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The Office of Surface Mining emblem |
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On January 9, 1990 the Office of Surface Mining began using a new emblem that symbolizes a balance between the country's need for coal to supply energy and the national need for environmental protection. The "official" emblem features a balance scale, with one of the scale's pans holding trees, representing the environment. The other, representing mining, contains a pile of coal. The two pans are balanced equally. Below the scales is a stylized earth cross-section with curved bands of green, (representing vegetation and topsoil), white (representing subsoil and rock overburden), and black (representing coal). The low point of the curve is filled with blue waves (representing water resources). Atop the scale is a federal eagle, signifying the federal regulatory program which the coal states carry out, as mandated by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, the Act that created the Office of Surface Mining.
The idea for the emblem came from a speech by Director Harry Snyder on August 2, 1989, when he was sworn in as Director by Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan. As his first official duty Director Snyder proposed a new emblem "to symbolize a new day and a new look for the Office of Surface Mining." He encouraged all employees to offer suggestions for the new emblem "that reflected what all believe in and what we've all been working for." The final emblem design was a compilation of employee ideas.
Download a 300 pixels/inch .tif format file containing a black and white copy of the current Office of Surface Mining seal suitable for printing (5,500 KB).
Download a 300 pixels/inch .tif format file containing a color copy of the current Office of Surface Mining seal suitable for printing (5,500 KB).
Download a 300 pixels/inch .bmp format file containing a color copy of the current Office of Surface Mining seal suitable for printing (5,493 KB).
The old emblem, which featured a tree and bulldozer blade, was used from 1977 - 1990.
Download a 300 pixels/inch .jpg file containing a color copy of the Interior Department's seal (200 KB).
(Home Page)
Office of Surface Mining
1951 Constitution Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240
202-208-2719
getinfo@osmre.gov
