OFFICE OF

SURFACE MINING

RECLAMATION AND

ENFORCEMENT

and Performance Information

Fiscal Year 2020 

BUDGET

JUSTIFICATIONS

The United States

Department of the Interior

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and Related Agencies 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................1

Overview........................................................................................................................................1

Budget Highlights..........................................................................................................................7

Appropriations Language ............................................................................................................10

Summary of Requirements ..........................................................................................................14

Justification of Fixed Costs and Internal Realignments ..............................................................15

BUDGET AT A GLANCE............................................................................................................17

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION.......................................................................................23

1. State Program Evaluation.................................................................................................28

2. Federal Reclamation Program..........................................................................................29

a. Federal Reclamation Projects.......................................................................................................30

b. Program Staff (Operations)...........................................................................................................33

3. Program Development and Maintenance.........................................................................33

a. AML Inventory.............................................................................................................................34

b. Grants Management......................................................................................................................35

c. State Program Amendments.........................................................................................................35

2019 Planned Program Performance ...........................................................................................36

2018 Program Accomplishments.................................................................................................37

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION .........................................................................................39

1. State and Tribal Funding..................................................................................................44

a. State Grants...................................................................................................................................44

b. Tribal Regulatory Development and Regulatory Program Grants ...............................................45

2. State Program Evaluation ................................................................................................45

a. Oversight Policy and Procedures..................................................................................................45

b. Oversight Inspections ...................................................................................................................46

c. Identifying and Correcting Violations of SMCRA.......................................................................47

3. Federal and Indian Lands Program..................................................................................48

a. States.............................................................................................................................................49

b. Tribes............................................................................................................................................51

4. OSMRE Responsibility on Federal Lands.......................................................................53

5. Program Development and Maintenance.........................................................................54

a. Rulemaking...................................................................................................................................54

b. Grants Management......................................................................................................................55

c. Special Projects.............................................................................................................................55

2019 Planned Program Performance ...........................................................................................57
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2018 Program Accomplishments.................................................................................................58

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER............................................................59

1. Technical Assistance........................................................................................................64

a. Technical Policy Assistance .........................................................................................................64

b. Site-Specific Technical Assistance...............................................................................................68

c. National Mine Map Repository ....................................................................................................72

d. Coal Information Management System (CIMS)...........................................................................73

e. Technical Innovation and Professional Services (TIPS) ..............................................................73

f. Applicant/Violator System (AVS)................................................................................................75

2. Technical Training ...........................................................................................................76

a. National Technical Training Program ..........................................................................................76

b. TIPS Software Application Training............................................................................................78

c. Regional/Site Specific Training....................................................................................................78

3. Technology Transfer........................................................................................................79

a. Technology Development.............................................................................................................80

b. Technology Transfer and Publications.........................................................................................80

c. Educational Outreach and Partnerships........................................................................................82

2019 Planned Program Performance ...........................................................................................84

2018 Program Accomplishments.................................................................................................86

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT....................................................................................................89

1. Fee Compliance................................................................................................................93

a. AML Fee Collection.....................................................................................................................93

b. AML Fee Audit ............................................................................................................................94

2. Grant Financial Management...........................................................................................98

3. Revenue Management....................................................................................................100

4. United Mine Workers of America Health Benefit Plans (UMWAF) Transfers............100

2019 Planned Program Performance .........................................................................................102

2018 Program Accomplishments...............................................................................................102

EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND ADMINISTRATION.........................................................103

1. Executive Direction........................................................................................................107

a. Office of the Director (DIR).......................................................................................................107

b. Office for Equal Opportunity (OEO)..........................................................................................107

c. Office of Communications (OC) ................................................................................................108

d. Office of Planning, Analysis and Budget (OPAB).....................................................................109

e. Information Resources Office (IRO)..........................................................................................109

2. Administrative Support..................................................................................................110

a. Administration............................................................................................................................110

b. Human Resources (HR)..............................................................................................................111

c. Administrative Financial Management.......................................................................................112

d. Information Management and Technology (IMT)......................................................................112
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3. General Services ............................................................................................................113

2019 Planned Program Performance .........................................................................................115

2018 Program Accomplishments...............................................................................................116

PERMANENT APPROPRIATIONS.........................................................................................117

BUDGET EXHIBITS ..................................................................................................................123

Exhibit A: Section 403 Compliance .........................................................................................123

Exhibit B: Employee Count by Grade (PER-4)........................................................................124

Appendixes....................................................................................................................................125

AML Reclamation Accomplishments........................................................................................125

By State and Tribe Funding Data ..............................................................................................126

Organizational Chart..................................................................................................................127

Abandoned Mine Land Program States.....................................................................................128

Regulatory Programs and Office Locations...............................................................................129

Alignment of Legacy Regions to DOI Unified Regions............................................................130
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TABLE INDEX

Table 1 – State, Tribal, and Federal Responsibility for the AML Program .....................................................28

Table 2 – Inspections Conducted in Primacy States in FY 2018......................................................................47

Table 3 – Permit and Permit Revision Workload Where OSMRE is the Regulatory Authority......................52

Table 4 – Inspections Conducted by OSMRE in the Federal and Indian Lands Program................................53

Table 5 – Mining Plan Decision Document Workload on Leased Federal Coal, by Fiscal Year.....................54

Table 6 – FY 2018 State Program Amendment Activity .................................................................................55

Table 7 – Deposits to the AML Fund and AML Production Fees....................................................................96

Table 8 – Summary Status of Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund ................................................................97

Table 9 – AML Unappropriated Balance .........................................................................................................99

Table 10 – UMWA Transfer Requests...........................................................................................................101

Table 11 – Estimated General Services Costs................................................................................................114

Table 12 – Permanent Appropriation Estimates.............................................................................................118

Table 13 – Mandatory Funding for States and Tribes, FY 2018-2020...........................................................122
TAB

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Overview

The mission of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is to carry 

out the requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA or the Act) in 

cooperation with the States and Tribes.

OSMRE’s primary objectives are to:

(1) ensure that coal mine surface activities are operated in a manner that 

protects citizens and the environment during mining,

(2) ensure that the land is restored to beneficial use following mining, and

(3) mitigate the effects of past mining by aggressively pursuing reclamation

of abandoned coal mines.

Each coal mine operation in the United States must be permitted and regulated under the provisions 

of SMCRA. At publication of this document, there were over 5,000 permits on active and inactive 

coal mining sites covering 2.5 million acres Nationwide. These sites all require regulatory activity 

for permit approvals, monitoring, inspection, enforcement, and bond release approval.

OSMRE has statutory responsibility for administering programs to control the environmental 

impacts of surface coal mining operations pursuant to Title V of the Act, as well as for 

administering the program for the restoration of abandoned and unreclaimed mined areas pursuant 

to Title IV of the Act. OSMRE authorizes States and Tribes, upon approval of their regulatory and 

reclamation programs, to perform these responsibilities subject to OSMRE oversight. With this 

authority, primacy States directly regulate about 98 percent of the permitted sites in the Nation. 

OSMRE oversees the State and Tribal programs and provides training, technical assistance, 

support, and tools to help ensure effective, consistent, and high quality regulatory and reclamation 

programs across the Nation.

OSMRE’s FY 2020 budget supports the Presidential and Secretarial priority of supporting the 

environmentally responsible development of energy. It provides for the oversight of responsible 

coal production through the protection, preservation, and restoration of mined lands and the 

restoration of mined lands left unreclaimed from past mining operations. The FY 2020 budget 

focuses funding on OSMRE’s core mission requirements, realigns available resources to support 

the highest priority efforts, and eliminates redundancies in funding for other programs and 

activities.
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Environmental Restoration

Title IV (Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation)

OSMRE supports the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) goal of Providing Stewardship of Land, 

Surface Water, Stream, and Shorelines under the mission area of “Conserving Our Land and 

Water” in its Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2018-2022 through its Environmental Restoration 

activities. SMCRA requires that all operators of coal mining operations pay an Abandoned Mine 

Land (AML) Reclamation fee, based on tons of coal produced, into the Abandoned Mine 

Reclamation Fund in order to hold producers and users of coal responsible for reclaiming lands 

mined for coal and left abandoned prior to August 3, 1977. OSMRE collects the AML fee, and 

then annually distributes the fee receipts to States and Tribes for reclamation activities based on a 

statutorily prescribed formula.

The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-432), which included amendments 

to SMCRA (2006 Amendments), extended the fee authorization through September 30, 2021, 

made reclamation grants from the AML fund mandatory, and created new mandatory and 

unrestricted payments to States and Tribes that certified they had completed their coal reclamation 

work. The 2006 Amendments significantly increased funding provided to States and Tribes, from 

$145.3 million in FY 2007 to a distribution of $310.5 million in FY 2019.

In 2012 and 2013, additional amendments to SMCRA limited the amount of funding available to 

the certified States and Tribes. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Public 

Law 114-94), enacted in December 2015, however, lifted the limitations provided by the earlier 

amendments, and also provided for $241.9 million in payments to certain eligible certified States 

and Tribes. These funds were distributed in FY 2016.

As of September 2018, an estimated $10.1 billion of reported Priority 1, 2, and 3 unfunded coal 

abandoned mine land problems remain. OSMRE will concentrate its limited discretionary 

resources on State Program Evaluation and Federal Reclamation Program operations. These 

programs work directly on reclaiming abandoned mine lands and to fulfill OSMRE’s Title IV 

obligations. The FY 2020 budget does not request funding for the discretionary AML Economic 

Development Pilot fund, established in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 

114-113) and continued in both the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31) 

and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141), which overlaps with 

existing mandatory AML grants.

With its mandatory appropriations authority, OSMRE will continue to collect reclamation fees 

from operators1, allocate and distribute reclamation grant funds to States and Tribes, and make 

payments to the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) health benefits plans, in accordance 

with the provisions of Title IV of SMCRA.

(See the Permanent Appropriations Section for more details)

 1 Section 1232 of SMCRA authorizes OSMRE to collect reclamation fees from operators of coal mining 

operations through September 30, 2021.
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Environmental Protection

Title V of SMCRA (Active Mining)

OSMRE supports DOI Secretarial priorities to “sustainably develop our energy and natural 

resources” and to “strike a regulatory balance” through its Environmental Protection activities. 

OSMRE’s statutory role is to promote and assist its partner States and Tribes in establishing and 

maintaining a stable regulatory environment for coal mining that is consistent with SMCRA and

administered through primacy State programs, or directly by OSMRE as the regulatory authority. 

That regulatory stability enables all parties, including operators, regulators and citizens, to have a 

common understanding of applicable requirements and rights so that each can make informed 

decisions affecting their economic and personal interests with a minimum level of controversy.

It is important for coal to be responsibly mined and to ensure that the land is reclaimed in 

accordance with land use plans established during the permitting process consistent with the law. 

Annual performance agreements developed for each State, with stakeholder input, outline the 

responsibilities and activities of both the State and OSMRE. Among other things, the agreements 

contain program evaluation goals and the technical or programmatic assistance that OSMRE may 

render to the States to address identified problems, for both new issues and those remaining from 

prior years. With greater technical skills, OSMRE anticipates improved performance regarding 

permit-related actions and resolution of issues.

To assist primacy States with their regulatory programs, OSMRE provides technical assistance and 

training, and funding in the form of regulatory grants. These grants provide up to 50 percent of a 

State’s operating costs for regulating private coal and up to 100 percent of a State’s operating costs 

for regulating mining on Federal lands within the State. OSMRE also provides grants to Tribes to 

assist them in developing regulations and programs for regulating surface coal mining and 

reclamation operations on Indian lands. The budget includes grants to States and Tribes consistent 

with their actual expenditures over the past few years.

Review of State permitting actions and inspections of mine sites are among the most effective ways 

to determine if the State’s mining law is being properly implemented. In FY 2018, States

performed 24,550 complete and 37,591 partial mine inspections. OSMRE completed 614 partial 

and 475 complete inspections in its Federal and Indian Lands Programs. Nationwide, 90 percent 

of the permitted sites inspected were free of off-site impacts. Off-site impacts are those that occur 

outside the permitted area that have the potential to harm the environment or the public as specified 

under the existing regulations. The off-site impacts associated with active sites are addressed 

through the inspection and enforcement processes. It is also important that the land is reclaimed 

properly and in a timely manner to return the land to its intended post-mining land use.

Training and Technological Advances

OSMRE supports the coordination of science activities across bureaus which help achieve the 

DOI’s mission objectives, and has identified several key areas for investment where coordination 

with other Department bureaus will leverage results to more effectively achieve mission outcomes. 

The FY 2020 budget facilitates this coordination by supporting integrated efforts to achieve 

management efficiencies.
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OSMRE uses emerging technologies, tools and methodologies to elevate the understanding of 

resources related to coal mining on a landscape-level. OSMRE’s Technology Development and 

Transfer business line will focus on the training and technical innovation that directly supports 

OSMRE’s Environmental Protection mission of regulatory oversight and its Environmental 

Restoration mission of abandoned mine land reclamation.

The 2020 budget provides the resources required to meet the demand from States, Tribes, public 

interest groups, and internal customers for OSMRE to provide technical support on coal mining 

activities. Activities include development of policy/guidance documents for technical issues, such 

as blasting, as well as onsite review and guidance on the application of regulations to specific 

permits and mine sites.

Management and Efficiencies

OSMRE supports the DOI’s and the Administration’s initiative to improve programs through an 

evidence-based approach, while holding program managers accountable for improving 

performance. OSMRE’s Performance Management Workgroup continues to monitor and 

comprehensively evaluate established performance measures. These efforts improve OSMRE’s 

efficiency by providing better quality information for managers to make informed decisions and 

provide a better understanding of performance data. Other efforts underway, and reflected in the 

FY 2020 budget, include data center consolidation, the use of emerging technologies to more 

effectively and efficiently inspect and evaluate potential coal mine related problems, and the 

consolidation of OSMRE’s Western Region Headquarters and Division of Financial Management 

into a shared office space at the Denver Federal Center.

Government Reform

President Trump signed an Executive Order to modernize and reform the executive branch and 

Interior is leading the way, developing and executing a program that will streamline processes and 

better serve the American people. The absolute first step in building a better and more efficient 

executive branch though is fostering a culture of ethics and respect amongst colleagues.

Interior has launched several top management objectives to better achieve Departmental goals and 

lead the agency moving forward. From day one of this Administration, Interior’s leadership has 

made the work environment a priority. There is zero tolerance for any type of workplace harassment 

at Interior. The Department is instilling a culture change through clear management accountability, 

swift personnel actions, reporting procedures for harassment conduct, improved training, and 

substantive action plans. 

In the area of anti-harassment efforts, each bureau and office has made significant headway in 

putting a diverse set of measures in place to prevent and address unacceptable conduct. Interior has 

also launched an internal Workplace Culture Transformation Advisory Council to include leadership 

from across the Department to keep a focus on Interior’s commitment to the workplace environment. 

The Council will look at common issues raised in the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, ways to 

improve employee engagement, and building career paths which cross bureau silos; all with the goal 

to transform Interior’s workplace culture for our employees, so they can realize their individual 

potential and be their most productive selves for the American people.
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Another management priority is creating a strong ethical culture to ensure Interior employees 

honor the public’s trust to manage taxpayer funds responsibly and avoid conflicts of interest. The 

expectations for appropriate employee conduct have been made clear. The Department has set 

goals and expectations for qualified ethics officials within Interior sufficient to ensure our 

operations are conducted ethically and ensure all employees have access to prompt, accurate ethics 

advice.

DOI Reorganization

Over many decades, the Department of the Interior experienced new bureaus becoming established 

on an ad hoc basis with their own unique regional organizations. This ultimately resulted in a 

complicated series of 49 regional boundaries among 8 bureaus. This complexity led to the situation 

where bureau regional leadership was often focused on different geographic areas, did not have 

adequate and shared understanding of the needs and perspectives of regional stakeholders, and 

opportunities to share administrative capacity across bureaus were difficult to recognize and 

implement. Further, members of the public were often frustrated by problems in inter-bureau 

decision making where uncoordinated timelines and processes could lead to unnecessarily long 

delays in reaching a decision. The Department’s reorganization is focused on making 

improvements across each of these areas.

On August 22, 2018, after working closely with stakeholders across the country on options to 

consolidate Interior’s 49 different regions into common regions, the Department announced the 

designation of Interior’s 12 new unified regions. As a result of Tribal consultation, BIA, BIE, and 

the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians will not realign their regional field structure. 

Establishing unified regions across bureaus is the cornerstone of the reforms designed to improve 

Interior’s service delivery to the public. Within each unified region, bureaus will focus work on 

the same resources and constituents and improve coordination across the Department. For the 

public, fewer regions make it easier to do business with Interior, particularly when the public 

interacts with several bureaus or jurisdictions. Interior will leverage the unified regional structure 

to improve and streamline business operations using shared services and best practices across the 

Department focusing primarily on human resources, information technology, and acquisition 

services. Work is underway in 2019 to plan implementation, conduct analysis, and identify areas 

for collaboration within the new regions. 
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Budget Highlights

The FY 2020 Budget Request for OSMRE is $121.67 million in current appropriations2.

