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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

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]