PARTNERSHIPS WITH STATES. How can an agency as small as the Office of Surface Mining (about
620 employees nationwide) succeed in such a challenging responsibility? Only by
partnerships with the governments of the states where coal is mined. The Surface Mining Law gives primary
responsibility for regulating surface coal mine reclamation to the states themselves, a
responsibility that 24 coal states have chosen to exercise. On federal lands and Indian Reservations
(Navajo, Hopi, Crow, and Ute), and in the coal producing states that have not set up regulatory programs of
their own (Tennessee and Washington), the Office of Surface Mining issues the coal mine permits, conducts the
inspections, and handles the enforcement responsibilities.
Office of Surface Mining employees by activity
FUNDS FOR MINE RECLAMATION. The Office of Surface Mining's current annual budget is
approximately $300 million. That sum enables the Office of Surface Mining to support the states' surface mining programs
by matching their regulation and enforcement costs dollar for dollar. It also pays 100 percent
of the costs for restoring abandoned mine lands that were left unreclaimed before
Surface Mining Law was signed by the President. Funds for reclaiming abandoned mines come from tonnage-based
reclamation fees paid by America's active coal mines.
Office of Surface Mining budget
RESULTS. Past coal mining abuses have been halted. Coal mine operators now
reclaim the land as they go. Mined lands are no longer abandoned without proper reclamation.
More than 180,000 acres of pre-1977 abandoned mine hazards have been restored to
productive use, including 16,170 acres of dangerous piles and embankments reclaimed, 2.8 million linear feet of dangerous cliff-like highwalls eliminated, and more than 25,000 dangerous abandoned portals and hazardous vertical openings sealed.
THE 24 "PRIMACY" STATES: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New
Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia,
and Wyoming.
OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING LOCATIONS: Birmingham AL; Denver CO; Washington DC; Alton
IL; Indianapolis IN; Ashland, Lexington, London, Madisonville, & Pikeville KY; Albuquerque
NM; Columbus OH; Tulsa OK; Harrisburg, Johnstown, Pittsburgh & Wilkes-Barre PA;
Knoxville TN; Big Stone Gap VA; Olympia WA; Beckley, Charleston & Morgantown WV; Casper WY. These offices form a three region organizational structure.
Regional organization structure: Three Regions, 25 coal producting states and 4 coal producing Indian Tribes