OSMRE will focus resources on its core mission functions essential to implementation of SMCRA, 

provide technical support and assistance to the States and Tribes for regulatory and reclamation 

programs, support the review and technology transfer of advanced technologies and reforestation 

of reclaimed mined lands, and evaluate the abandoned mine land program. Below is an outline of 

the requested changes.

In addition to discretionary appropriations, the budget includes $512.44 million in mandatory 

funding for reclamation grants to States and Tribes, and for United Mine Workers of America 

(UMWA) health benefit plans under current law. Mandatory funding is further described under 

the Permanent Appropriations Section.

A summary table of the budget is shown below. Information at the account, activity, and subactivity level is available in the table contained in the Budget-at-a-Glance Section.

Total FY 2020 Budget Request

(Dollars in Thousands)

Budget Authority

2018

Actual

2019

CR

Baseline

2020

Request

Regulation and Technology 115,844 115,804 96,960

Civil Penalties (Indefinite Authority) 

Permit Fees (Offsetting Collections)

[4] [100]

[40]

[100]

[40]

Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund 139,672 139,672 24,713

Total Discretionary 255,516 255,476 121,673

Total Discretionary (with Offsetting 

Collections) 255,520 255,616 121,813

Payments (or Grants) to States in Lieu 

of Coal Fee Receipts (Treasury Funds) 106,678 102,994 47,300

Mandatory Grants to Non-Certified States

(AML Funds) 194,052 188,302 141,100

Funds Transferred to UMWA Health 

Benefit Plans (Treasury and AML Funds) 331,459 279,397 324,040

Total Mandatory 632,189 570,693 512,440

Total Discretionary and Mandatory 887,705 826,169 634,113

Total Discretionary and Mandatory (with 

Offsetting Collections) 887,709 862,309 634,253

FTEs 398 398 398

2 This amount does not include $100,000 in civil penalty authority or offsetting collections.
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The FY 2020 budget provides $43.9 million (36.1 percent) of OSMRE’s total discretionary funds 

in grants to the States and Tribes for regulatory programs. OSMRE will use the balance of the 

budget to perform its statutory oversight responsibilities, administer Federal regulatory and 

reclamation programs, provide technical assistance to the States and Tribes, and carry out its fiscal 

responsibilities for collecting revenues and awarding grants. 

OSMRE executes its mission through five Business Lines. OSMRE’s Business Lines are:

Environmental Restoration,

Environmental Protection,

Technology Development and Transfer, 

Financial Management, and

Executive Direction and Administration.

The budget aligns discretionary funding and FTE across business lines to optimize fulfilment of 

OSMRE’s statutory responsibilities and support of administration priorities. 

Implementing SMCRA – Effective Partnerships

In implementing its mission responsibilities, OSMRE works closely with the States and Tribes in 

administering their regulatory and reclamation programs. OSMRE also recognizes the importance of 

working with industry, other stakeholders, and citizens in implementing SMCRA. This budget 

supports using effective partnerships by communicating, consulting, and cooperating with these 

constituent groups to achieve SMCRA’s objectives.

OSMRE continues to emphasize the importance of protecting the environment during and after coal 

mining operations. OSMRE oversees SMCRA’s implementation in 24 primacy States by, among 

other things, assisting the States in the administration, implementation and maintenance of their 

approved regulatory programs. This process is detailed further in the Environmental Protection 

section of this document.

OSMRE, in cooperation with the 25 States and three Tribes that have reclamation programs, will 

continue to clean up land and waters degraded by past mining practices. The funding provided will 

assist in the removal of existing health and safety hazards and restoration of areas to productive use.

The cooperative process for restoring land and water affected by past mining is detailed further in 

the Environmental Restoration section of this document.

OSMRE will continue its efforts to establish partnerships to improve and increase outreach efforts 

that allow full participation from its stakeholders in addressing common problems. These initiatives 

will assist OSMRE in forging an enduring bond and partnership with its stakeholders.

To better serve its partners and the public, OSMRE continues to improve its abandoned mine land 

databases to include all eligible abandoned mine sites. In addition, OSMRE’s website contains 

comprehensive information on pertinent regulatory and reclamation matters.

As mining and engineering information technology continues to improve, OSMRE continues to 

provide to States and Tribes the most up-to-date information, technical training, technical assistance, 
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and technology transfer. These programs greatly assist the States and Tribes in operating their 

SMCRA programs. This process is detailed further in the Technology Development and Transfer 

section of this document.
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Appropriations Language

Regulation and Technology

For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation 

Act of 1977, Public Law 95-87, $96,960,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021: 

Provided, That appropriations for the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement may 

provide for the travel and per diem expenses of State and Tribal personnel attending Office of 

Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement sponsored training.

In addition, for costs to review, administer, and enforce permits issued by the Office pursuant to 

section 507 of Public Law 95-87 (30 U.S.C. 1257), $40,000, to remain available until expended: 

Provided, That fees assessed and collected by the Office pursuant to such section 507 shall be 

credited to this account as discretionary offsetting collections, to remain available until expended: 

Provided further, That the sum herein appropriated from the general fund shall be reduced as 

collections are received during the fiscal year, so as to result in a fiscal year 2020 appropriation 

estimated at not more than $96,960,000.

Note.––A full year 2019 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was 

prepared; therefore, the budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing 

Appropriations Act, 2019 (Division C of P.L. 115-245, as amended). The amounts included for 

2019 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.
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Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund

For necessary expenses to carry out title IV of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act 

of 1977, Public Law 95-87, $24,713,000, to be derived from receipts of the Abandoned Mine 

Reclamation Fund and to remain available until expended: Provided, That pursuant to Public Law 

97-365, the Department of the Interior is authorized to use up to 20 percent from the recovery of 

the delinquent debt owed to the United States Government to pay for contracts to collect these 

debts: Provided further, That funds made available under title IV of Public Law 95-87 may be used 

for any required non-Federal share of the cost of projects funded by the Federal Government for 

the purpose of environmental restoration related to treatment or abatement of acid mine drainage 

from abandoned mines: Provided further, That such projects must be consistent with the purposes 

and priorities of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act: Provided further, That amounts 

provided under this heading may be used for the travel and per diem expenses of State and Tribal

personnel attending Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement sponsored training.

Note.––A full year 2019 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was 

prepared; therefore, the budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing 

Appropriations Act, 2019 (Division C of P.L. 115-245, as amended). The amounts included for 

2019 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.
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Appropriations Language and Citations

Regulation and Technology

For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation 

Act of 1977, Public Law 95-87, $96,960,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021: 

Provided, That appropriations for the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement may 

provide for the travel and per diem expenses of State and Tribal personnel attending Office of 

Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement sponsored training.

In addition, for costs to review, administer, and enforce permits issued by the Office pursuant to 

section 507 of Public Law 95-87 (30 U.S.C. 1257), $40,000, to remain available until expended: 

Provided, That fees assessed and collected by the Office pursuant to such section 507 shall be 

credited to this account as discretionary offsetting collections, to remain available until expended: 

Provided further, That the sum herein appropriated from the general fund shall be reduced as 

collections are received during the fiscal year, so as to result in a fiscal year 2020 appropriation 

estimated at not more than $96,960,000.

• 30 U.S.C. 1260, 1268 – These sections provide for the assessment and collection of penalties 

levied for violations of the Act, and for the denial of permits to those with unabated violations 

or unpaid penalties.

• 30 U.S.C. 1252, 1253, 1254, 1271, 1272, 1273, 1295, 1300, 1302 – These sections provide

for aid to all primacy States for maintaining approved regulatory programs and evaluation of 

the States’ performance in doing so; monitoring implementation of the grant programs; small 

operator assistance programs; and for regulatory programs in States without approved 

programs, on Federal lands and on Indian lands; processing of permit applications and mine 

plans for Federal lands operations; designating of lands unsuitable for surface mining through 

technical reviews; scientific/engineering support and technical training for States operating 

approved permanent programs and Federally administered programs; initiation of technical 

studies; issuance of technical publications; approval of experimental practices to meet the 

needs of approved State programs and Federally-administered programs; preparation of 

environmental assessments and environmental impact statements for permits and other actions; 

and training of OSMRE staff and State staff to enable these agencies to more effectively carry 

out the provisions of the Act.

• 30 U.S.C. 1257, as amended by Public Laws 101-508 and 102-486 - Provide for the 

regulatory authority to designate a qualified laboratory to obtain technical information and 

prepare technical findings required by the operator for the permit application, and for the 

regulatory authority to assume the cost for such services. Further, the Act provides for the 

Secretary to provide or assume the cost of training for regulatory program compliance and 

permit application preparation for eligible small operators.
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Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund

For necessary expenses to carry out title IV of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act 

of 1977, Public Law 95-87, $24,713,000, to be derived from receipts of the Abandoned Mine 

Reclamation Fund and to remain available until expended: Provided, That pursuant to Public Law 

97-365, the Department of the Interior is authorized to use up to 20 percent from the recovery of 

the delinquent debt owed to the United States Government to pay for contracts to collect these 

debts: Provided further, That funds made available under title IV of Public Law 95- 87 may be 

used for any required non-Federal share of the cost of projects funded by the Federal Government 

for the purpose of environmental restoration related to treatment or abatement of acid mine 

drainage from abandoned mines: Provided further, That such projects must be consistent with the 

purposes and priorities of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act: Provided further, 

That amounts provided under this heading may be used for the travel and per diem expenses of 

State and Tribal personnel attending Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 

sponsored training.

• 30 U.S.C. 1231, 1232, 1233 and 1240 – Provides for the payment of fees and other monies into 

the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund (Fund). The Fund consists of amounts deposited from 

time to time, derived from reclamation fees, donations, audit recoveries, interest charges, and 

administrative collection fees.

The funds collected are used for the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources 

adversely affected by past mining.

SMCRA provides for the use of the monies for the purpose of protecting public health, safety, and 

property from extreme danger of adverse effects of coal mining practices; restoration of land and 

water resources and the environment previously degraded by adverse effects of coal mining 

practices, and that are adjacent to a site that has been or will be remediated. It also provides that 

monies in the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund will be used to cover the administrative 

expenses of the Federal government, accomplish abandoned mine reclamation and develop 

guidelines on the distribution of monies in the Fund.
Executive Summary

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 14

Summary of Requirements

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

(Dollars in Thousands)

2018

Actual

2019 CR

Baseline Fixed Costs 

(+/-)

Internal 

Transfers 

(+/-)

Program Changes 

(+/-) 2020 Request

Change from 2019

(+/-)

Amount FTE Amount FTE Amount FTE Amount FTE Amount

REGULATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Environmental Protection 88,602 155 88,562 +122 +17 -20,930 172 67,754 +17 -20,808

Technology Development and Transfer 12,801 78 12,801 +53 - +1,911 78 14,765 - +1,964

Financial Management 505 3 505 +2 - -2 3 505 - -

Executive Direction and Administration 13,936 45 13,936 -814 - +814 45 13,936 - -

TOTAL, REGULATION AND TECHNOLOGY 115,844 281 115,804 -637 0 +17 -18,207 298 96,960 +17 -18,844

Civil Penalties (Budget Authority) 4 - 100 - - - - 100 - -

Permit Fees (Offsetting Collections) - - 40 - - - - 40 - -

TOTAL, REGULATION AND TECHNOLOGY,

with Civil Penalties and Offsetting Collections 115,848 281 115,944 -637 0 +17 -18,207 298 97,100 +17 -18,844

ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION FUND

Environmental Restoration 9,480 42 9,480 +26 -7 -26 35 9,480 -7 -

Technology Development and Transfer 3,544 15 3,544 +11 - +21 15 3,576 - +32

Financial Management 5,182 35 5,182 +22 -6 -13 29 5,191 -6 +9

Executive Direction and Administration 6,466 25 6,466 -398 -4 +398 21 6,466 -4 -

AML Economic Development Pilot Program 115,000 - 115,000 - - -115,000 - - - -115,000

TOTAL, ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION 

FUND 139,672 117 139,672 -339 0 -17 -114,620 100 24,713 -17 -114,959

TOTAL, DISCRETIONARY (without Offsetting 

Collections) 255,516 398 255,476 -976 0 - -132,827 398 121,673 - -133,803

TOTAL, DISCRETIONARY (with Civil Penalties 

and Offsetting Collections) 255,520 398 255,616 -976 0 - -132,827 398 121,813 - -133,803
Executive Summary

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 15

Justification of Fixed Costs and Internal Realignments

(Dollars in Thousands)

Regulation and Technology Account (Net -637)

Fixed Cost Changes and Projections 2019 

Total or Change

2019 to 2020 

Change

Change in Number of Paid Days +133 +134 

This column reflects changes in pay associated with the change in the number of paid days between the 2019 baseline and 2020 

Request.

Pay Raise +176 +0 

The 2020 Request reflects a pay freeze for civilian employees. 

Employer Share of Federal Employee Retirement System +0 +70 

The change reflects the directed 2.3% increase in the employer contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System.

Departmental Working Capital Fund +1,560 -98 

The change reflects expected changes in the charges for centrally billed Department services and other services through the Working 

Capital Fund. These charges are detailed in the Budget Justification for Departmental Management.

Worker's Compensation Payments +88 +1 

The amounts reflect changes in the estimated costs of compensating injured employees and dependents of employees who suffer 

accidental deaths while on duty. Costs for the 2020 request will reimburse the Department of Labor, Federal Employees Compensation 

Fund, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 8147(b) as amended by Public Law 94-273.

Unemployment Compensation Payments +4 +0 

The amounts reflect projected changes in the costs of unemployment compensation claims to be paid to the Department of Labor,

Federal Employees Compensation Account, in the Unemployment Trust Fund, pursuant to Public Law 96-499.

Rental Payments +4,173 -744 

The amounts reflect changes in the costs payable to General Services Administration (GSA) and others for office and non-office space 

as estimated by GSA, as well as the rental costs of other currently occupied space. These costs include building security; which in the 

case of GSA space are paid to Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Costs of mandatory office relocations, i.e. relocations in 

cases where due to external events there is no alternative but to vacate the currently occupied space, are also included.

Baseline Adjustments for O&M Increases +27 +0 

In accordance with space maximization efforts across the Federal Government, this adjustment captures the associated increase to 

baseline operations and maintenance requirements resulting from movement out of GSA or direct-leased (commercial) space and into 

Bureau-owned space. While the GSA portion of fixed costs will go down as a result of these moves, Bureaus often encounter an 

increase to baseline O&M costs not otherwise captured in fixed costs. This category of funding properly adjusts the baseline fixed cost 

amount to maintain steady-state funding for these requirements.
Executive Summary

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 16

Justification of Fixed Costs and Internal Realignments

(Dollars in Thousands)

Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund (Net -339)

Fixed Cost Changes and Projections 2019 

Total or Change

2019 to 2020 

Change

Change in Number of Paid Days +48 +48 

This column reflects changes in pay associated with the change in the number of paid days between the 2019 baseline and 2020 

Request.

Pay Raise +63 +0 

The 2020 Request reflects a pay freeze for civilian employees. 

Employer Share of Federal Employee Retirement System +0 +26 

The change reflects the directed 2.3% increase in the employer contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System.

Departmental Working Capital Fund +768 -48 

The change reflects expected changes in the charges for centrally billed Department services and other services through the Working 

Capital Fund. These charges are detailed in the Budget Justification for Departmental Management.

Worker's Compensation Payments +43 +1 

The amounts reflect changes in the estimated costs of compensating injured employees and dependents of employees who suffer 

accidental deaths while on duty. Costs for the 2020 request will reimburse the Department of Labor, Federal Employees Compensation 

Fund, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 8147(b) as amended by Public Law 94-273.

Unemployment Compensation Payments +2 +0 

The amounts reflect projected changes in the costs of unemployment compensation claims to be paid to the Department of Labor,

Federal Employees Compensation Account, in the Unemployment Trust Fund, pursuant to Public Law 96-499.

Rental Payments +2,055 -366 

The amounts reflect changes in the costs payable to General Services Administration (GSA) and others for office and non-office space 

as estimated by GSA, as well as the rental costs of other currently occupied space. These costs include building security; which in the 

case of GSA space are paid to Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Costs of mandatory office relocations, i.e. relocations in 

cases where due to external events there is no alternative but to vacate the currently occupied space, are also included.

Baseline Adjustments for O&M Increases +13 +0 

In accordance with space maximization efforts across the Federal Government, this adjustment captures the associated increase to 

baseline operations and maintenance requirements resulting from movement out of GSA or direct-leased (commercial) space and into 

Bureau-owned space. While the GSA portion of fixed costs will go down as a result of these moves, Bureaus often encounter an 

increase to baseline O&M costs not otherwise captured in fixed costs. This category of funding properly adjusts the baseline fixed cost 

amount to maintain steady-state funding for these requirements.
TAB

Budget at a Glance
Page Intentionally Left Blank
Budget At A Glance

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 17

BUDGET AT A GLANCE

INTRODUCTION

The following tables provide a snapshot of the cost changes by appropriation, business line and 

activities within those business lines. Below is a summary description.

