Surface Mining Act 20th Anniversary Coalfield Citizen Award Program History and overview of the program The 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) was passed to ensure that lands mined for coal from that point on would be restored to their original condition as part of the mining process, and to restore unreclaimed or inadequately reclaimed coal mined lands that were abandoned before 1977. Citizen participation is at the heart of the surface mining program. The surface mining law would not have come into being without the sustained efforts of coalfield citizens crusading to end the environmental abuses of the past and shift the country to new ways of mining coal with built-in safeguards for people and the environment. Once the surface mining law was passed, it created many avenues for citizens to get involved. Thus individual citizens have a statutory role in practically every phase of the surface mining program from permit decisions to inspections, rulemaking petitions, comments on proposed rules, participation in hearings, state program evaluations, court cases, reclamation plans, emergency projects, protection of sensitive resources by petitioning to have fragile lands declared unsuitable for surface coal mining, and advocacy for, and participation in, reclaiming specific watersheds and abandoned sites. The awards program is designed so coalfield citizens can be publicly recognized for their efforts on behalf of safeguarding the coalfield environment, protecting people's homes and farms from potentially damaging effects of coal mining, and partnering in restoring abandoned sites/watersheds. The Office of Surface Mining initiates the award process by requesting nominations from coalfield citizens or coalfield organizations. Individuals and groups may self-nominate or nominate others for consideration. A two-step process is being used. Nominations start at the appropriate OSM Regional Coordinating Center. There, the nominations will be reviewed by State/Tribal and Office of Surface Mining personnel and forwarded to Washington, D.C., for judging for the national-level awards. This year nominations will be submitted for two types of awards will be presented: 1. Regional Awards 2. Partnership Awards 1. Regional Awards. Three awards will be presented (one from each OSM region) to the individual or organization judged most exemplary in the region. 2. Partnership Awards. These awards will recognize an individual or organization in the following categories: Science and Technology; Community Involvement; Public Participation; Grassroots Organization; Communication; Education; and Resource Protection. In addition, OSM will present a Director's Award to an individual recognizing lifetime contributions to the use of surface mining law provisions to help shape virtually all of the policies and programs that govern surface coal mining and reclamation in America. Who is eligible for an award? Individual coalfield citizens and local grassroots organizations that have been involved with the surface mining law are eligible for nomination. The nomination process Nominating an individual or organization for an Office of Surface Mining award is the first step in the award selection process. Nominations must be submitted by June 27, 1997, to the appropriate OSM Regional Coordinating Center. Coalfield citizens and grassroots organizations may nominate themselves for consideration. Required information The nomination package must be developed using the following format: A. Cover sheet containing: 1. Individual or organization name. 2. Award category. Nominations may be submitted in both the regional and partnership categories. 3. Name, address, and phone number (also E-mail Address if available) of person submitting nomination (and/or contact person). B. Narrative description or essay of the contribution(s) made to the implementation of the surface mining law. The essay should be comprehensive but should not exceed three single-spaced typewritten pages and should describe the specific activity or contribution made by the individual or organization nominated for an award. C. Color photographs (not slides) may be included with the narrative description or essay but are not required. D. Each nomination package must contain the required information, plus five stapled machine copies (e.g., Xerox) for use by the judges. Additional supporting information may be submitted with the nomination. Materials for nominations will not be returned. Nominations developed should be submitted to the appropriate Office of Surface Mining Regional Coordinating Center by June 27, 1997. Nominations will be reviewed by State/Tribal and Office of Surface Mining personnel. Nominations will be sent to OSM headquarters for judging no later than July 3, 1997. Selection Process for the 20th anniversary citizen awards National Judging. A panel of seven judges reflecting the OSM regional structure (two state regulatory authority and one State/Tribal AML program representative and four OSM representatives) will make recommendations of citizen award winners to the Director by July 10, 1997. In making selections, judges will consider whether the individual or organization has: -- helped restore a site(s) damaged by abandoned mines; -- increased public participation in supporting the goals of SMCRA; -- initiated action that directly resulted in revised Federal regulation(s) that protect citizens and the environment; and -- initiated action that directly resulted in long-term benefit to the community. The announcement and presentation of the 20th Anniversary Awards will be made on August 3, 1997. Where to send completed nominations Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center Office of Surface Mining 3 Parkway Center Pittsburgh, PA 15220 FAX (412) 937-2903 Mid-Continent Regional Coordinating Center Office of Surface Mining Alton Federal Building 501 Belle Street Alton, IL 62002 FAX (618) 463-6470 Western Regional Coordinating Center Office of Surface Mining 1999 Broadway Suite 3320 Denver, CO 80202-5733 FAX (303) 844-1522 xXx