United States Department of the Interior

OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING

RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

Washington, D.C. 20240 

Directive: OPM-1 

Title: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Directives and Standard 

Operating Procedures System. 

Approval: Glenda H. Owens, Deputy Director ________________________________ 

1. Purpose

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) Directive OPM-1 

establishes the OSMRE Directives and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) System, which is 

used to document and convey the Bureau’s policies, programs, and procedures. Directive OPM-1 

also establishes the process and procedures for maintaining OSMRE’s Directives and SOP

System, for modifying or removing existing directives and SOPs, and for adding new directives 

and SOPs to the Bureau’s inventory. This directive is established in accordance with Department

of the Interior Departmental Manual, Part 381, Chapter 1 (381 DM 1), Directives Management. 

2. Summary of Changes

a. Delegates authority to Assistant Directors, Regional Directors, and Staff Office

Heads (AD/RD/SOH)1 for maintaining appendices when updates to content do

not materially or substantively alter OSMRE’s policy position. This delegation

allows for increased efficiency when updating supporting materials such as

handbooks and templates.

b. Introduces Appendix Revision Log (Appendix E) to aid responsible AD/RD/SOH

in completing and tracking updates to appendices.

c. Introduces Action Summary (Appendix F) to clarify action specific templates,

procedures, and guidance for any possible directive or SOP action.

d. Removes Comment Form (Appendix D in previously issued version). Review and

comment to proposed directive actions will be done collaboratively in a shared

electronic environment eliminating the need for individual comment forms.

e. Removes Process Flow (Appendix E in previously issued version). The flow

charts in previous issued version did not account for all possible variables in the

directives and SOP processes. To clarify the unique requirements for each

possible directive or SOP action, Action Summary (Appendix F) was developed.

1 “Staff Office Heads” refers to the chiefs of the following offices: Administration, Communications, Equal 

Opportunity, Human Resources, Information Resources, and Planning, Analysis and Budget.
2 

f. Restricts primary use of Change Notice to rescinding an existing directive. 

Previously, Change Notices were also used to modify existing directives and were 

published as separate files without updating the base directive. To improve end 

user clarity and efficiency during the approval process, the base directive itself 

will be updated, as needed, instead of issuing a separate Change Notice. 

g. Removes the Date and Transmittal Number fields from page one. The date a 

directive is signed will be indicated in the digital signature block. 

h. Improves compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 

U.S.C. § 794 (d)). 

i. Updates organizational terminology, responsibilities, and procedures. 

3. Policy

Directives are written communications used to establish OSMRE policy and high-level 

procedures. Directives are maintained on OSMRE’s publicly facing web page. SOPs are written 

communications that do not establish OSMRE policy. SOPs prescribe specific procedures to be 

followed routinely for the performance of designated operations or in specific situations. The 

goal of SOPs is to ensure OSMRE consistently adheres to existing policy or high-level guidance 

(e.g., statutes, Department of the Interior policies, OSMRE directives, federal manuals,

regulations, etc.). SOPs are maintained on OSMRE’s intranet. Directives and SOPs will be 

organized systematically and readily available to users. They should provide users with only 

necessary information and be written in a clear, concise manner and in the simplest and most 

easily understood language for the intended audience. OSMRE Assistant Directors, Regional 

Directors, and Staff Office Heads (AD/RD/SOH) have the authority to issue, modify, or rescind 

a SOP. Only the Director has the authority to issue, modify, or rescind a directive. 

4. Responsibilities

a. Director. Responsible for issuing all directives and change notices. 

b. Assistant Directors, Regional Directors, and Staff Office Heads (AD/RD/SOH). 

The AD/RD/SOH will: 

(1) Employ their awareness and assessment of their operating environment to 

determine the need for creation, modification, and/or recission of 

directives and SOPs; 

(2) Create and maintain directives, SOPs, and supporting materials ensuring 

they reflect the most current statutory, regulatory, and policy 

requirements; 

(3) Review and resolve comments or suggested changes to draft directives and 

SOPs prepared within their program area;
3 

(4) Review and provide comments or suggested changes to draft directives 

and SOPs presented for review by other AD/RD/SOH offices; 

(5) Prepare final proposed directive actions for the Director’s signature; 

(6) Issue and rescind SOPs;2

 

(7) Ensure that, in accordance with this directive, background materials are 

provided to the Directives Coordinator and to the Office of 

Communications as appropriate; and 

(8) Participate in the biennial review of directives and SOPs. 