Regulation and Technology

This appropriation finances the regulatory functions of SMCRA as administered by the States and 

OSMRE. Federal activities related to the administration and monitoring of State regulatory 

programs and OSMRE’s technical training, assistance, and transfer activities related to 

environmental protection are also financed by this appropriation. The request is $96,960,000.

Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund

This appropriation supports the discretionary reclamation program functions carried out by the 

States and OSMRE. The Fund is derived from a fee levied on coal production sales, use, and 

transfers. The Fund also supports Federal activities related to the administration and monitoring 

of State programs, as well as OSMRE’s technical training, assistance, and transfer activities related 

to environmental restoration. The request is $24,713,000.

Summary of 2019 CR Baseline and 2020 Request

By Appropriation and Business Line

(Dollars in Thousands)

Regulation and Technology

2019 CR 

Baseline 2020 Request

Change from

2019

Environmental Protection 88,562 67,754 -20,808

Technology Development and Transfer 12,801 14,765 +1,964

Financial Management 505 505 -

Executive Direction and Administration 13,636 13,936 -

Total, without Offsetting Collections 115,804 96,960 -18,844

Civil Penalties (Budget Authority) 100 100 -

Permit Fees (Offsetting Collections) 40 40 -

Total, Regulation and Technology with Civil 

Penalties and Offsetting Collections 115,944 97,100 -18,844

Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund

2019 CR 

Baseline 2020 Request

Change from 

2019

Environmental Restoration 124,480 9,480 -115,000

Technology Development and Transfer 3,544 3,576 +32

Financial Management 5,182 5,191 +9

Executive Direction and Administration 6,466 6,466 -

Total, Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund 139,672 24,713 -114,959

Total Appropriation (without Civil Penalties 

and Offsetting Collections) 255,476 121,673 -133,803

Total Appropriation, with Civil Penalties 

and Offsetting Collections 255,616 121,813 -133,803
Budget At A Glance

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 18

Summary of 2019 CR Baseline and 2020 Request 

By Full-time Equivalent (FTE)

Regulation and Technology

2019 CR 

Estimate

2020

Estimate

Change from 

2019

Environmental Protection 155 172 +17

Technology Development and Transfer 78 78 -

Financial Management 3 3 -

Executive Direction and Administration 45 45 -

Total, Regulation and Technology FTE 281 298 +17

Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund

2019 CR 

Estimate

2020

Estimate

Change from 

2019

Environmental Restoration 42 35 -7

Technology Development and Transfer 15 15 -

Financial Management 35 29 -6

Executive Direction and Administration 25 21 -4

Total, Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund FTE 117 100 -17

Total FTE 398 398 -
Budget At A Glance

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 19

Budget at a Glance Table

(Dollars in Thousands)

2018

Actual

2019 CR

Baseline Fixed Costs

Internal 

Transfers

Program 

Changes

2020

Request

Discretionary

Appropriation: Regulation and Technology

Environmental Protection 88,602 88,562 +122 -20,930 67,754

State and Tribal Funding 68,590 68,590 -24,687 43,903

Regulatory Grant Funding [-24,687]

State Program Evaluation 8,140 8,140 +59 -119 8,080

Federal and Indian Lands Program 6,054 6,014 +34 +1,693 7,741

Funded by Offsetting Collections [-40] [-40]

Improve Mine Plan Review Process [+1,693]

Federal Lands 1,414 1,414 +5 +17 1,436

Program Development and Maintenance 4,404 4,404 +24 +2,166 6,594

Improve Mine Plan Review Process [+2,166]

Technology Development and Transfer (TDT) 12,801 12,801 +53 - +1,911 14,765

Technical Assistance 10,232 10,232 +34 +402 10,668

Enhance Coal Information Management System [+402]

Training 1,949 1,949 +13 +42 2,004

Technology Transfer 620 620 +6 +1,467 2,093

Increase GeoMine Support to States [+500]

Complete AMDTreat Software Development [+347]

Procure Unmanned Aerial System [+150]

Fund Applied Science Projects [+470]

Financial Management 505 505 +2 -2 505

Revenue Management 410 410 +2 -2 410

Grants Financial Management 95 95 95

Executive Direction and Administration 13,936 13,936 -814 0 +814 13,936

Executive Direction 2,054 2,054 +10 -10 2,054

Administrative Support 3,575 3,575 +17 -17 3,575

General Services 8,307 8,307 -841 +841 8,307

Invest in Future Efficiencies [+841]

TOTAL, Regulation and Technology 115,844 115,804 -637 0 -18,207 96,960
Budget At A Glance

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 20

Budget at a Glance Table

(Dollars in Thousands)

2018

Actual

2019 CR

Baseline Fixed Costs

Internal 

Transfers

Program 

Changes

2020

Request

Appropriation: Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund

Environmental Restoration 124,480 124,480 +26 0 -115,026 9,480

State Program Evaluation 2,662 2,662 +11 -11 2,662

Federal Reclamation Programs - Projects 1,548 1,548 1,548

Federal Reclamation Program - Operations 2,066 2,066 +4 -4 2,066

Program Development and Maintenance 3,204 3,204 +11 -11 3,204

AML Economic Development Grants 115,000 115,000 -115,000 -

Technology Development and Transfer (TDT) 3,544 3,544 +11 0 +21 3,576

Technical Assistance 1,585 1,585 +5 +27 1,617

Enhance Coal Information Management System [+27]

Training 794 794 +5 -5 794

Technology Transfer 1,165 1,165 +1 -1 1,165

Financial Management 5,182 5,182 +22 0 -13 5,191

Fee Compliance 5,081 5,081 +21 -21 5,081

Grants Financial Management 101 101 +1 +8 110

Executive Direction and Administration 6,466 6,466 -398 0 +398 6,466

Executive Direction 910 910 +4 -4 910

Administrative Support 1,846 1,846 +11 -11 1,846

General Services 3,710 3,710 -413 +413 3,710

Invest in Future Efficiencies [+413]

TOTAL, Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund 139,672 139,672 -339 0 -114,620 24,713

TOTAL, Discretionary Funding 255,516 255,476 -976 -132,827 121,673
Budget At A Glance

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 21

Budget at a Glance Table

(Dollars in Thousands)

2018

Actual

2019 CR

Baseline Fixed Costs

Internal 

Transfers

Program 

Changes

2020

Request

Total Regulation and Technology* 115,844 115,804 -637 0 -18,207 96,960

Civil Penalties 4 100 100

Offsetting Collections - Permit Fees 0 40 40

Total Regulation and Technology (with Civil Penalties 

and Offsetting Collections) 115,848 115,944 -637 0 -18,207 97,100

Total Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund 139,672 139,672 -339 0 +114,620 24,713

Total, Budget Resources with Offsetting Collections 255,520 255,616 -976 0 -132,827 121,813

* FY 2018 Actual reflects actual Civil Penalties collections of $3,857, $0 actual Permit Fee collections, and $40,000 in appropriated funds for Permit 

Fee activities in Environmental Protection.

2018

Actual

2019 CR

Baseline Fixed Costs

Internal 

Transfers

Program 

Changes

2020

Request

Mandatory

Payments to States and Tribes in Lieu of Coal Fee 

Receipts (Treasury Funds) 106,678 102,994 0 0 -55,694 47,300

In Lieu Payments to Certified States and Tribes 106,678 102,994 -55,694 47,300

Mandatory Grants to States (AML Funds) 194,052 188,302 0 0 -47,202 141,100

Grants to Noncertified States

State & Tribal Share 25,212 25,522 +1,078 26,600

Historic Coal Fund 151,377 145,521 -53,821 91,700

Minimum Program Make Up 17,463 17,259 +5,541 22,800

United Mine Workers of America Plans (UMWA) 331,459 279,397 0 0 +44,643 324,040

Payments to United Mine Workers of America 

Health Benefit Plans (AML Fund Interest) 46,257 54,321 +5,777 60,098

Payments to United Mine Workers of America 

Health Benefit Plans (Treasury Funds) 285,202 225,076 +38,866 263,942

TOTAL, Mandatory Funding 632,189 570,693 0 0 -58,253 512,440

Mandatory Funding: FY 2018 and FY 2019 AML grants and UMWA payments reflect actual amounts paid. FY 2020 estimates are based on the Office of 

Management and Budget's economic assumptions as of November 7, 2018.
Budget At A Glance

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 22

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TAB

Environmental Restoration
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Environmental Restoration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 23

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

Environmental Restoration Budget Request

(Dollars in Thousands)

2018

Actual

2019 CR

Baseline

2020

Fixed 

Costs 

(+/-)

Internal 

Transfers 

(+/-)

Program 

Changes 

(+/-)

2020

Request

Change 

From 

2019 

(+/-)

Abandoned Mine 

Reclamation Fund 124,480 124,480 +26 - -115,026 9,480 -115,000

State Program Evaluation 2,662 2,662 +11 -11 2,662 -

FTE 20 19 -4 15 -4

Federal Programs - Projects 1,548 1,548 - 1,548 -

Federal Programs -

Operations 2,066 2,066 +4 -4 2,066 -

FTE 5 5 - 5 -

Program Development 

and Maintenance 3,204 3,204 +11 -11 3,204 -

FTE 18 18 -3 15 -3

AML Economic 

Development 115,000 115,000 -115,000 - -115,000

Total, Environmental 

Restoration 124,480 124,480 +26 - -115,026 9,480 -115,000

Total FTE 43 42 -7 35 -7

Note: 2018 FTE figures reflect actual usage. 

Fixed Costs of $26,000 in pay related items.

In addition to the discretionary appropriations above, OSMRE will also distribute mandatory 

funding for AML reclamation as outlined in the Permanent Appropriations Section.
Environmental Restoration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 24

Summary of 2020 Program Changes for Environmental Restoration

Request Component ($000) FTE

AML Economic Development Pilot Program -115,000

Priority Alignment -26 -7

TOTAL Program Changes -115,026 -7

The Environmental Restoration program evaluates State and Tribal AML programs, ensures 

abatement of mining related hazards, and fosters partnerships to address acid mine drainage. In 

FY 2020, the Environmental Restoration program plans to remediate 14,249 acres of abandoned 

coal mine lands by eliminating health, safety, and environmental concerns. These remediation 

efforts will result in providing several thousand people with reduced exposure to safety risks from 

abandoned mine lands.

Justification of 2020 Program Changes

AML Economic Development (-$115,000,000): No funding is requested for this program.

Priority Alignment (-$26,000/-7 FTE): The FY 2020 budget maintains Environmental 

Restoration operational activities and aligns OSMRE’s existing manpower resources across 

business lines to optimize fulfilment of OSMRE’s statutory responsibilities and support of 

administration priorities.
Environmental Restoration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 25

OVERVIEW

As stewards of our Nation’s natural and cultural resources, the Department of the Interior is 

entrusted with safeguarding these treasures for future generations. Environmental problems 

associated with abandoned mine sites, such as water pollution, open portals and pits, land stripped 

of natural vegetation, and refuse piles, degrade our natural resources and create public health and 

safety risks. Through the elimination of these problems, our land and water resources are improved 

so that other partners can make further investments in productive uses, such as agriculture, wildlife 

habitat, or development. Mine site reclamation not only improves our environment, but also 

safeguards people and property, and revitalizes communities by creating jobs.

OSMRE’s Environmental Restoration business line funds operations and projects under the 

Abandoned Mine Land Program (AML). As part of its administration of the AML program, 

OSMRE evaluates State and Tribal AML programs, ensures abatement of high-priority coal 

mining-related hazards through the Federal Reclamation Program (where OSMRE has reclamation 

responsibility), and fosters partnerships aimed at addressing acid mine drainage and other water 

pollution problems.

Since 1977 under SMCRA’s AML program, more than 12,000 equivalent acres per year of 

abandoned mine land problems have been addressed. SMCRA established priorities for AML 

problems ranging from extreme dangers to public health and safety to those associated with 

environmental related coal problems. Details on the types of problems that have been addressed 

can be found in the AML Reclamation Accomplishments section. OSMRE has developed a 

National inventory that contains information for over 21,000 problem areas associated with 

abandoned mine lands, mostly coal. A problem area is a uniquely defined geographical area that 

contains one or more abandoned mine land problems. AML problems are classified by priority. 

Priority 1 (protection of public health, safety, and property from extreme danger of adverse effects 

of coal mining practices), Priority 2 (protection of public health, safety, and property from adverse 

effects of coal mining practices) or Priority 3 (restoration of land and water resources and the 

environment previously degraded by adverse effects of coal mining practices). The cost of 

addressing the remaining Priority 1 and 2 coal-related sites is estimated at $7.8 billion. In addition, 

there is an estimated $2.7 billion of Priority 3 unfunded problems, for a total of $10.5 billion of 

unfunded AML problems.

The authority to collect the mine reclamation fee and distribution of the fee was revised by the Tax 

Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, which included the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation 

Act Amendments of 2006 (Public Law 109-432). This 2006 Act extended the authority for fee 

collection through September 30, 2021, lowered the fee and the amount collected, and changed the 

way State and Tribal reclamation grants are funded, beginning in FY 2008. State and Tribal

reclamation grants are permanent appropriations. The remaining activities funded under the 

discretionary appropriation for this business line include State Program Evaluation, Federal

Reclamation Program Operations and Projects, and Program Development and Maintenance.
Environmental Restoration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 26

Operational Processes (Program 

Activities): The mission goal of the 

Environmental Restoration business 

line is to provide a cleaner and safer

environment for the American people 

by reclaiming and restoring land and 

water resources degraded by past coal 

mining. The program activities within 

this business line ensure the alleviation 

of adverse impacts to land and water 

resources caused by past mining 

operations.

Evaluation and oversight of the State and Tribal AML reclamation operations are coordinated by 

OSMRE through the State Program Evaluation program activity. Federal Reclamation Program 

Projects and Operations provide resources to address issues in States and Tribes without an 

approved AML program, as well as for the Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program, which 

supports cooperative conservation through local volunteer non-profit organizations. The 

Environmental Restoration business line also funds the Program Development and Maintenance 

Program activity, which provides policy direction, support, and services to States and Tribes, and 

ensures that State/Tribal programs are amended as needed.

The Environmental Restoration activities improve natural resources and reduce the risk to public 

health, safety, and general welfare by correcting problems caused by past mining. OSMRE has 

identified success indicators to show accomplishments leading to the overarching mission goal. 

These goals and measures are identified at the end of this business line section.

Actions Required to Achieve Annual Goals: In FY 2020 and beyond, OSMRE will continue to 

encourage partnership participation by working with States and Tribes through their reclamation 

agencies, and through private and grass-roots associations. In addition, OSMRE will increase 

efforts to leverage funding from other government and non-government organizations to address 

abandoned mine sites. This emphasis on partnership and leveraging of resources supports 

cooperative conservation efforts.

Resources, Skills, and Technology Needed: OSMRE will continue to need a diverse and 

multidisciplinary cadre of individuals with scientific and engineering skills. These staff members 

establish reclamation project design and construction criteria, either directly or in conjunction with 

contractors for Federal programs. The staff also review and monitor watershed cooperative 

agreements, and civil penalty and bond forfeiture reclamation projects. Program analysts, grant 

specialists, and other support personnel are needed to implement the State/Tribal grants program 

and to conduct program evaluations. Information technology personnel and contractors are needed 

to maintain and improve the enhanced-Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System (e-AMLIS). 

OSMRE maintains the system and network by which the States and Tribes manage their data.

The following section details, by program activity, the funding and FTE resources required to meet 

the annual performance measures. It also includes examples of the types of efforts used to evaluate 

programs, address emergency and high-priority issues and manage those projects, and provide 

reclamation support services to communities affected by coal mining issues.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION 

ENCOMPASSES:

State Program Evaluation

Federal Reclamation Program – Projects 

Federal Reclamation Program – Operations 

Program Development and Maintenance 
Environmental Restoration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 27

2020 PROGRAM PERFORMANCE

Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund

The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) established the Abandoned Mine 

Reclamation Fund (AML Fund) to receive the AML fees and finance reclamation of coal AML 

sites. Before the 2006 SMCRA amendments, the reclamation grants to States and Tribes were 

funded through discretionary appropriations. These grants are now funded from permanent 

(mandatory) appropriations. A discussion of AML grant funding in support of eliminating the 

Nation’s highest priority coal problems can be found under the Permanent Appropriations Section. 

The top of Table 1 identifies which States and Tribes have approved AML Programs and receive 

AML grants from permanent appropriations.

The FY 2020 AML Fund appropriation for Environmental Restoration will cover discretionary

spending for State Program Evaluation, Federal Reclamation Program Operations, and AML 

Program Development and Maintenance.

Funding appropriated from the AML fund will also cover Federal expenses requested and outlined 

in subsequent business line chapters to cover Technology Development and Transfer, Financial 

Management, and Executive Direction and Administration. Watershed Cooperative Agreements 

and high-priority and emergency coal projects under the Federal Reclamation Program in States

and Tribes without approved AML programs are proposed to be covered in FY 2020 by the 

remaining funds appropriated for these programs from prior years.

