspective on how OSMRE should continue its effort in developing new rules, re-evaluate its oversight duties, and act as a better conduit between the regulated community and coalfield citizens. [more]

February 16, 2010

February 5, 2010

  • While in West Virginia, Director Joe Pizarchik took part in a two-hour flyover of many of the area's mountaintop mining sites. All of the stakeholders stressed the importance of seeing the size and scope of the industry from the air, saying that would provide an important backdrop to the discussions about employment, economic activity, environmental impact and reclamation. The 21 photos in this essay were taken from the helicopter that trailed Director Pizarchik's. [more]

February 4, 2010

February 3, 2010

  • A new Appalachian Region website is coming soon to OSM. The website’s name will remain the same http://www.arcc.osmre.gov, but the site will have a new look and will be easier to navigate. Here is a preview into the new AR Website. Stay tuned. [more]

February 2, 2010

  • The final day of OSMRE Director Joe Pizarchik’s West Virginia listening tour. At the request of environmental groups representing several states, Director Pizarchik met them at a local hotel conference room to hear their concerns first hand. Then, with no prior knowledge of where he was going, the director traveled by van to meet with people who live in the coalfields and are directly affected by mountaintop mining. Here are some of the most memorable parts of that day. [more]

February 1, 2010

  • News Release: Fiscal Year 2011 Addresses Surface Coal Regulation and Reduces Deficit.
    (Washington, DC) – President Obama’s proposed budget of $146.1 million for the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) in fiscal year 2011 focuses funding on the most critical coal mining management and reclamation needs.  The budget reduces spending in regulatory programs and concentrates mandatory funding on priority abandoned coal mines. [more] [pdf icon 57 KB]

January 28, 2010

  • News Advisory: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement to Issue the Call for Nominations for the 2010 Excellence In Surface Coal Mining and Abandoned Mine Reclamation Awards.[more] [pdf icon 142 KB]

January 20, 2010

  • OSM Director Joe Pizarchik is spending a few days in the nation’s second largest coal producing state, West Virginia. While there, he is meeting with OSM field officials, state and federal officials and interested parties. What follows are a few photos from his travels during the week of January 18th.[more]

January 15, 2010

  • OSM Director Joe Pizarchik met with several interested environmental representatives in Washington, D.C. on Friday, January 15, 2010, to discuss OSM’s outlook on the disposal of coal combustion byproducts (CCBs), also known as coal waste or ‘fly ash.’ The meeting is part of Director Pizarchik’s intent to gather a wide range of input from interested parties before moving forward with any new policies. [more]

January 11, 2010

  • Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Director Meets with Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe Officials [more]

January 8, 2010

  • Media Advisory: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Director to Meet with Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribal Officials [more] [pdf icon 68 KB]