c. Chief, Office of Administration. Responsible for developing and maintaining the 

overall Directives and SOP System and designating a Directives Coordinator. 

d. Directives Coordinator. The Directives Coordinator will:

(1) Serve as OSMRE’s primary point of contact and subject matter expert for 

the Bureau’s Directives and SOP System; 

(2) Work with the Director’s Office and AD/RD/SOH to develop, finalize, 

and disseminate new or revised directives in accordance with the 

procedures provided in this document; 

(3) Retain directive materials in accordance with prescribed records retention 

policies and procedures; 

(4) In conjunction with the Office of Communications, maintain OSMRE’s 

publicly accessible directives web page ensuring the most current 

issuances of electronic directives materials are posted; 

(5) Assist in the maintenance of OSMRE’s intranet pages hosting SOPs and 

archived directives; 

(6) Coordinate biennial directives and SOP review; and

(7) Provide regular and recurring advisory notices to all OSMRE to aid in the 

use of the Directives and SOP System.

2 Assistant Directors and Regional Directors are generally the SOP issuing authority for activities within their 

AD/RD organization. However, this authority may be delegated to Field Office Directors, Division Chiefs, or 

equivalent positions within the AD/RD organization.
4 

e. Office of Communications (OC). The Office of Communications will: 

(1) Review and publish approved directive actions requested by the Directives 

 Coordinator on OSMRE’s publicly accessible directives web page; 

(2) Receive electronic rescinded, retired, or inactive directives materials from 

the Directives Coordinator for maintenance in archive status on the 

OSMRE intranet; 

(3) Receive electronic SOP materials from the issuing AD/RD/SOH for 

maintenance on the OSMRE intranet; and

(4) Provide guidance and assistance, as needed, with Section 508 compliance 

requirements in their role as the Bureau’s Section 508 coordinating office. 

5. Procedures

a. The following procedures will be used to prepare, process, review, revise, and 

rescind OSMRE directives.

(1) The AD/RD/SOH responsible for maintaining OSMRE policy necessary 

to support a statute, regulation, related policy, or other formal requirement 

based on the authorities delegated in OSMRE Directive OPM-5 or other 

authoritative source, maintains an ongoing awareness of their operating 

environment. Based on this awareness, the responsible AD/RD/SOH 

assesses whether existing OSMRE directives accurately reflect the policies 

required to effectively implement their program areas. This assessment 

will consider organizational changes; legislative changes; impact to 

OSMRE delegations of authority; and the impact of other events 

influencing the continued need of an existing directive or the need for a 

new directive.

3

 If the assessment indicates that all aspects of the directive remain 

valid and correct, then no immediate action is required by the 

responsible AD/RD/SOH. See 5.a.(11) for periodic review 

instructions. 

 If the assessment indicates that: (1) a new directive is needed; (2) 

updates are required to an existing directive (including adding or 

removing any appendix); (3) updates are required to any directive 

appendix content that materially or substantively alters OSMRE’s 

policy position; or (4) recission of an existing directive is 

3 Unless specifically required, OSMRE should not issue or maintain a directive simply to restate existing policy 

issued by the Department of the Interior, or other appropriate authority, when that existing policy is otherwise 

suitable for use by OSMRE. Instead, the responsible AD/RD/SOH should consider issuing supporting Standard 

Operating Procedure(s) to ensure OSMRE adheres to the existing policy. See paragraph 5.b. 
5 

necessary, the responsible AD/RD/SOH will utilize procedures 

beginning in paragraph 5.a.(2). Note: The primary purpose of a 

Change Notice is to rescind an active directive. When proposing a 

recission, use the Change Notice Template, presented in Appendix 

C. When it is necessary to change the content of an active 

directive, or any appendix content that materially or substantively 

alters OSMRE’s policy position, regardless of the scope of the 

change, a Change Notice will not be used. Instead, the responsible 

AD/RD/SOH will prepare a new directive or appendix utilizing 

the procedures beginning in 5.a.(2).

 If the assessment indicates that updates are required to appendix 

content that does not materially or substantively alter OSMRE’s 

policy position, the responsible AD/RD/SOH will prepare and 

provide the modified appendix and an Appendix Revision Log, 

presented in Appendix E, to the Directives Coordinator for update 

to OSMRE’s publicly accessible directives web page. All modified 

appendices must comply with Section 508 standards.4 Modified 

appendices that do not comply with Section 508 standards will not 

move forward in this process. Responsible AD/RD/SOH are 

required to retain all versions of appendices for reference, if 

needed. 