Addressing AML Emergencies

Emergencies are AML problems that occur suddenly and present a high probability of physical 

harm or threaten the health, safety, or general welfare of people. These problems must be 

addressed immediately. The process used for addressing emergencies that develop on AML sites, 

and allocating needed funds, is dependent on whether the State has an AML program. The 2006 

Amendments created different sources of funding for addressing AML issues by allowing for the 

appropriation of both discretionary and mandatory grants. Prior to 2006, though a State would 

assume responsibility for addressing the AML issues within its borders, unless that State chose to 

address emergencies, OSMRE had been responsible for emergency projects. It was subsequently 

deemed more efficient and cost effective to combine responsibility for AML issues and AML 

emergencies issues under a single authority with a single source of funding. Thus, beginning in 

FY 2011, the responsibility for addressing emergency situations utilizing the mandatory grant 

funds was transferred to States and Tribes with AML programs.

For reference, Table 1 identifies State, Tribal and Federal responsibilities for the AML Program 

and Emergency Issues.
Environmental Restoration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 28

Table 1 – State, Tribal, and Federal Responsibility for the AML Program

AML Program Emergency Issues

State and Tribal

Responsibility

Alabama 

Alaska 

Arkansas 

Colorado 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maryland 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Montana

New Mexico

North Dakota 

Ohio 

Oklahoma 

Pennsylvania 

Tennessee 

Texas

Utah 

Virginia

West Virginia 

Wyoming 

Crow Tribe

Hopi Tribe

Navajo Nation

Alabama 

Alaska 

Arkansas 

Colorado 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maryland 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Montana

New Mexico

North Dakota 

Ohio 

Oklahoma 

Pennsylvania 

Tennessee 

Texas

Utah 

Virginia

West Virginia 

Wyoming 

Crow Tribe

Hopi Tribe

Navajo Nation

Federal

Responsibility

California 

Georgia 

Idaho

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

North Carolina

Oregon 

Rhode Island 

South Dakota 

Washington

Tribes other than 

Crow, Hopi and 

Navajo*

California 

Georgia 

Idaho

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

North Carolina

Oregon 

Rhode Island 

South Dakota 

Washington

Tribes other than 

Crow, Hopi, and 

Navajo*

*OSMRE has conducted AML reclamation on Tribal lands across the Nation, most recently on 

Cherokee Tribal lands in Oklahoma.

1. State Program Evaluation

SMCRA requires OSMRE to monitor the progress and quality of each State and Tribal program 

to ensure their reclamation programs function effectively. This program area is an integral part of 

the State and Tribal funding. Evaluation of State and Tribal reclamation programs ensures efficient 

and effective use of program dollars for the intended purpose. The FY 2020 budget request 

includes $2,662,000 and 15 FTE for State Program Evaluation activities.

OSMRE analyzes documents submitted by States and Tribes (e.g. grant applications, amendments, 

reports), and conducts periodic drawdown reviews and on-site evaluations of selected reclamation 

projects. OSMRE also provides the States and Tribes with expert technical assistance on 

reclamation projects. OSMRE, States, and Tribes hold conferences and forums to discuss 

reclamation issues, technology, and solutions to reclamation problems.

OSMRE utilizes topic-specific oversight reviews to monitor State and Tribal AML program 

operations. The current evaluation system does not require that the entire program be reviewed 

each year. Instead, the system requires the appropriate field office, in consultation with each State 
Environmental Restoration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 29

or Tribe, to develop a performance agreement which addresses the areas to be reviewed, and 

establishes applicable performance measures. Since much of topic-specific oversight is trend 

analysis, and because the interaction between the programs and OSMRE is continual, the 

performance agreements can be for periods longer than one year. However, OSMRE reviews them 

each year to determine the progress being made.

These agreements first address the overriding goal of the AML program, which is successful 

reclamation. They recognize that if the State or Tribe is permanently reclaiming abandoned mine 

sites by abating hazards, reducing or mitigating adverse effects of past mining, and restoring 

adversely affected lands and water to beneficial use, then it is conducting an effective program.

OSMRE encourages States and Tribes to maintain ongoing programs for post-project monitoring 

to assure that completed reclamation projects receive adequate maintenance until reclaimed lands 

are stable, and to ensure the effectiveness of reclamation designs. OSMRE evaluations of postconstruction monitoring ensure implementation of these types of State monitoring plans.

An example is the Wolf Branch Middle School emergency project that successfully stopped 

ground movements that were causing extensive building damages. Four-hundred grade school 

children were relocated to a nearby school, while the IL AML conducted a mine stabilization 

backfilling project. OSMRE staff provided technical advice in designing a sulfate resistant cement 

grout that would resist the deleterious effect of acid mine waters within the mine; and grouting 

technique and analysis of ground measurement data so as to determine and demonstrate project 

success. The Illinois AML will be working collaboratively with the school district in identifying 

and providing funding that will remove structurally deficient building elements. The monitoring 

of ground movements associated with coal mine subsidence is a fundamental means Illinois 

employs to ensure public safety. Such monitoring commonly occurs for more than 10 years for 

each project site. In this instance the data will be used by the school district in making a decision 

to invest $16.5 million dollars in rebuilding the school so as to bring the 400 children back to their 

local school by 2020 and more importantly, to be safely educated. 

This AML monitoring trend can also be recognized with the efforts put forth by the Iowa AML 

program. When an AML project is completed in Iowa, the State Program enacts a five year 

warranty and observation period to ensure that the reclamation is stable and that soil and water 

conditions show improvement from pre-reclamation conditions. This observation period has 

proven effective in addressing acid soil “hot spots” and partial revegetation that often appears on 

completed AML sites. This monitoring and assistance greatly assists landowners in keeping the 

freshly reclaimed fragile sites from reverting back to sterile unvegetated dead zones.

2. Federal Reclamation Program

OSMRE addresses environmental hazards on a priority basis when an emergency occurs in States 

or on Tribal lands without AML programs. It also administers projects funded by Federal civil 

penalties collected from operators and projects funded from bonds forfeited by operators of 

Federally permitted sites; monitors watershed cooperative agreement projects; and provides 

technical assistance to States and Tribes specific to the above projects. 
Environmental Restoration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 30

a. Federal Reclamation Projects

The request includes $1,548,000 for Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program (WCAP) projects. 

Additionally, OSMRE will continue to administer Federal reclamation projects in FY 2020 utilizing 

civil penalty funding collected and emergency and high priority project funding provided in prioryear appropriations, as required.

(1) Watershed Cooperative Agreement Projects

The OSMRE designed the Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program (WCAP) to assist affected 

coalfield citizens. This program, implemented in 1999, makes funds available directly to not-forprofit organizations, especially small local watershed organizations. These community-based 

organizations undertake local projects to clean streams affected by Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). 

The watershed organizations that apply for the funding, normally receive up to $100,000 for each 

reclamation project. WCAP funds are primarily used for project construction. Agencies are 

required to have other partners contributing either funding or in-kind services, as cleaning up the 

AMD pollution comes at a high cost and cannot be borne by any single government agency or 

citizen group. OSMRE’s WCAP funding results in improvements of land and water resources 

and creates beneficial uses such as fish and wildlife habitat and recreational areas. Communities 

are strengthened and capacity increased due to the awareness, knowledge, and outreach that this 

program fosters.

A companion project, the Acid Drainage Technology Initiative (ADTI), is under the Technology 

Development and Transfer business line and contributes to the activities to abate AMD. See that 

business line section for further details on ADTI efforts.

The following are examples of projects that are funded under the WCAP:

Milk Run Restoration: Milk Run is a one mile tributary to Montour Run, a significant 

recreational stream in Allegheny County, within the Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan area. Milk 

Run is surrounded by residential neighborhoods in close proximity to the stream corridor. 

Montour Run Trail is a developed hiking/biking trail which is part of a regional trail 

network. Milk Run is contaminated by an abandoned underground mine discharge of water 

with a low Ph and high dissolved aluminum, which eliminates biological life in the stream, 

and contributes to the degradation of Montour Run downstream. The applicant, Stream 

Restoration Incorporated, proposes to construct a passive treatment system in the 

headwaters of Milk Run, which will remove the dissolved aluminum and raise the pH level, 

such that the stream can be restored to a viable recreational fishery. Of note is that Range 

Resources will contribute $758,089 for design and construction, and $190,600 to establish 

an operation and maintenance trust fund. These funds will satisfy a penalty assessment from 

the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, for violations associated with its 

natural gas operations. OSMRE will contribute $180,000 in WCAP funding.

Kentucky Hollow Stream Restoration: In its continuing effort to support abandoned mine 

reclamation within the boundary of the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, OSMRE awarded a 

second WCAP agreement, in the amount of $100,000. This award, in conjunction with 
Environmental Restoration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 31

$399,416 contributed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and 

others, is being used to construct a passive treatment system to clean up a discharge from an 

abandoned underground mine with low pH and high dissolved aluminum. Treatment of this 

water will restore 1.8 miles of stream to a viable biologic condition, thus enhancing the 

natural experience of visitors to the Garden, as they use the extensive trail system along the 

streams and throughout the 432 acre natural, wooded facility.

Behrle North Project: The 13.5 acre Behrle North Reclamation Project is located 

approximately three miles west of the City of Eldon, Iowa in Wapello County. The site 

design re-establishes pre-mining drainage patterns and reconnects drainages with a main 

channel established along the center of the site. Water entering the site will filter through a 

constructed wetland before exiting the site. According to the project design, construction 

will abate all the hazardous abandoned mine land features and will clear, regrade and revegetate 12.7 acres utilizing a terrace and tile design, and incorporate a 0.9 acre wetland. 

The applicant requested $100,000 from the OSMRE WCAP to be used with $291,000 in 

project partner funding.

Behrle South Project: The 21.7 acre Behrle South Reclamation Project is located 

approximately three miles west of the City of Eldon, Iowa in Wapello County. The site 

design re-establishes pre-mining drainage patterns. Water entering the site will filter 

through two constructed wetlands before exiting the site. According to the project design, 

construction will abate all the hazardous abandoned mine land features and will clear, regrade and re-vegetate 19.5 acres utilizing a terrace and tile design, and incorporate 2.2 acres 

of wetlands. The projects will use $100,000 from OSMRE’s WCAP to be used with 

$451,000 in project partner funding.

Blom Project: The 29 acre Blom Reclamation Project is located approximately three miles 

west of the City of Oskaloosa, Iowa in Mahaska County. The site design re-establishes premining drainage patterns. Water entering the site will filter through four constructed and 

enhanced wetlands before exiting the site. According to the project design, construction 

will abate all the hazardous abandoned mine land features and will clear, re-grade and revegetate approximately 29 acres utilizing a terrace and tile design, and incorporate 3.01 

acres of wetlands. The project requested $100,000 from OSMRE’s WCAP to be used with 

$643,000 in project partner funding. 

Northup North Project: The 34 acre Northup North Reclamation Project is located 

approximately 3.6 miles southwest of the City of Eldon, Iowa in Wapello County. The site 

design re-establishes pre-mining drainage patterns including two small drainage ways and a 

wetland. According to the project design, construction will abate all the hazardous 

abandoned mine land features. The construction contract will clear, re-grade and re-vegetate 

approximately 34 acres utilizing a terrace and tile design, and incorporate 1.8 acres of 

wetland using $100,000 from OSMRE’s WCAP combined with $732,000 in project partner 

funding.
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Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 32

(2) Civil Penalty Reclamation Projects

SMCRA authorizes Federal civil penalties collected under Section 518 of the Act to be used for 

reclaiming lands mined and abandoned after passage of SMCRA on August 3, 1977. These 

funds are derived from monetary civil penalties assessed by OSMRE nationwide, on active coal 

mining operations. The funds are also available for reclamation of bond forfeiture sites. These 

funds are divided among projects proposed by both State and Federal regulatory authorities and 

used for project costs only.

(3) Federal Emergency Projects 

Federal Emergency Projects provides immediate relief from abandoned mine hazards in States 

and on Indian lands without an approved AML Program. Emergencies in States covered by the 

Federal Reclamation Program usually involve subsidence, vertical mine shaft collapse or sudden 

exposure of mine openings.

The most common emergencies in the States covered by Federal Reclamation Programs are 

subsidence events caused by the caving in of old underground mines. Subsidence events can 

impact man-made structures on the surface and may be life threatening when they occur in 

populated areas. The second most common type of emergency event in these States is vertical 

mine shaft collapse. This may result in vertical holes that are hundreds of feet deep and are usually 

the result of shafts being improperly filled or an inadequate cap that was placed over the shaft at 

the time of abandonment. Often at the time of closure the shafts were either filled with on-site 

material or wooden or concrete caps were placed over them to prevent entry. Over time the fill 

material settles or the cap deteriorates to a point where it can no longer sustain the weight of the 

material placed over it. Other AML problems, including mine entries, hazardous/explosive gases, 

mine and refuse fires, dangerous high walls, landslides and mine pool blowouts, may also present 

life-threatening conditions.

When notified of a possible emergency situation, OSMRE personnel will review available 

information and visit the site as necessary, usually within 48 hours or less, and perform a technical 

investigation. Should OSMRE determine an emergency exists, OSMRE conducts remedial action 

as quickly as possible to abate the emergency situation. This does not always fully reclaim the 

site, but does address the emergency situation. The remaining reclamation will be completed, as 

appropriate, after the emergency has been addressed.

During FY 2018, there were no new emergency projects declared under the Federal Reclamation 

Program within the Appalachian and Mid-Continent Regions. The Western Region, however,

addressed two AML emergencies in Washington State during FY 2018. The first emergency 

project was a subsidence feature that occurred in a residential driveway in Issaquah, WA. 

OSMRE expended $171,851 for architecture and engineering and construction services to 

remediate the subsidence feature. Another subsidence feature occurred on a golf course in 

Newcastle, WA, which OSMRE expended $63,547 to reclaim.

During FY 2019, the Western Region will complete three emergency projects in WA. Two of the 

projects are located in Renton, WA near an elementary school. The third project is a large 

subsidence in Ravensdale, WA.
Environmental Restoration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 33

OSMRE plans to reserve the carryover funding that is expected to remain available for Federal

Reclamation projects in FY 2020 for Federal reclamation emergencies.

b. Program Staff (Operations)

Federal Reclamation Program Operations funding enables OSMRE staff to administer watershed 

cooperative agreements and address Federal emergencies, high priority projects, and civil penalty 

projects. For emergency projects, OSMRE begins the initial investigation making threshold 

determinations relating to each incident, including, whether the incident is: (1) suddenly occurring, 

(2) life threatening, and, (3) related to a coal mine abandoned prior to August 3, 1977. With 

emergency projects, time is of the essence. In some instances, abatement activities begin within 

hours of OSMRE’s initial investigation. For Federal high priority projects, the process is similar, 

but begins with the determination of whether the condition is related to an abandoned coal mine, 

and if so, a determination of the priority for reclamation.

Once the determination is made that the site is eligible for funding as an emergency or high priority 

project, the Federal Reclamation Program staff obtains approval for project funding and develops 

the abatement plan. This includes:

• Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered 

Species Act (ESA), and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA);

• Obtaining the right of entry for access;

• Developing engineering plans and specifications needed for abatement;

• Preparing and mailing bid packages to potential construction contractors;

• Conducting pre-bid and pre-construction conferences;

• Awarding contracts;

• Coordinating, managing and inspecting all aspects of the ongoing 

construction; and

• Reviewing, approving, and paying invoices.

OSMRE staff will address emergencies and high priority projects in non-program States and Tribes

as described earlier, as well as provide technical assistance to States and Tribes with approved 

AML Programs. OSMRE will continue to provide specialized expertise in various AML problems, 

including subsidence, mine fires, mine gases, and landslides to States that request assistance. 

OSMRE staff will also administer projects funded by Federal civil penalties collected from 

operators and monitor watershed cooperative agreement projects under this activity. The request 

includes $2,066,000 and 5 FTE for Federal Reclamation Program operations.

3. Program Development and Maintenance

The Program Development and Maintenance activity is an integral part of the State and Tribal

funding program. The FY 2020 budget proposes $3,204,000 in funding, and provides for 15 FTE 

for reclamation program management and programmatic guidance to States and Tribes. OSMRE 

has an ongoing process of reviewing existing policies in the Environmental Restoration business 

line. Whenever necessary, policies are revised to meet the existing need of the programs and to 

keep abreast of changes to the law.
Environmental Restoration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 34

OSMRE assists States and Tribes to build on their reclamation successes by providing ongoing 

technical assistance on reclamation practices and by continually enhancing the primacy grants 

process.

An important part of OSMRE’s role in State and Tribal AML program operations is the review 

and approval of State/Tribal AML projects. All AML projects are considered “Major Federal

Actions” under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Because of this, every project 

must be evaluated by OSMRE personnel under NEPA regulations prior to approval. While most 

States and Tribes conduct some or all of the consultations and document preparation prior to 

submission of projects for approval, OSMRE personnel must conduct required analyses of these 

documents, assure that requirements are met, and approve either a categorical exclusion 

determination, a finding of no significant impacts, or an environmental impact statement – record 

of decision, for each project. These reviews require consultations under various other Federal laws 

including the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and 

the Clean Water Act.

