The Office of Surface Mining, the Environmental Protection Agency, - Region III, and all other parties to this Statement of Mutual Intent share a concern with improving and restoring water quality that has been polluted by mine drainage from abandoned coal mines in the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. We will increase the efforts, cooperation and partnership among us to restore and protect the streams and watersheds affected by mine drainage.

II. STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

The parties agree to:

1. Cooperate as a clearinghouse to share and exchange data and information as it relates to identifying mine drainage sites and establishing abatement techniques to restore and improve water quality within watersheds adversely affected by mine drainage.

2. Raise the level of awareness of government agencies, private organizations, and the general public on the serious environmental problems associated with mine drainage from abandoned coal mines.

3. Work with federal, state, and local government agencies, watershed organizations, mining organizations, environmental groups and other public and private organizations to target streams and watersheds which have been degraded by mine drainage.

4. Work to increase the understanding and applications of the best technology available for remediating and preventing mine drainage, and to support the development of new technologies.

5. Support efforts to establish and implement an effective remining program that reclaims abandoned coal mines.

6. Provide a forum for the purpose of transferring technologies and other information about improving, restoring, and preventing further harm to watersheds that have been degraded by mine drainage.

7. Develop shared information management systems to minimize overlap in data collection and development, to save resources and maximize the usefulness of data developed.

8. Prepare periodic reports describing the extent and severity of the mine drainage problem and the current status of ongoing efforts by all parties to this Statement of Mutual Intent to improve and restore degraded watersheds.

III. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. This Statement of Mutual Intent does not alter, amend, or revise the authority or rights of any of the parties to this statement.

2. This Statement of Mutual Intent does not reflect a particular policy relating to the regulation of AMD, nor does it reflect an initiation or implementation of AMD policy from individual parties to the Statement or as a group.

3. All activities referred to in this Statement of Mutual Intent shall be carried out in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations

4. Any party may withdraw from this Statement of Mutual Intent by notifying the other parties in writing.

Robert J. Uram, Director
Office of Surface Mining
U.S. Dept. of the Interior