MAKING OVERSIGHT OF
surface COAL MINING
MORE EFFECTIVE

In June 2009, the U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior Department) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reduce the harmful environmental impacts of coal mining in six states in central Appalachia. Through the MOU, the three agencies intend to strengthen oversight and regulation and minimize the adverse environmental consequences of mountaintop removal mining. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is coordinating closely with the Interior Department to implement the short- and long-term actions called for in the MOU.

Under the MOU, by December 31, 2009, OSM was to evaluate and determine how it will more effectively conduct oversight of state permitting, state enforcement, and regulatory activities under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The MOU also called for OSM to complete two other short-term actions by the end of 2009. Information on one of these actions - to develop a new rule that will better protect streams affected by coal mining is located at: http://www.osmre.gov/resources/newsroom/News/Archive/2010/042910.pdf. The remaining action, involving permit defects, is being addressed separately.

To accomplish the MOU’s call for OSM to evaluate its oversight activities, OSM has proposed Oversight Improvement Actions that will improve and make OSM oversight of state surface mining programs more effective.

The documents that appear below represent draft products that OSM is developing as it implements these Oversight Improvement Actions. OSM invites the public to comment on these documents. Please submit your comments by the date listed next to each document below. We encourage you to submit comments via email to Oversight@osmre.gov. Please include in the subject line of your email which document you are commenting on.

• Oversight Draft Products:
  • Draft - MOU - Oversight Outreach Improvement Team Summary and Report, [173 KB] (Comment period ended July 9, 2010.)
  • Draft - Off-site Impacts Summary and Report, [108 KB] (Comment period ended July 9, 2010.)
  • Draft - Inspection Methodology Team Report and Recommendations, [388 KB] (Comment period ended July 9, 2010.)
  • Draft-Geospatial Strategic Plan, April 9, 2010, [4.5 MB]. (Comment period ended May 7, 2010.)
• News Release
• Overview of Making Oversight of Surface Coal Mining More Effective
• Oversight Improvement Actions
• What is Oversight? [66 KB]
• Memorandum of Understanding (June 11, 2009) [91.55 KB]
• List of Projects Subject to Enhanced Coordination Procedures Between EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (NOTE: This page provides updates and background information regarding activities and permits under Clean Water Act Section 404 and Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act subject to the Enhanced Coordination Procedures under the June 11, 2009, Memorandum of Agreement.)

   

Other Links:

Building a Stream Protection Rule