OSMRE emphasizes State, Tribal, and Federal partnerships in the AML program. OSMRE works 

directly with the States and Tribes, through State and Tribal associations and with other Federal

agencies, to coordinate and enhance reclamation. Such relationships foster coordination essential 

to land reclamation. New policy, and changes to existing policy, are circulated to the States and 

Tribes for input prior to being finalized enabling OSMRE to make programmatic decisions in a 

collegial manner. Examples of activities include working with States and Tribes to develop 

improved strategic plan measurements for the AML program; holding meetings/workshops with 

the State/Tribal grantees to provide employee training and to keep them abreast of policies and 

procedures; and soliciting input from States/Tribes and interested parties on AML issues to make 

informed decisions.

a. AML Inventory

OSMRE manages a national enhanced Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System (e-AMLIS), 

which serves as a planning and evaluation tool for the States, Tribes, OSMRE, and the public. In 

accordance with the requirements of SMCRA, e-AMLIS contains data for known eligible Priority 

1 and 2, pre-SMCRA coal reclamation problems. As required by SMCRA, OSMRE personnel 

review and approve or disapprove each new State/Tribe submitted coal related problem area, or 

revision to an existing problem area, to maintain consistency and ensure compliance with Federal

law and regulations. Each problem is classified as unfunded, funded (in progress) or completed. 

The e-AMLIS also contains information regarding funded and completed Priority 3 coal and postSMCRA coal problems, as well as information on completed non-coal problems. Coal projects 

selected for funding by States or Tribes are contained in e-AMLIS prior to funding, except for 

those emergency sites that may be entered after completion due to the immediate need for

reclamation.

The States and Tribes use the inventory to assist them in planning, to make funding decisions and 

to report program accomplishments. OSMRE uses e-AMLIS to record and report AML program 

accomplishments under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). States, Tribes, and 
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Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 35

OSMRE have access to enter and modify information in e-AMLIS electronically.

e-AMLIS is web based, enabling the public to access this information readily via OSMRE’s 

website. e-AMLIS users can search for information about individual Problem Areas or query the 

Inventory. The results of a query can be shown in preformatted reports, or on a map, and can be 

downloaded in various formats.

b. Grants Management

OSMRE supports and participates in Grants.gov, the government-wide electronic grants 

announcement and application system. OSMRE uses the DOI Financial and Business 

Management System (FBMS) financial assistance module for internal processing of all grant and 

cooperative agreement obligation, deobligation and close-out transactions.

OSMRE has a decentralized grants management organization, with a small policy staff at 

headquarters. Regional and field offices perform day-to-day grants and program management. 

Accounting and reporting occurs under the Financial Management business line activity. OSMRE 

and the State/Tribal grantees cooperate to maximize the use of available funding and operate an 

effective program. Grantees provide input by participating on joint teams and by reviewing and 

commenting on changes in the program. In addition, OSMRE periodically holds 

meetings/workshops with the State/Tribal grantees to provide training for grantees and to keep 

them abreast of policies and procedures. This cooperative working relationship contributes to 

streamlined application and awards processes, faster obligation of Federal funds, innovative 

program monitoring, and less paperwork-intensive reporting and close-out of grants.

c. State Program Amendments

OSMRE assists States and Tribes with development, administration, implementation, and 

maintenance of their approved AML programs. Changes to State programs must be reflected in 

program amendments for OSMRE approval. OSMRE evaluates State-initiated program changes 

(statutory, regulatory, or changes in the program’s provisions, scope, or objectives), as well as 

OSMRE required modifications that are a result of legal interpretations or changes to SMCRA and 

Federal regulations. In its evaluation, OSMRE solicits public comments on State program 

amendments through proposed rules published in the Federal Register, holds public meetings, 

maintains the administrative record, approves or does not approve proposed State program 

amendments, and publishes the decisions as final rules in the Federal Register.
Environmental Restoration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 36

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

2019 Planned Program Performance

In 2019, the planned activities in the Environmental Restoration program activity include:

 Continue partnerships with watershed groups and related reclamation by awarding 

watershed cooperative agreements to interested groups as funds are available.

 Respond to Federal AML emergencies in non-program States.

 Provide AML grants to States and Tribes.

 Monitor watershed cooperative agreement projects funded before or during FY 2018, and 

provide opportunities, contingent on availability of funding, to fund other projects during 

FY 2019.

 Continue to use reclamation funds to eliminate hazards resulting from past mining

activities.

 Achieve the goals for performance measures identified on the Performance Overview Table 

for this business line.

 Support the Underground Mine Map Initiative (UMMI) to minimize future subsidence risk 

by making information available on the location of mined out areas using maps and surface 

overlays that can provide this critical information to local governments to account for risks. 

This initiative has historically been accomplished on a National level through competitive 

cooperative agreements awarded by OSMRE. Since 2005, the Underground Mine 

Mapping Initiative (UGMMI) has completed 61 projects totaling over $3 million in Federal 

assistance and over $1.6 million in matching State funds. 

 Provide guidance and assistance in establishing benchmark standards in mine map 

preservation, including digital imaging and rectification, and creating and serving mine 

maps for safety, State and Tribal AML, local government, and public viewing and use.

 Continue monitoring the AML Economic Development Pilot Program projects funded in 

prior-year appropriations (FY 2016-2018) and complete an updated report on project 

implementation.

 Complete an AML P1 grading project on Fort Peck Reservation Land to remediate multiple 

subsidence features from historic coal mining.

 Work to implement Office of the Inspector General recommendations to improve the 

oversight and aspects of the AML Program.
Environmental Restoration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 37

2018 Program Accomplishments

In 2018, the major accomplishments in the Environmental Restoration program activity include:

 Managed the $291 million in mandatory AML grants provided to 25 States and 3 Tribes.

 Provided $115 million in AML Economic Development Pilot Program sponsored grants to 

6 States and 3 Tribes.

 Improved land and water health by reclaiming, or mitigating, the equivalent of 16,138 acres 

of land from the effects of natural resource degradation from past mining.

 Improved underground discharges of mine water, eliminating uncontrolled discharges, by 

employing horizontal boring techniques.

 Leveraged $3,171,502 in partner funds for ten new watershed cooperative agreements in 

three States (Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia). In Pennsylvania, six new WCAP 

projects were funded totaling $449,455. Partner contributions to these projects totaled $1.7 

million. Ohio received $200,000 in WCAP assistance, which was combined with $984,397 

in partner contributions.

 Used civil penalty reclamation funds to complete the reclamation on three sites in 

Tennessee that were abandoned and left in an environmentally degraded State. Two 

projects were funded in Pennsylvania and one in Maryland.

 Awarded contract to stabilize five mine shafts in Michigan that are a threat to the local 

populations. Work began in mid-August 2018 and is expected to be completed in the spring 

of 2019. The work involves exploring and filling voids within the mine shafts to minimize 

the threat of sudden collapse.

 Completed the reclamation of one mine site abandoned that was left unreclaimed by the 

permittee in Tennessee utilizing a combination of performance bonds and civil penalty

monies.

 The Federal Reclamation Program reclaimed two AML emergencies in Washington and 

abated numerous Priority 1 hazards on the Fort Peck Reservation in northeast Montana and 

nine Priority 2 hazards in Michigan.

 OSMRE received the Department’s Environmental Achievement Award for its AMD 

Treatment efforts at the Flight 93 National Memorial. OSMRE partnered with the National 

Park Service, State and local authorities and watershed groups to design and fund an AMD 

treatment system that not only treats mine impacted water at the site but does so in a manner 

that maintains and protects the dignity of the Memorial.

 OSMRE received honorable mention in the Department of Interior Environmental 

Achievement Awards for its collaboration with the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. OSMRE 

provided a Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program grant, and technical assistance to
Environmental Restoration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 38

help the Garden remediate acid mine drainage (AMD) from an abandoned underground 

mine. The work also restored a stream that was considered dead due to the AMD; it has 

improved to the point that it is now supporting native fish.
TAB

Environmental Protection
Page Intentionally Left Blank
Environmental Protection

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 39

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Environmental Protection Budget Request

(Dollars in Thousands)

2018

Actual

2019 CR 

Baseline

2020

Fixed 

Costs 

(+/-)

Internal 

Transfers 

(+/-)

Program 

Changes 

(+/-)

2020

Request

Change 

from 

2019 

(+/-)

Regulation and 

Technology 88,602 88,562 +122 - -20,930 67,754 -20,808

State and Tribal Funding 68,590 68,590 -24,687 43,903 -24,687

FTE

State Program Evaluation 8,140 8,140 +59 -119 8,080 -60

FTE 78 81 - 81 -

Federal and Indian 

Lands Program 6,054 6,014 +34 +1,693 7,741 +1,727

Offsetting Collections [+40] [+40]

FTE 44 46 - 46 -

Federal Lands 1,414 1,414 +5 +17 1,436 +22

FTE 9 10 - 10 -

Program Development and 

Maintenance 4,404 4,404 +24 +2,166 6,594 +2,190

FTE 19 18 +17 35 +17

Total, Environmental 

Protection 88,602 88,562 +122 - -20,930 67,754 -20,808

Total FTE 150 155 +17 172 +17

Note: 2018 FTE figures reflect actual usage.

FY 2018 Actuals include $40,000 in additional appropriated funds for permitting activities. 

OSMRE did not collect any permit fees in FY 2018.

Fixed Costs of $122,000 in pay related items.
Environmental Protection

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 40

Summary of 2020 Program Changes for Environmental Protection

Request Component ($000) FTE

State and Tribal Funding -24,687

Improve Mine Plan Review Process +3,757 +17

TOTAL Program Changes -20,930 +17

Under the Environmental Protection program, OSMRE works with coal-producing States to ensure 

the environment is protected while there is active surface mining operations. In FY 2020, 89% of 

active coal mining sites will be free of off-site impacts, and 41% of past mining sites will be 

reclaimed to post-mining beneficial use. On Indian Lands, OSMRE is the regulatory authority and 

has the responsibility to protect Tribal resources. OSMRE works with the Tribes to ensure the 

protection of their resources while implementing SMCRA. OSMRE funds Tribal programs as they 

pursue SMCRA primacy.

Justification of 2020 Program Changes

State and Tribal Funding (-$24,687,000): The Federal Government provides funding to States

and Tribes to regulate the coal industry. This request supports $43,903,000 in funding for this 

activity. Stable regulatory programs promote competition, allow for responsible development and 

protect the safety and welfare of citizens and the environment. OSMRE’s statutory role is to 

promote and assist its partner Statesin establishing a stable regulatory environment for coal mining. 

The proposed level of regulatory grant funding, together with expected carryover funding from FY 

2019, provides for the efficient and effective operations of primacy programs at a level consistent 

with the anticipated obligations of State and Tribal regulatory programs to account for the Nation’s 

demand for coal mine permitting and production.

Improve Mine Plan Review Processes (+$3,757,000/+17 FTE): The process for reviewing and 

approving the permitting of coal operations is time-consuming and resource intensive. The 

proposed level of funding will enable OSMRE to align its staff and fiscal resources across activities 

to better focus on developing initiatives that will streamline the NEPA process, enhance and 

accelerate the permitting process, and ensure that coal mine surface activities are operated in a 

manner that protects citizens and the environment during mining and that the land is restored to 

beneficial use following mining.
Environmental Protection

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 41

OVERVIEW

The Environmental Protection business line provides resources to administer regulatory programs 

for 24 primacy States, as well as for the Federal and Indian Lands Programs which include two 

States and four Tribes where OSMRE is the regulatory authority. These programs address the 

protection of the public and environment from the adverse effects of current mining, and 

reclamation of land at the conclusion of mining. At the end of FY 2018, the permitted area of coal 

mining operations encompassed 2.6 million acres Nation-wide. During active mining, the potential 

risks from safety and environmental hazards exist both within and outside the permitted site. 

Effective implementation and enforcement of SMCRA minimizes those risks.

OSMRE administers a Federal and an Indian Lands Program in the States of Washington and 

Tennessee and on Tribal lands of the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, 

and the Crow Tribe.

Operational Processes (Program 

Activities): The program activities 

within this business line ensure the 

environment is protected during surface 

coal mining operations, and that coal 

operators adequately reclaim disturbed 

land after mining is completed.

This business line also provides for 

OSMRE’s costs to ensure that State

programs meet Federal regulatory 

requirements. The State and Tribal

Funding activity includes grants to 

States and Tribes to regulate coal 

operations on lands within their borders.

This activity includes grants to Tribes to develop regulatory programs and to assist OSMRE in the 

regulation of surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Indian lands. Additionally, for 

primacy States with Federal lands within their borders, cooperative agreements formalize States’ 

eligibility to receive additional grant funding to cover their full costs to regulate coal operations 

on those Federal lands within their borders.

The State Program Evaluation program activity funds OSMRE’s evaluation and oversight of State

programs. The Federal and Indian Lands Programs activity funds OSMRE regulatory activities to 

ensure SMCRA compliance in States without their own regulatory program and on Tribal lands. 

The Federal Lands program activity funds OSMRE’s responsibilities and activities in preparing 

Mining Plan Decision Documents for leased Federal coal, as well as any other activities on Federal

lands not covered by the primacy States with cooperative agreements.

OSMRE’s Environmental Protection mission goal supports responsible coal extraction and 

addresses the protection of public health, safety, and general welfare from the adverse effects of

current surface coal mining and reclamation operations since the enactment of SMCRA in 1977. 

The performance measures for this goal are the protection of the environment and public from offENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

ENCOMPASSES:

State and Tribal Funding

• State Grants

• Tribal Regulatory Development Grants

State Program Evaluation

Federal and Indian Lands Programs 

Federal Lands

Program Development and Maintenance
Environmental Protection

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 42

site impacts resulting from surface coal mining operations and successful reclamation on lands 

affected by surface coal mining operations. This goal is accomplished through the cooperative 

efforts of the OSMRE and State regulatory offices. The following measures are used by OSMRE 

as indicators of annual performance.

Percent of coal mining sites free of off-site impacts: Impacts are effects resulting from surface 

coal mining activities such as blasting or water runoff that affect people, land, water, or structures 

outside the permitted area of mining operations in violation of the existing regulations. The 

severity of the impacts is rated as minor, moderate, or major. Due to the nature of mining, it is 

inevitable that some impacts will occur, though they should be minimized, and offsite impacts 

prevented, when feasible.

Acres released from Phase I, and II bond release: This performance measure is the number of 

acres of land that have been approved to complete a phase of reclamation every year by active coal 

mine operators, and is dependent on the operator to file an application for each release phase. This 

is documented and measured through a series of bond releases. The bonds are required to assure 

that funds are available for reclamation in case the operator fails to reclaim the mined land.

Acres released from Phase III bond release: This performance measure shows the number of acres 

that have been reclaimed and approved for final release meeting the performance standards for 

current mining operations.

Percent of mined acreage reclaimed: This performance measure has been represented as a ratio of 

the cumulative number of acres released from Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III and the cumulative 

number of mined acres.

Percent of mined acres reclaimed can also be expressed as an annual measure for each fiscal year. 

This is calculated using acres reclaimed for final release (Phase III) during the fiscal year and 

current mined acres at the end of the fiscal year.

Actions Required to Achieve Annual Goals: OSMRE continues its outreach to interested parties 

to address concerns related to impacts from surface coal mining operations, acid mine drainage, 

other water pollution, and slurry and other impoundments. OSMRE also continues to evaluate its 

rules, advance coal re-mining efforts, encourage reforestation, ensure mines are properly bonded; 

and ensure that contemporaneous reclamation is occurring. The timeliness of reclamation must be 

accurately measured to ensure that contemporaneous reclamation is occurring. A measure for 

contemporaneous reclamation during the fiscal year is captured through an annual measure for 

mined acreage reclaimed.

In addition, OSMRE will continue to practice cooperative conservation through working in 

partnership with States and Tribes to carry out the mission of the SMCRA. OSMRE has refocused 

its actions on mission accomplishment while fostering better working relationships with States.
Environmental Protection

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 43

Resources, Skills, and Technology Needed: Program analysts, reclamation specialists, grant 

specialists, and various support personnel are needed to implement the State regulatory programs 

and to conduct program evaluations. OSMRE and the primacy States also will continue to need a 

diverse and multidisciplinary cadre of personnel skilled in scientific and engineering areas to 

review mine permits, determine whether performance bond coverage and amounts are sufficient 

to ensure reclamation, conduct mine site inspections, and implement enforcement actions when 

necessary. Computer systems personnel are needed to help maintain various data systems, such as 

the National Inspection and Enforcement Tracking System that contains data from OSMRE’s 

oversight and regulatory program inspections.

For FY 2020, the President’s budget requests $43.9 million to fund up to 50 percent of the costs 

for 24 primacy State regulatory programs, and up to 100 percent of the costs of regulating mining 

on Federal lands within their borders for 14 of the primacy States through cooperative agreements. 

This amount will also provide 100 percent of the regulatory program development costs for three 

Tribes.

The FY 2020 budget request includes $8.0 million to improve implementation of existing laws and 

to support States and Tribes. The request also includes $7.7 million to fund regulatory programs 

in non-primacy States, including Tennessee and Washington, and on Indian Lands. Also included 

in the FY 2020 budget request is $1.4 million for OSMRE to carry out mine plan reviews for 

Federal lands, and $6.6 million for program development and maintenance to streamline mine plan 

decision processes and ensure that regulatory standards adequately reflect changes in technologies 

and program needs. Appropriation language is requested to supplement this appropriation with 

$40,000, which will be offset with collections for new permit application fees in the Federal and 

Indian Lands Programs.