To further assist responsible AD/RD/SOH in this determination, proposed 

directive actions are available in Action Summary, presented in Appendix 

F. 

(2) The responsible AD/RD/SOH, based on assessment of their operating 

environment, advises the Director when a proposed directive action is 

necessary. 

(3) The responsible AD/RD/SOH, in conjunction with subject matter experts

in their program areas,

5

 prepares the proposed directive action utilizing 

action-specific guidance found in Action Summary, presented in Appendix 

F. Some directives actions require an additional redline version indicating 

proposed changes. This will assist during the review process beginning in 

paragraph 5.a.(4). When a proposed directive action includes requirements 

for other AD/RD/SOH offices, the responsible AD/RD/SOH will 

coordinate development of the proposed directive action with the impacted 

office in advance, as appropriate. Directive materials must comply with 

Section 508 standards.

4 Directive materials that do not comply with 

Section 508 standards will not move forward in this process. Upon 

4 Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. § 794 (d)), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 

(P.L. 105-220). Visit https://www.section508.gov or contact the OSMRE Office of Communications for additional 

information, tools, and guidance.

5 May include DOI Solicitor at the discretion of AD/RD/SOH.
6 

completion, provide all electronic draft directive materials to the 

Directives Coordinator. 

(4) The Directives Coordinator reviews draft directive materials for 

compliance with OPM-1. Noncompliant materials will be returned to the 

originator for revision. The Directives Coordinator distributes compliant 

draft directive materials electronically to all AD/RD/SOH for a formal 

review period of no less than 15 working days. If the directive materials 

are unusually complex the Directives Coordinator may, in conjunction 

with the responsible AD/RD/SOH, specify a formal review period of more 

than 15 working days. If a proposed directive action is limited to minor 

typographical updates, or is the result of a higher-level mandated change, 

the Directives Coordinator and responsible AD/RD/SOH will determine if 

the approval process can proceed directly to paragraph 5.a.(8).

(5) The reviewing AD/RD/SOH, in conjunction with subject matter experts 

within their program areas, performs a comprehensive review to ensure 

the materials are necessary, accurate, complete, without excessive detail, 

and do not conflict with other existing policies. Reviewers provide 

electronic comments or suggested changes to the distributed draft 

materials that are consistent with instructions provided by the Directives 

Coordinator. Conflicting comments or suggested changes from the same 

office will be resolved by the appropriate AD/RD/SOH. Any AD/RD/SOH 

may submit a request to the Directives Coordinator for extension to the 

published formal review period. Extension requests will generally be 

accommodated to ensure the highest quality review of proposed directives 

by all offices. Only in unique circumstances will an extension request not 

be accommodated by the Directives Coordinator. 

(6) At the conclusion of the formal review period, the Directives Coordinator 

restricts electronic access to the draft materials and saves a copy of all

electronic files for reference. The Directives Coordinator provides all 

materials to the responsible AD/RD/SOH for review and resolution. 

(7) The responsible AD/RD/SOH considers each comment or suggested 

change for inclusion or rejection. Rejected comments and suggested 

changes will be annotated by the responsible AD/RD/SOH in accordance 

with review instructions provided by the Directives Coordinator. Unless a 

compelling reason exists to do otherwise, the responsible AD/RD/SOH 

shall communicate any proposed rejection of comments or suggested 

changes to the reviewing office before finalizing the rejection decision. 

Upon completing final edits, which reflect all changes made during formal

review, the responsible AD/RD/SOH retains the working files of all 

directive materials. The responsible AD/RD/SOH also ensures that edited

directive materials are Section 508 compliant before providing an 
7 

electronic copy of all final proposed directive action, including the 

rejected comments and suggested changes, to the Directives Coordinator. 

(8) The Directives Coordinator validates that all final proposed directive 

materials comply with Directive OPM-1 requirements, to include Section 

508 requirements. The Directives Coordinator will return noncompliant 

materials to the responsible AD/RD/SOH for correction. The Directives 

Coordinator will transmit compliant materials to the Director for review

and signature. 

(9) The Director reviews the proposed directive materials and either: 

approves the materials by digitally signing; or disapproves by not signing 

and provides a summary of why the materials were disapproved. In either 

case, all materials are returned to the Directives Coordinator for action.

