Office of Surface Mining
News Release

U.S. Office of Surface Mining (OSM) Director Jeffrey Jarrett Promotes Reforestation with Arbor Day Tree Planting

Washington - Today Jeffrey Jarrett, Director of the Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining, along with other OSM senior executives, took part in an Arbor Day tree planting event in Maryland as part of the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI).

The tree planting took place at a reclaimed surface coal mine near Frostburg, Maryland. The site was a contour mine that has been re-mined with portions of the site already planted. "This project is an excellent example of federal, state, citizen and industry partners working cooperatively to improve the environment," Said Jarrett. Participants in today's project planted approximately 1,000 trees on a portion of the permitted land.

The ARRI is a multi-state, multi agency initiative to promote the planting of high-value hardwood trees on reclaimed mine lands in Appalachia and to increase the survival and growth rates of those trees. Maryland representatives on the ARRI team hosted the Arbor Day celebration. Also participating in the event were state and local elected leaders, representatives from the state Land Reclamation Committee, Frostburg State University, Georges Creek Watershed Association, the Maryland Bureau of Mines, Maryland Fisheries and Forestry, industry representatives, and others.

— OSM —