The following section details, by program activity, the funding and FTE resources required to meet 

the annual performance measures. It also includes examples of cooperative work between 

OSMRE, States, and Tribes to regulate coal-mining activities that will continue in FY 2020 and 

support this budget request.
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Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 44

2019 PROGRAM PERFORMANCE

1. State and Tribal Funding

The $43,903,000 requested for FY 2020 for State and Tribal funding recognizes the need to support 

the State regulatory programs and Tribal programs pursuing primacy. This request fully funds the 

projected 2020 activity requirements, based on a downward trend in State grant execution and an 

historical return of unexecuted appropriated funds at the end of the grant cycle each year. OSMRE 

will also continue to support State regulatory grant requests by re-distributing the available prior

year funds as needed for this activity. This activity supports responsible coal extraction using 

technology to minimize the impact of operations on people, structures, and the environment.

a. State Grants

The principal means of providing environmental protection within the framework of SMCRA is 

through "primacy" States that receive Federal grant funding. Currently, 24 States have achieved 

primacy and serve as regulatory authorities in the implementation of SMCRA. Primacy States have 

the most direct and critical responsibilities for conducting regulatory operations to minimize the 

impact of coal extraction operations on people and the environment. The States have the 

capabilities and knowledge to regulate the lands within their borders. Providing up to a 50 percent 

match of State funding in Federal grants to primacy States encourages States to take this 

responsibility, while ensuring that regulations are consistent across the Nation.

Cooperative agreements between OSMRE and primacy States with Federal lands allow those 

States to receive grant funding to cover their costs to review permit applications and issue permits, 

and conduct the required inspections of regulated activities on Federal lands. The additional grant 

funding provides for uniform enforcement of State program requirements at all facilities within 

the State and reduces both direct Federal program costs and Federal staff requirements. SMCRA 

section 705 (c) sets the amount that a State may receive through a cooperative agreement to an 

amount approximately equal to the amount the Federal Government would have expended to do 

the same work. The regulations further require no grant may exceed the actual costs to the State

for this activity. Currently, 14 States have entered into cooperative agreements with OSMRE to 

regulate surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Federal lands: Alabama, Colorado, 

Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, 

Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Activities that State regulatory authorities conduct with Federal grant and matching State funding 

include: permit review and issuance, including the use of the Applicant Violator System to ensure 

that permits will not be issued to operators with outstanding violations; inspection and 

enforcement; designation of lands unsuitable for mining, and; ensuring timely reclamation after 

mining. In addition, individual States may conduct special activities to address specific needs. 

These activities may include upgrading permitting programs, computerizing systems to improve 

review of pending permits, and drafting regulations that respond to changes in Federal rules.

State regulatory authorities inspect all active and inactive sites, facilities, and areas that support 

coal mining and reclamation within their State for compliance with all program requirements. 

Federal regulations require all active inspectable units under the permanent program to have four 
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Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 45

complete and eight partial inspections per year. Four complete inspections are required annually 

for all inactive units. Inspections conducted by primacy States in any given year depend, in part, 

on the number of active and inactive permits in each State. The primacy States conducted 62,141 

inspections in FY 2018 (see Table 2).

b. Tribal Regulatory Development and Regulatory Program Grants

As allowed by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and Section 710 (i) of SMCRA, OSMRE provides 

grants to the Crow and Hopi Tribes and the Navajo Nation to assist them in developing regulations 

and programs for regulating surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Indian lands. The 

grant amounts are based on each Tribe’s anticipated workload to develop a Tribal program 

(including Tribal laws, regulations and policies), to assist OSMRE with surface coal mine 

inspections and enforcement (including permitting activities, mine plan review and bond release), 

and to sponsor employment training and education concerning mining and mineral resources. 

These grants fund 100 percent of the Tribal primacy development activities.

The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Amendments of 2006 provides for Indian Tribes

to apply for, and obtain approval of, a Tribal program regulating in whole, or in part, surface coal 

mining and reclamation operations on reservation land under the jurisdiction of the Indian Tribe. 

The legislation also provides for 100 percent funding of the costs of developing, administering, 

and enforcing an approved Tribal program. Discussions on the submission of applications for 

Tribal primacy began in 2007. Informal review of the Navajo Nation’s Tribal primacy application 

is substantially complete, and OSMRE is unsure of when a formal application for Tribal primacy 

may be submitted by the Navajo Nation. Two previous attempts to gain approval by the Navajo 

Nation’s Tribal Council have failed to get the required two-thirds vote. The Crow Tribe and the 

Hopi Tribe continue to pursue Tribal primacy, including the development of a statute and 

regulations, but at this time an anticipated date for submission of a formal application for Tribal

primacy has not been determined.

2. State Program Evaluation

State Program Evaluation activities serve two purposes: they determine whether States are 

effectively implementing their regulatory programs as approved, and they provide documentation 

to the public of the work that OSMRE and the States are doing. The $8,080,000 requested for FY 

2020 will fund 81 FTE to carry out these activities.

a. Oversight Policy and Procedures

OSMRE assumes a monitoring role following approval of a State or Tribal SMCRA regulatory 

program. That role includes both programmatic evaluations and inspections of individual mine 

sites to determine whether States with primacy are properly administering, implementing, 

maintaining, and enforcing their regulatory programs. Detailed guidance is provided and available 

on OSMRE’s website.

As part of the process, a Performance Agreement is developed for each State annually. OSMRE 

solicits input from all its stakeholders, which include the public, State agencies, Federal agencies, 

other stakeholders, and the coal industry, for relevant issues to review in each State. The 
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Performance Agreement is a comprehensive plan that outlines the responsibilities and activities of 

both the State and OSMRE. It provides details about specific program evaluation goals for each 

State and the plans to achieve those goals, the types and number of inspections OSMRE plans to 

conduct, technical or programmatic assistance that OSMRE may render to the State, and the 

method to resolve any identified problems, both new problems and any issues remaining from 

previous years.

b. Oversight Inspections

SMCRA requires the Secretary to conduct mine inspections to evaluate the administration of State

programs. Inspections are conducted on a range of sites - from those actively producing coal to 

forfeited bond sites awaiting reclamation. Most OSMRE oversight inspections focus on areas in 

which there is a high level of activity or public concern or where systemic problems have been 

observed. In States with 1,000 or more inspectable units, OSMRE also conducts inspections of a 

random sample of those units to provide an objective evaluation of the effectiveness of the State

program in ensuring compliance with program requirements. The vast majority of oversight 

inspections are joint inspections, in which the State or Tribal inspector accompanies the OSMRE 

inspector. However, Directive REG-8 provides for independent oversight inspections to validate 

and enhance the credibility of both the regulatory program and the oversight process. In addition, 

at least 4 of the 12 (or 1/3) of the inspections conducted will be complete inspections. Complete 

inspections allow for a comprehensive, complete review of the entire mine site which furthers 

OSMRE’s ability to effectively evaluate and monitor a State’s or Tribe’s regulatory program.

In FY 2018, OSMRE conducted 1,287 oversight inspections in primacy States (see Table 2). 

OSMRE intends to perform oversight inspections in FY 2019 and FY 2020 to assure the integrity 

of the regulatory program, to capture additional data, and to identify more conclusive findings and 

trends. The actual number may change depending on the program areas, the presence or absence 

of problems, input from the public, and the terms of the performance agreements in each State.
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Table 2 – Inspections Conducted in Primacy States in FY 2018

Region / State

State Inspections OSMRE

Oversight 

Partial Complete Total Inspections

Appalachian Region

Kentucky 10,488 6,315 16,803 365

Maryland 542 256 798 9

Ohio 1,280 709 1,989 40

Pennsylvania 6,540 4,660 11,200 327

Virginia 2,003 1,312 3,315 91

West Virginia 13,594 7,649 21,243 238

Total Appalachian Region 34,447 20,901 55,348 1,070

Mid-Continent Region

Alabama 8 2,000 2,008 48

Arkansas 56 24 80 2

Illinois 614 304 918 24

Indiana 568 304 872 19

Iowa 0 0 0 0

Kansas 56 28 84 4

Louisiana 30 12 42 13

Mississippi 16 8 24 4

Missouri 64 32 96 4

Oklahoma 241 232 473 15

Texas 264 132 396 8

Total Mid-Continent Region 1,917 3,076 4,993 141

Western Region

Alaska 46 23 69 5

Colorado 206 120 326 11

Montana 88 77 165 10

New Mexico 24 28 52 2

North Dakota 514 102 616 13

Utah 161 102 263 11

Wyoming 188 121 309 24

Total Western Region 1,227 573 1,800 76

Grand Total 37,591 24,550 62,141 1,287

Footnote: OSMRE inspections in primacy States include oversight inspections of all types, oversight document 

reviews, assistance inspections, citizen complaint site visits, and Federal action inspections, as needed. State

data is for the time period of July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018.

c. Identifying and Correcting Violations of SMCRA

In primacy States, SMCRA requires that the OSMRE inspector provide the regulatory authority 

the opportunity to correct any violations observed during an oversight inspection or alleged by a 

citizen. On most oversight inspections, OSMRE finds that the observed violation has already been 
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cited by the regulatory authority or is cited during the process of a joint State/Federal inspection. 

In those cases where an alleged violation is not resolved during OSMRE inspection or where a 

citizen provides information giving OSMRE reason to believe a violation exists, OSMRE must 

issue a Ten-Day Notice (TDN) to the State regulatory authority whenever, on the basis of any 

available information, including a Federal inspection or any information received from a citizen 

complaint, the inspector has reason to believe that a violation exists. The State regulatory authority 

then has 10 days to take enforcement action, initiate other action to cause the violation to be 

corrected, or demonstrate good cause for not taking such action. If OSMRE determines that the 

State response is not appropriate, an OSMRE inspector will conduct a Federal inspection of the 

site and take any necessary enforcement action. This procedure does not apply to situations in 

which there is an imminent danger to public health or safety, or if the observed or alleged violation 

is causing or can reasonably be expected to cause significant, imminent environmental harm. In 

those cases, the OSMRE inspector must issue a cessation order if the violation is observed on an 

inspection, or conduct a Federal inspection if a citizen complaint alleges that a violation of this 

nature exists.

During Evaluation Year 2018, OSMRE observed 618 violations during oversight inspections. Of 

these 376 were appropriately deferred to States for action either during the joint inspection process 

or as the final resolution of a TDN. OSMRE found the States’ actions inappropriate on 211 

violations from oversight inspections. OSMRE also received 17 citizen complaints which were 

transmitted to the regulatory authority through the TDN process.

OSMRE will continue to work with the States to resolve any outstanding TDN issues. OSMRE 

has procedures in place to monitor corrective actions when issues are identified as a result of 

OSMRE oversight activities.

OSMRE also has an obligation under section 521 of SMCRA to take steps to ensure that all types 

of violations, including violations of performance standards or permit conditions and violations of 

permitting requirements, are corrected if the State does not take action to do so. Should a State or 

Tribal program not show timely adequate improvements, OSMRE has other tools under the Code 

of Federal Regulations (CFR), 30 CFR Parts 732 (requiring program amendments) and 733 

(compelling program change or substituting a Federal program), to ensure enforcement or a 

program change.

In addition to the corrective actions processes described above, OSMRE’s Applicant Violator 

System (AVS) Office promotes the use of alternative enforcement to compel compliance with 

SMCRA. As part of this effort, the AVS Office provides training, investigative services and 

identifies sites with outstanding violations for regulatory authorities to consider pursuing 

alternative enforcement when primary enforcement is not enough. These activities will continue 

throughout FY 2019 and FY 2020.

3. Federal and Indian Lands Program

The FY 2020 request provides $7,741,000 and 46 FTE to conduct required activities in the Federal

and Indian Lands Program. The request also includes an additional $40,000 for permitting 

activities that will be offset with collections for new permit application fees in the Federal and 

Indian Lands Program.
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Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 49

a. States

OSMRE regulates coal mining in States without approved regulatory programs, ensuring 

responsible coal extraction using up-to-date science and technology.

The permit review process in Federally administered programs consists of review of the permit 

application package for administrative completeness and technical adequacy, preparation of 

findings and supporting documentation, and conducting an environmental analysis. Review 

timeframes vary depending on the complexity of a permit application, the size of the mine, and the 

response times of applicants submitting additional information required to process the permit 

application.

At the end of FY 2018, the Federal program in Tennessee had 117 permits for coal mining 

operations, of which 58 permits were in active status. There were two permitted mine sites for the 

State of Washington at the end of FY 2018, neither of which is currently mining coal by traditional 

means. One Washington mine site is, however, conducting reprocessing operations of previouslymined coal deposited in refuse impoundments, and the other site has submitted a permit revision 

application proposing to reinitiate mining. Permitting actions in Federal Programs are shown in 

Table 3.

The following information highlights key characteristics of the two States whose regulatory 

activities are currently administered by the Federal Programs activity:

Tennessee: During FY 2018, four sites produced coal in Tennessee. At the end of FY 

2018, there were two active coal producing sites, 50 active non- producing sites, (tipples, 

preparation plants, etc.), 39 mine sites (i.e., non-producing sites) either in temporary 

cessation, mining is complete, or the site is undergoing reclamation, and 13 abandoned sites 

in Tennessee. In addition, seven coal exploration notices of intent were on hand at the end 

of FY 2018. The Knoxville Field Office (KFO) received no new permit applications in FY 

2018 and has six in various stages of review. In addition, KFO received 16 Successor-InInterest (SII) applications with several in various stages of review at the end of FY 2018. 

In FY 2018, KFO issued 18 SII applications and reduced the backlog throughout the fiscal 

year. Over the past seven-year period, Tennessee coal production experienced a general 

decline from 1.40 million tons in calendar year 2011 to 0.5 million tons in calendar year 

2017. OSMRE has discussed the possible return of the primacy program with Tennessee 

on numerous occasions. Tennessee is actively pursuing development of regulations and 

has passed legislation in the State to assume a primacy program under Title V of SMCRA.

An interagency group comprised of State and Federal agencies, including OSMRE, the 

Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Tennessee Department of Environment and 

Conservation, developed a local interagency working agreement (LIWA) in 2010, to 

improve permit coordination in Tennessee. The group continues to meet regularly to 

review new applications and improve the established processes, resulting in more efficient 

and effective decisions related to coal mining activities.

As a result of a 2015 lawsuit in Tennessee against USFWS and OSMRE alleging violation 
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Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 50

of the requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the 1996 Biological Opinion, 

the LIWA was modified to include an effects determination document. This document was 

developed by OSMRE in coordination with USFWS to outline and document the processes 

and findings used to satisfy the ESA on SMCRA permit revisions, renewals, and mid-term 

reviews. The document contains an assessment of the biological data, an effects 

determination of the impacts to ESA species, and an evaluation of whether the operation 

will constitute jeopardy to the continued existence for each respective ESA species on or 

adjacent to a proposed permitting action. The effects determination document is included 

in the overall NEPA analysis done for each approvable application and is included in the 

permit documentation.

Also as a result of the 2015 lawsuit, KFO conducted full section 7 ESA consultation on 

three permits. Prior to the 2015 lawsuits, KFO relied upon the 1996 biological opinion to 

satisfy its section 7 consultation requirements. In the 2015 settlement agreement, the 

decision was made to conduct section 7 consultation in lieu of relying on the 1996 

biological opinion to satisfy section 7 requirements. This decision was driven by the 

settlement agreement and the fact that KFO was already conducting effects determinations 

on every permitting action involving threatened and endangered species. These effects 

determinations were very similar to the biological assessment required under section 7 

consultation. KFO, therefore, agreed to the section 7 consultation process for these three 

permits.

In addition, seasonal water quality/quantity data is collected annually at established 

OSMRE trend stations. Data from this effort is used to evaluate and develop cumulative 

hydrologic impact assessments (CHIA) for permitting decisions and to help develop 

biological assessments to meet section 7 consultation requirements in the Tennessee 

Federal Program. The three sets of samples include data from 25 trend stations collected 

during low-flow conditions, winter mean-flow conditions, and summer mean-flow 

conditions. This CHIA data supports permitting decisions and helps monitor water quality 

impacts to ESA species.

The KFO did not forfeit any bonds during FY 2018. Bond forfeiture funds are monies 

collected from forfeited performance bonds. These funds can only be used to reclaim lands 

where the bond was forfeited and where OSMRE is the regulatory authority. Forfeited 

funds are site-specific and cannot be used to reclaim other sites. Surplus amounts must be 

returned to the operator. In FY 2017, KFO received almost $1 million in civil penalty funds 

to reclaim three sites in Tennessee. The sites included reclamation of a coal refuse pile, 

removing an extensive highwall, and installation of a passive treatment system. In addition, 

KFO used residual money from three bond forfeiture sites to complete surface reclamation 

on three other sites. Reclamation was completed on all six sites in FY 2018.