(10) The Directives Coordinator returns disapproved directives materials to the 

responsible AD/RD/SOH. The Directives Coordinator maintains 

electronic versions of signed directives and all supporting materials. In 

conjunction with Office of Communications, the Directives Coordinator 

ensures approved directives materials are posted on OSMRE’s publicly 

accessible web page. The Directives Coordinator will coordinate with 

Office of Communications for any proposed action-specific web 

procedures as outlined in Action Summary, presented in Appendix F, as 

needed.

(11) As discussed in 5.a.(1), the responsible AD/RD/SOH maintains an 

ongoing awareness of their operating environment. Based on this 

awareness, the responsible AD/RD/SOH assesses whether OSMRE 

directives accurately reflect the policies required to effectively implement 

their program areas. To support responsible AD/RD/SOH in this effort,

and to comply with the requirements stated in 381 DM 1, the Office of 

Administration will coordinate a biennial review of OSMRE directives to 

be completed by responsible AD/RD/SOH. 

b. The following procedures will be used to prepare, process, review, revise, and 

rescind OSMRE SOPs.

(1) The AD/RD/SOH responsible for maintaining OSMRE policy necessary 

to support a statute, regulation, related policy, or other formal requirement 

based on the authorities delegated in OSMRE Directive OPM-5, or other 

authoritative source, maintains an ongoing awareness of their operating 

environment. Based on this awareness, the responsible AD/RD/SOH

assesses whether OSMRE SOPs prescribe accurate and replicable 

procedures to ensure consistent adherence to existing policy or high-level 

guidance. 
8 

 If the assessment indicates that all aspects of the SOP remain valid 

and correct, then no immediate action is required by the 

responsible AD/RD/SOH. 

 If the assessment indicates a new SOP or changes to an existing

SOP are needed, the responsible AD/RD/SOH, in conjunction with 

subject matter experts in their program areas, prepares the 

proposed SOP action utilizing action-specific guidance found in 

Action Summary, presented in Appendix F.6

 SOP materials must 

comply with Section 508 standards. In instances where processes 

defined in a SOP bridge multiple AD/RD/SOH areas of 

responsibility, the responsible AD/RD/SOH will coordinate, as 

needed, with impacted organizational elements. If appropriate, a 

SOP may be jointly developed and issued by multiple 

AD/RD/SOH.

(2) The responsible AD/RD/SOH provides the draft SOP materials to 

affected AD/RD/SOH offices for review and comment, as appropriate, to 

ensure the SOP can be implemented by the intended users. The 

responsible AD/RD/SOH approves SOPs by signing with digital signature 

exclusively. 

(3) The responsible AD/RD/SOH coordinates directly with Office of 

Communications to ensure the appropriate web procedures are completed 

in accordance with action-specific guidance found in Action Summary,

presented in Appendix F. 

(4) All current and rescinded SOP materials are maintained by the responsible 

AD/RD/SOH’s program area in accordance with their record management 

practices. 

(5) As discussed in 5.b.(1), the responsible AD/RD/SOH maintains an 

ongoing awareness of their operating environment. Based on this 

awareness, the responsible AD/RD/SOH assesses the need for creation or 

maintenance of SOPs. To support responsible AD/RD/SOH in this effort

the Office of Administration will coordinate a biennial review of OSMRE 

SOPs to be completed by responsible AD/RD/SOH. 

6. Reporting Requirements

Responsible AD/RD/SOH report the results of the biennial review of directives and SOPs in 

accordance with the instructions published by the Office of Administration. 

6 AD/RD/SOH should attempt to follow the SOP template’s format. It may be more appropriate, however, to deviate 

from the provided format to better communicate the SOP’s content to the reader. Final decisions on SOP format are 

made by the responsible AD/RD/SOH.
9 

7. Effect on Other Documents

When issued, this version of Directive OPM-1 supersedes all previous versions and subsequent 

Change Notices. 

8. References 

a. https://www.plainlanguage.gov/. 

b. https://www.section508.gov/.

c. Departmental Manual 381 DM 1. 

9. Effective Date

Upon signature. 

10. Distribution

By electronic format. All OSMRE directives are publicly available at

https://www.osmre.gov/laws-and-regulations/directives. 

11. Appendices

See the OSMRE directives page linked in the “Distribution” section above for links to 

appendices.

a. Subject Code Identification. 

b. Directive Template. 

c. Change Notice Template. 

d. Standard Operating Procedure Template. 

e. Appendix Revision Log. 

f. Action Summary. 

12. Contact 

Office of Administration, Directives Coordinator.