Washington: There are two surface coal mines regulated under the Federal Program. The 

Centralia Mine produced coal for the adjacent Centralia Power Plant beginning in 1971 

until November 2006, when the parent company, Trans-Alta Corporation, halted mining 

because of the high costs to recover the remaining coal. Coal for the power plant now 

comes from the Powder River Basin. In July 2010, OSMRE denied a request to continue 

temporary cessation at the Kopiah Pit, and the decision was upheld on appeal. OSMRE 
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approved Trans-Alta’s operation plan for recovery of coal from coal mine waste 

impoundments in February 2012. Coal recovery operations began in November 2014. This 

operation plan facilitates reclamation of the coal mine waste impoundments after coal 

recovery. The recovered coal is sold to the Centralia Power Plant. Such coal recovery is 

considered active mining. Trans-Alta has committed to payment of all necessary fees 

(royalty and abandoned mine land) associated with the mining of this coal. Trans-Alta has 

submitted revised reclamation plans for five areas of the mine. In October 2012, OSMRE 

approved the reclamation plan for the Central Packwood pit area. OSMRE’s review of the 

revised reclamation plans for the North Hanaford Pit, Pit 7, and the Kopiah Pit and coal 

mine waste impoundments 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are ongoing at this time. OSMRE approvals 

of the revised plans for Pit 7 and the Kopiah Pit are anticipated in 2019.

The Pacific Coast Coal Company (PCC) mine near the City of Black Diamond has not 

produced coal since 2000. A significant revision application to re-commence mining is 

currently under review. OSMRE has updated the CHIA and a revised environmental 

assessment for the significant revision application and the renewal of the existing permit. 

The environmental assessment was prepared and published and noticed for public review 

and comment in September 2017. OSMRE issued its approval in April 2018.

b. Tribes

OSMRE is responsible for regulation of coal mining and reclamation activities on Indian lands. 

The Indian lands program includes permit application review, determination of performance bond 

amounts, inspection and enforcement, bond release, and maintaining a staff to coordinate with the 

individual Tribes and other Federal agencies, as necessary. The proposed budget provides funds 

for activities to promote responsible mineral extraction on Indian lands.

The Crow Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and the Navajo Nation have active 

permits on their lands. The mines on Indian lands are among the largest in the United States, with 

a total of about 100,500 acres regulated by OSMRE.

Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe: The McKinley Mine and the Navajo Mine are large surface 

mines on lands within the Navajo Nation. Mining operations have ceased at the McKinley 

Mine, and it is currently undergoing final reclamation. Activities on the Kayenta Mine 

involve mining Navajo coal beneath Navajo Tribal lands surface, and coal jointly owned 

by the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe – all of which is beneath Navajo Tribal lands 

surface. OSMRE assisted the Bureau of Reclamation (lead agency) on the completion of 

the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Navajo Generating Station and Kayenta 

Mine Complex. The availability of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 

public review and comment was in the Federal Register on September 30, 2016. In early 

2017, the owners of the Navajo Generating Station announced they were no longer going 

to operate the plant beyond 2019. Due to this announcement, the lead agency has 

suspended the EIS. OSMRE prepared an environmental assessment on the Kayenta Mine 

Permit renewal which was noticed for public comment in August 2017. OSMRE then 

approved the permit renewal on October 3, 2017. The permit renewal term will end in 

2020.
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Crow Tribe: There are two surface mines in Montana that mine coal owned by the Crow 

Tribe. One of these mines operates within the boundaries of the Crow Reservation.

Ute Mountain Ute Tribe: Regulated Ute Mountain Ute Tribal lands in New Mexico are

limited to a haul road that crosses the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. The haul road is 

fully reclaimed and is currently under the period of extended responsibility for successful 

re- vegetation. An underground mining operation in Colorado also extracts Federal coal 

beneath land owned privately by the Ute Mountain Ute, outside of the external boundaries

of the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation.

The number of permitting actions processed by the Indian Lands Program during FY 2018 is shown 

in Table 3.

Table 3 – Permit and Permit Revision Workload Where OSMRE is the 

Regulatory Authority

Activity

Federal Programs* Indian Lands

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Projected

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Projected

In progress prior FY 50 51 22 26

Anticipated 

Submissions, current FY 50 45 72 50

Total FY workload 100 96 94 76

Completed in FY 49 46 68 70

Balance, end of FY 51 50 26 6

Source: OSMRE Data for States and Tribes system (DST) FY 2018.

*These numbers do not include reviews of more than one version of a significant revision 

or environmental assessment.

OSMRE coordinates closely with Indian Tribes through the regulatory process. The Federal trust 

responsibility is a legal obligation under which the United States has charged itself with moral 

obligations of the highest responsibility and trust toward Indian Tribes. OSMRE ensures that the 

lands and trust resources of Federally-recognized Tribes and their members are identified, 

conserved, and protected. In fulfilling these responsibilities, OSMRE operates within a 

government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribes.

Table 4 provides inspection and enforcement data for the Federal and Indian Lands 

Program during FY 2018.
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Table 4 – Inspections Conducted by OSMRE in the Federal and Indian Lands Program

Inspections Violations

State/Tribe Partial Complete Total

Notice of 

Violations

Cessation 

Orders

Tennessee 545 426 971 38 2

Washington 16 8 24 0 0

States Total 561 434 995 38 2

Crow Tribe 16 8 24 0 0

Hopi Tribe 0 2 2 0 0

Navajo Nation 29 27 56 1 0

Ute Tribe 8 4 12 0 0

Tribes Total 53 41 94 1 0

Source: Inspections from OSMRE Data for States and Tribes systems (DST) FY 2018. Violation data 

from OSMRE Inspection and Enforcement Tracking System (I&E) FY 2018.

4. OSMRE Responsibility on Federal Lands

As previously highlighted, mining on Federal lands in primacy States is primarily regulated by the 

respective State through cooperative agreements with OSMRE, and is funded through the State

and Tribal Funding program activity. OSMRE is responsible for preparing mining plan decision 

documents recommending approval, approval with conditions, or disapproval of all proposed 

mining plans and mining plan modifications on Federal lands under the Mineral Leasing Act, and 

processes valid existing rights claims that involve certain Federal lands under this program activity.

As part of the Federal Lands program, OSMRE prepares environmental impact analysis in 

accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). OSMRE consults and 

coordinates, as applicable, with State Historic Preservation Offices, the Fish and Wildlife Service, 

the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the National Park 

Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as 

with State regulatory authorities.

Processing of mining plan decision documents constitutes the largest part of the workload under 

this program activity. However, OSMRE also remains the regulatory authority for mining on 

Federal lands in States with which it has not entered into a cooperative agreement. As an example, 

BLM is actively working with a company to lease coal for extraction under a National forest in 

Arkansas. Arkansas does not currently have a cooperative agreement to regulate coal mining on 

Federal lands so, once BLM issues a lease, OSMRE becomes responsible for issuing a Federal

lands permit. After permit issuance, OSMRE will conduct regular regulatory inspection activities.

This request includes $1,436,000 and ten (10) FTE for the Federal Lands program.

Table 5 provides projected mining plan decision document workload data.
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Table 5 – Mining Plan Decision Document Workload on 

Leased Federal Coal, by Fiscal Year

Mining Plans and Modifications to Existing Mining Plans

Activity

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Projected

In progress prior FY 5 5

Anticipated Submissions 

in current FY 8 13

Total FY workload 13 18

Completed in FY 8 14

Balance, end of FY 5 4

Under this program activity, OSMRE also provides support to BLM and USFS in leasing activities 

that involve Federal coal resources. OSMRE’s participation in NEPA compliance analyses 

prepared at the leasing stage ensures the consideration of OSMRE mine plan approval concerns. 

This cooperative effort saves mining companies valuable time in the leasing and mine plan 

approval process; it also may result in improved resource recovery. In addition, satisfactory 

evaluation of the environmental impacts of coal mining in the proposed lease area at the time of 

leasing can reduce the likelihood of the need for a subsequent Environmental Assessment or 

Environmental Impact Statement for mining plan approval under SMCRA. OSMRE will continue 

efforts to implement the recommendations in the joint BLM/OSMRE report to the Secretary on 

efforts to streamline the NEPA process for mine plan decision documents for leased Federal coal.

5. Program Development and Maintenance

Work elements under this program are primarily related to policy actions, such as rulemaking, 

grants management and special studies that support the other program activities in the 

environmental protection business line. This request provides $6,594,000 and 35 FTE.

a. Rulemaking

OSMRE issues Federal rules and prepares the associated information collection clearance 

packages. Functions under this program activity include rule development and preparation of 

environmental assessments, environmental impact statements, and cost benefit analyses for rules

prepared by OSMRE. Prior to and during the development of a proposed rule, OSMRE involves 

the public and interested parties. This stakeholder participation results in improved regulatory 

proposals. OSMRE also maintains the administrative record for rules and coordinates rule 

publication with the Office of the Federal Register. OSMRE had several rulemakings in progress 

at the time the President issued his Regulatory Freeze Pending Review memorandum on January 

20, 2017. The primary rulemaking activity for OSMRE at publication of this document deals with 

State programs.

Rulemaking Associated with State Programs: OSMRE assists States with development, 

administration, implementation, and maintenance of their approved regulatory programs. 

Decisions to approve or disapprove State program amendments are Federal rulemaking actions. 
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OSMRE evaluates State-initiated program changes (statutory, regulatory, or changes in the 

program’s provisions, scope, or objectives), as well as OSMRE required modifications that are a 

result of legal interpretations or changes to SMCRA and Federal regulations. In its evaluation, 

OSMRE solicits public comments through proposed rules published in the Federal Register, holds 

public meetings, maintains the administrative record, approves or does not approve proposed State

program amendments, and publishes the decisions as final rules in the Federal Register.

During FY 2018, OSMRE completed activity on 8 State program amendments, as summarized in 

Table 6.

Table 6 – FY 2018 State Program Amendment Activity

Number of Amendments

Amendment Type

Pending 

Oct. 1, 2017

Received 

FY 2018

Completed 

FY 2018

Pending 

Sept. 30, 2018

Pre-Submission 

Assistance 5 3 3 5

Formal 50 8 16 42

Total 55 11 19 47

States may be required to amend their programs as a result of changes to SMCRA and Federal

regulations. When a State program amendment is required, OSMRE notifies the State of the 

required change and reviews the State submission and either approves or disapproves the proposed 

change.

b. Grants Management

OSMRE supports and participates in the Administration’s E-Government initiative, and Health 

and Human Services’ government-wide electronic grants application system (Grants.gov). 

OSMRE is currently using DOI’s Financial and Business Management System (FBMS) financial 

assistance module for internal processing of all grant and cooperative agreement transactions. 

OSMRE and the State/Tribal grantees cooperate to maximize the use of available funding and 

operate an effective program. This cooperative working relationship contributes to a streamlined 

application and awards process, faster obligation of Federal funds, innovative program monitoring, 

less paperwork, and intensive reporting and close-out of grants.

c. Special Projects

OSMRE’s special projects include interpretation of SMCRA, reports to Congress, legislative 

analyses, and assistance in response to litigation. OSMRE also conducts studies and analyses in 

response to Departmental initiatives, and coordinates with other DOI bureaus and Federal agencies 

whose activities can affect the surface coal mining regulatory program. Such agencies include the 

Fish and Wildlife Service (Endangered Species Act), Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 

(National Historic Preservation Act), EPA (Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and 

Recovery Act, and others), Army Corps of Engineers (Section 404 of the Clean Water Act permits), 

Mine Safety and Health Administration, and the Small Business Administration (Small Business

Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act). OSMRE will continue to streamline the NEPA process 
Environmental Protection

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 56

for consistency with DOI guidelines and policies in compliance with Secretarial Order 3355. In 

addition, OSMRE will continue the development and implementation of a Biological Opinion for 

Title V of SMCRA by completing a formal programmatic consultation with the Fish and Wildlife 

Service.
Environmental Protection

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 57

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

2019 Planned Program Performance

In 2019, the planned activities in the Environmental Protection program activity include:

 In furtherance of cooperative Federalism, OSMRE will continue its oversight steering 

committee with State Regulatory Authorities to discuss impediments to meaningful and 

effective oversight including revising current OSMRE oversight directions.

 Review of the formal Tribal primacy submission from the Navajo Nation and assist the 

Navajo Nation Minerals Department with their primacy presentation to the Navajo Nation

Council.

 Continue the review of informal submissions from the Crow and Hopi Tribes.

 Review the formal Tennessee primacy submission and assist the Tennessee Department of 

Environment and Conservation with development of its program.

 Complete 14 mining plan decision documents on Federal lands including associated 

environmental effects analysis in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA).

 Complete analyses, assembly and submission of 15 information collection clearance 

packages to OMB for renewed approval per Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) 

requirement.

 OSMRE will monitor the implementation of Kentucky’s program amendments related to 

its bonding program for effectiveness through oversight studies and monitoring.

 Achieve the goals for performance measures identified in the Goal Performance Table for 

this business line, and engage youth by providing educational and employment 

opportunities to young adults in fields associated with surface coal mining regulation and 

reclamation.
Environmental Protection

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 58

2018 Program Accomplishments

In 2018, the major accomplishments in the Environmental Protection program activity included:

 Working collaboratively with Pennsylvania, OSMRE assisted the State’s SMCRA program 

to improve its inspections rate of active permits from a low of 69 in 2014 to a rate of 90 

percent in 2018.

 OSMRE used unmanned aerial vehicles to reduce the time and resources needed by States

and OSMRE to carry out SMCRA Title V requirements while at the same time increasing 

accuracy. As part of this effort, OSMRE and State field staff started integrating Global 

mapper software to their tablets thus increasing accuracy of these efforts.

 OSMRE and its Appalachian Region were recognized for leading a group of Federal, State

and local organizations in cleaning water contaminated at the Flight 93 National Memorial. 

OSMRE’s expertise in acid mine drainage allowed it to provide technical expertise in 

removing iron and manganese from mine-impacted water and to prevent it from surfacing 

within the memorial.

 Reestablished consistency between the CFR with the regulations that were in effect on 

January 18, 2017 before nullification of the Stream Protection Rule by the OSMRE 

published in the Federal Register on November 17, 2017.

 Implemented the Federal and Indian Lands Programs; conducted 475 complete and 614 

partial inspections, and completed 117 permit revisions.

 States performed 24,550 complete mine inspections and 37,591 partial inspections to 

ensure coal mines are operated safely and in accordance with environmental laws.

 OSMRE continued to promote utilization of the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA), 

with 65 percent of all trees planted on FRA prepared areas. A total number of 5,554,977 

trees were planted during FY 2018 with 3,583,295 utilizing FRA on 5,270 acres.

 Completed eight mining plan decision documents recommending approval of the mining 

plan modification including the preparation of eight environmental assessments analyzing 

the environmental effects of the mining plan modification in compliance with NEPA.

 Completed analyses and received OMB approval for 16 information collection clearance 

packages per PRA requirement.
TAB

Technology Development and 

Transfer
Page Intentionally Left Blank
Technology Development and Transfer

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 59

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER

Technology Development and Transfer Budget Request

(Dollars in Thousands)

2018

Actual

2019 CR 

Baseline

2020

Fixed 

Costs 

(+/-)

Internal 

Transfers 

(+/-)

Program 

Changes 

(+/-)

2020

Request

Change 

From 

2019

(+/-)

Regulation and

Technology 12,801 12,801 +53 - +1,911 14,765 +1,964

Technical Assistance 10,232 10,232 +34 +402 10,668 +436

FTE 46 48 - 48 -

Training 1,949 1,949 +13 +42 2,004 +55

FTE 19 19 - 19 -

Technology Transfer 620 620 +6 +1,467 2,093 +1,473

FTE 11 11 - 11 -

Abandoned Mine 

Reclamation Fund 3,544 3,544 +11 - +21 3,576 +32

Technical Assistance 1,585 1,585 +5 +27 1,617 +32

FTE 8 7 - 7 -

Training 794 794 +5 -5 794 -

FTE 8 7 - 7 -

Technology Transfer 1,165 1,165 +1 -1 1,165 -

FTE 1 1 - 1 -

Total, Technology 

Development and 

Transfer 16,345 16,345 +64 - +1,932 18,341 +1,996

Total FTE 93 93 - 93 -

Note: 2018 FTE figures reflect actual usage. 

Fixed Costs of $64,000 in pay related items.
Technology Development and Transfer

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 60

Summary of 2020 Program Changes for Technology Development & Transfer

Request Component ($000) FTE

Priority Alignment +36

Coal Information Management System +429

Enhanced GeoMine Support to States +500

AMDTreat Software Development +347

Unmanned Aerial System +150

Applied Science Projects +470

TOTAL Program Changes +1,932 -

The Technology Development and Transfer program supports technical skills that States and 

Tribes need to operate their programs. In FY 2020, OSMRE provides resources for technical 

assistance, training, technology development, and technology transfer.

Justification of 2020 Program Changes

Priority Alignment (+$36,000): The FY 2020 budget maintains Technology Development and 

Transfer staffing and operational activities, and aligns OSMRE’s existing resources across 

business lines to optimize fulfilment of OSMRE’s statutory responsibilities and support of 

administration priorities.

Coal Information Management System (+$429,000): The Coal Information Management 

System will enable mine operators to plan and monitor multiple phases of applications and permits 

in an interactive, geospatial manner not possible with traditional, paper-based processes. The 

system will automate the workflow between operators and regulatory authorities and provide 

accountability for all parties at all stages of the process.

Enhanced GeoMine Support to States (+$500,000): The GeoMine Geographic Information 

System contains SMCRA-oriented data for geology, soils, and hydrology from multiple Federal

and State agencies. Enhancements will assist regulatory authorities in mine plan reviews, aid in 

oversight responsibilities, and help streamline the permitting process to improve overall program 

performance.

AMDTreat Software Development (+$347,000): AMDTreat is the industry standard for 

estimating long-term treatment costs for polluted mine water drainage. Users of the system include 

watershed associations, regulatory authorities, environmental groups, and industry located in over 

40 States and across 40 countries. Funding is requested for additional system modules, including 

a water quality simulation tool to estimate the cost effectiveness of different treatment methods. 

The enhancements will allows users to develop systems that are cost effective, potentially saving 

millions of dollars.

Unmanned Aerial System (+$150,000): OSMRE will use the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to 

enhance its evaluation of active and abandoned mine sites, especially on large land areas with diverse 

or complicated topography, or on areas such as landslides where unstable, dangerous conditions may 

be avoided by using a UAS. Many States are seeking OSMRE assistance in using this technology for 
Technology Development and Transfer

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 61

data collection and processing on sites that require quick action and accurate digital terrain modeling. 

The requested funding will procure two additional systems that will allow OSMRE to better meet 

the States’ demand for assistance, and save money and time compared to traditional monitoring.

Applied Science Projects (+470,000): OSMRE will invest in applied science projects, or studies, 

advanced technologies and practices specific to coal mined sites for more comprehensive 

ecosystem restoration. By continuing to use the results of applied science projects and studies, 

OSMRE anticipates improved technical evaluation of issues to maintain program effectiveness, 

improve compliance with existing laws, and support advances in coal mining and reclamation.
Technology Development and Transfer

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 62

OVERVIEW

The Technology Development and Transfer (TDT) business line (program activity) provides 

resources for technical assistance, training, technology development and technology transfer 

program sub-activities. This program activity supports and enhances the technical skills that States

and Tribes need to operate their regulatory and reclamation programs. Through support of 

OSMRE’s restoration and protection goals, TDT funds implement effective partnerships with 

OSMRE’s stakeholders. TDT is a Nation-wide program that provides resources to States and 

Tribes that meet their specific technical and training needs in carrying out the requirements of 

SMCRA.

In FY 2019 and FY 2020, OSMRE will 

continue to promote, to the extent possible, 

the use of Technical Innovation and 

Professional Services (TIPS) in technical 

decision-making processes related to 

SMCRA; address the remediation of acid 

mine drainage through participation in the 

Acid Drainage Technology Initiative; and 

finalize changes and provide training and 

technical assistance to meet identified 

needs of States and Tribes. Also, 

OSMRE’s technology transfer program 

will continue its support for electronic permitting and mobile computing efforts, by sponsoring 

interactive technical forums and related workshops. In addition, OSMRE will continue to provide 

regional technical service, libraries, and more efficient access to COALEX (a computer-assisted 

library search service).

Operational Process (Program Activities): The TDT program activities enhance the technical 

skills that States and Tribes need to operate their regulatory and reclamation programs in order to 

more effectively implement SMCRA. These program activities are an integral part of 

accomplishing Environmental Restoration and Environmental Protection to achieve OSMRE’s 

goals and outcomes.

OSMRE provides technical assistance and training to OSMRE staff, and States and Tribes on a 

variety of topics. To solve problems related to the environmental effects of coal mining, OSMRE 

provides multidisciplinary technical assistance, and works with industry, States, Tribes and the 

public on technical issues arising from new regulations. Other technical assistance efforts include 

the TIPS, the Applicant Violator System (AVS), and Coal Information Management System 

(CIMS). OSMRE also established an intergovernmental team, the National Technology Transfer 

Team (NTTT) to provide direction, communication, and coordination of efforts related to 

technology transfer and development. This team is a permanent entity and will continue 

throughout FY 2019 and FY 2020. New technologies, changes in regulations, and staff turnover 

necessitate the need for continued technical training. OSMRE provides this required training 

through the National Technical Training Program (NTTP). Technology transfer is a major part of 

OSMRE’s cooperative effort with States and Tribes.

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT & TRANSFER 

ENCOMPASSES:

Technical Assistance 

Technical Training 

Technology Transfer
Technology Development and Transfer

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 63

The outcome of TDT program performance is ultimately measured by the success of the regulatory 

and reclamation programs in carrying out their environmental restoration and protection missions. 

In addition, performance for the business line is measured through the number of staff technically 

trained (including knowledge and skills taught and applied), the utilization of automated 

technologies (such as TIPS), and the quality and timeliness of technical assistance provided by 

OSMRE, determined via evaluations and customer service surveys.

Actions Required to Achieve Annual Goals: In FY 2020, OSMRE plans continued 

improvements in this business line. The NTTP, TIPS, the National Mine Map Repository 

(NMMR), and AVS will increase access to users by continuing to provide material via the Internet 

and supporting the Administration’s E-Government initiative. In addition, the NTTP and TIPS 

will continue to work with technical leadership to provide direction, communication, and 

coordination efforts related to technical issues and studies.

Resources, Skills, and Technology Needed: An ongoing goal for FY 2020 is to continue ensuring 

States, Tribes, and OSMRE have the best available technical data and information needed to make 

good science-based decisions regarding mining plans, reclamation project design, permit reviews, 

and acid mine drainage remediation and prevention. To successfully implement the surface mining 

regulatory and reclamation programs, OSMRE, as well as the States and Tribes, must maintain 

multi-disciplinary staffs that are fully competent in addressing a wide variety of technical issues 

that impact these programs.

The total FY 2020 request for this business line is $18.3 million. The request includes $12.3 

million for Technical Assistance (including the TIPS and AVS support); $2.8 million for Technical 

Training; and $3.3 million for Technology Transfer efforts to meet the annual goals set forth above.

The following section details by program activity, the funding and FTE resources required to meet 

our customer satisfaction performance measures. It also includes examples of the types of 

technical training, assistance efforts, and transfer provided by this business line.
Technology Development and Transfer

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 64

2020 PROGRAM PERFORMANCE

The following program activities support OSMRE’s goal to strengthen the capabilities of the 

States, Tribes, and OSMRE staff to implement SMCRA effectively through quality technical and 

scientific information, expertise, and training. Skill and knowledge enhancement is critical to the 

continued success of surface mining and reclamation programs. In addition, OSMRE will provide 

opportunities to students and recent graduates, either directly or through cooperative agreements, 

under various activities described in this section to engage young men and women in technical and 

natural resources activities.

OSMRE’s stakeholders (States, Tribes, the public, and industry) continue to express support for 

Technology Development and Transfer efforts and encourage OSMRE to provide the types of 

technical support needed to effectively and efficiently meet SMCRA, the National Environmental 

Policy Act, and other environmental and safety laws. Helping the States, Tribes and industry 

achieve up-front compliance will reduce the need for additional regulatory resources. The TDT 

program area described in the following pages represents those activities where OSMRE staff 

provides direct technical support and ongoing efforts in other business lines. Many activities not 

yet conducted in FY 2019 will identify the needs for activities in FY 2020. In addition, adjustments 

in activities may be necessary during FY 2019 and FY 2020 in order to focus resources on the 

highest priority program needs. Therefore, the discussions are representative of the types of 

activities that will be conducted in the future.

1. Technical Assistance

This program activity provides assistance to State and Tribal regulatory and reclamation staff, and 

to OSMRE staff that review and monitor State programs, develop rules or policy, litigate SMCRA 

challenges or enforcement actions, or maintain other technical support infrastructure such as TIPS, 

AVS, and technical training programs. The $12,285,000 requested for FY 2020 will fund 55 FTE 

to carry out these activities.

Technical assistance is provided specific to abandoned mine land projects, civil penalty and bond 

forfeiture projects, and other regulatory matters. These types of endeavors are integral parts of the 

Environmental Restoration and Protection business lines and are not included in this program 

activity.

Customer surveys such as those conducted under the Government Performance and Results Act 

(GPRA) are used to document the responsiveness of OSMRE’s technical assistance to its 

customers in a timely and professional manner. By meeting the technical assistance needs, 

OSMRE can effectively achieve its Environmental Restoration and Environmental Protection 

mission goals while fostering the efficient use of our natural resources.

a. Technical Policy Assistance

OSMRE specialists provide technical assistance to State and OSMRE regulatory and reclamation 

policy staff. The areas of assistance include rulemaking; citizen complaint investigations; review 

of offsite impacts; guideline development; State program amendments; State mining permit 
Technology Development and Transfer

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 65

evaluation; and AML problem evaluation. It also deals with blasting policy; prime farmland 

reclamation; geomorphic reclamation; soil substitution, coal combustion residue placement; 

reclamation bonding sufficiency and bond release; threatened and endangered species; restoration 

of mined land with native vegetation; land unsuitability determinations; and participation as 

technical experts on interagency committees. Additionally, the assistance includes acid mine 

drainage (AMD) prevention and remediation; acid and toxic forming materials handling; surface 

and groundwater dewatering; stream and underground mine flooding; mountaintop mining and 

valley fills; permit findings; remining; impoundment stability; subsidence caused by underground 

mining; and assistance in fostering Tribal primacy by helping Tribes develop technical capabilities.

Examples of activities for FY 2019–FY 2020 include:

Blasting: Annually, OSMRE facilitates discussions between State and Federal blasting specialists 

to foster a better understanding of blasting issues and technology that result in consistent defensible 

application of blasting rules, National certification of blasters, and resolution of citizen complaints. 

To achieve these goals in FY 2018, OSMRE conducted State-specific blasting inspection training, 

utilized Excel tools to predict and evaluate the adverse effects of blasting, maintained the OSMRE 

Blasting webpage, hosted monthly Blasting Technical Chat conference calls (15-20 participants 

monthly), facilitated State regulatory discussions at State coordinated workshops, and responded 

to numerous State inquiries for technical information and advice.

OSMRE continues to issue OSMRE Blaster Certificates (recognized by many States for 

certificate/license reciprocity), provided continuing education for blasters, and maintained the 

Blaster Certification Tracking System (BCTS) which is used to track Federally-certified blasters. 

Currently, 47 blasters possess OSMRE Blaster Certificates in the Federal and Indian Lands 

Program, in the States of Tennessee and Washington and in the Navajo and Crow Nations, 

respectively. Also, OSMRE facilitated discussions of the Appalachian Blaster Certification 

Delegation (ABCD) whose aim is to standardize training, experience requirements, and testing of 

blasters and participated in the ABCD Blasting Inspectors’ Workshop. The goal of the ABCD is 

to develop consistent and fair enforcement actions against the individual blasters.

In FY 2019 and FY 2020, OSMRE will continue to help the States address technology issues 

related to the use of explosives. Included will be support for new products, new design techniques, 

interpretation of seismic and acoustic monitoring information, the proper deployment of blasting 

seismographs, consistent development of blasting plans, blast area security assurances, 

establishing safe vibration limits, control of flyrock, minimization of blast fumes, and proper 

record keeping. Blaster certification programs will continue to be supported to ensure adequate 

training, improved work experience opportunities, consistent testing, and uniform certificate 

issuance and reciprocity across the Nation. Support will also continue at National continuing 

education events that provide technological and regulatory updates to blasters in need of continuing 

education credits. To ensure that OSMRE continues to promote the best technologies currently 

available, OSMRE will also assist the International Society of Explosives Engineers’ Standards 

Committee develop and maintain performance and field deployment standards for blasting 

seismographs and participate on the National Fire Protection Association’s Technical Committee 

on Explosives that develop standards on the safe use of explosives.

Dam Safety Program: OSMRE's Dam Safety program has achieved notable accomplishments 
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Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 66

through implementation of newer standards of oversight to help reduce the probability of dam 

leaking or breaks. OSMRE's Dam Safety Team is comprised of Regional Dam Safety 

Representatives and OSMRE's Dam Safety Officer. The team works to review current regulations, 

directives, guidelines and other mechanisms to ensure that current best practices are employed.

The Dam Safety Team meets regularly and is responsible for completing inventory updates and 

assistance in providing data to support the annual DOI Dam Safety Program Performance Report, 

the biennial FEMA report and the annual Army Corps of Engineers report. The dam safety 

database ranks OSMRE dams in accordance with the Hazard classification followed by the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service Technical Release (TR) No. 60 (2005). The 

database also includes the FEMA 333 hazard classification of High, Significant and Low hazard 

dams (impoundments).

OSMRE is taking a proactive role in participating in DOI's Working Group on Dam Safety and 

Security (WGDSS) to further delineate more precise language on detailing hazard classification 

criteria. This will facilitate hazard classification characterization schemes within the bureaus. In 

addition, OSM supports joint regulatory activities along with MSHA to review and improve dam 

safety processes. Team members also keep abreast of industry standards through participation in 

conferences, meetings and work groups to maintain the highest standards within the dam safety 

arena. OSMRE recognizes the importance of the dam safety program in providing a mechanism 

to improve risk reduction in the design, construction and maintenance of mining operation 

activities. 

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD): Surface and underground coal mining activities expose iron sulfide 

minerals in rock to weathering. The interaction of these rocks/minerals with air and water can 

result in AMD, and/or metal-rich drainage, which are the primary water quality problems in 

Appalachia and to a lesser, but still serious, extent in other coal and hard rock mining regions.

OSMRE will continue to participate in the Mine Drainage Technology Initiative (MDTI) (formally 

known as Acid Drainage Technology Initiative (ADTI)) in FY 2019 and FY 2020. MDTI is a 

collaborative effort among Federal agencies, industry, State environmental agencies, academia, 

and the National Mine Land Reclamation Center to promote communication and technology 

enhancement in the fields of emerging mine water issues, particularly AMD, selenium and specific 

conductance prediction, prevention and treatment, and biological impacts.

In early August 2017, OSMRE placed a notice of funding opportunity for the MDTI cooperative 

on the grants.gov web page, with a closing date of September 30, 2017. OSMRE received 10 

proposals from 10 different universities from across the country. OSMRE’s MDTI Merit Review 

Panel evaluated the ten proposals, selecting for award the proposal submitted by researchers at 

Iowa State University (ISU) titled, “Remediation of Coal Mine Drainage with Industrial 

Byproducts.” ISU researchers will evaluate the feasibility of using industrial byproducts along 

with geosynthetic membranes as sorptive barriers for the remediation of coal mine drainage 

(CMD). Researchers will specifically test recycled concrete aggregate fines, non-cementitious 

high carbon fly ash, and excess quarry fines; industrial byproducts that have little economic value 

and are either landfilled or stored with no viable reuse option. The intent of the proposal is to (1) 

determine the effectiveness of the industrial byproducts to mitigate CMD water quality; (2) 

evaluate the impacts of using the industrial by products on water quality and microbial ecology; 
Technology Development and Transfer

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 67

and (3) evaluate the cost effectiveness of the use of industrial byproducts to treat CMD. Funding 

for the 2-year cooperative agreement commenced on July 1, 2018.

AMDTreat Software: AMDTreat is a computer application developed by OSMRE that is the 

industry standard for estimating long-term treatment costs for polluted mine water drainage, 

commonly referred to as acid mine drainage (AMD). Users include watershed associations, 

regulatory authorities, environmental groups and industry located in over 40 States and across 40 

countries. As a result, most Appalachian States rely on AMDTreat to help support various aspects 

of their regulatory and abandoned mine land programs. For example, Pennsylvania Department 

of Environmental Protection requires operators and permit reviewers to use AMDTreat to calculate 

or substantiate treatment costs for all 254 long-term discharges covered by a bond or trust fund. 

The fact that AMDTreat has been used to calculate and substantiate in excess of $304,931,500 of 

treatment liability in Pennsylvania is a testament to the importance of the software in supporting 

State programs.

OSMRE has supported a cooperative project to update the computer coding and enhance treatment 

modules of AMDTreat and has completed 13 of the 16 modules in Phase 1 of the project as of the 

end of FY 2018. The remaining 3 Phase 1 modules are on schedule to be completed by December 

31, 2018. The cooperative effort to perform the recoding and enhancement includes OSMRE, the 

United States Geological Service (USGS), and the regulatory authorities of Pennsylvania and West 

Virginia. Funding has been requested for Phase II of the project, which will include 5 additional 

modules, report function, help, and a water quality simulation tool to estimate the cost effectiveness 

of different treatment methods. These enhancements will result in a software package that allows 

a user to develop systems that are cost effective, potentially saving millions of dollars. This 

ongoing effort will continue throughout FY 2019 and into FY 2020.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS): In FY2018, OSMRE kicked off its Unmanned Aerial Systems 

(UAS) program. The National and Regional aviation management plans were approved which for the 

first time in our Bureau recognized UAS as aircraft and implemented procedures including but not 

limited to safety, protection of privacy and mission reporting for transparency. So far, OSMRE has 

certified 19 trained pilots and purchased 14 aircraft nationwide to enhance its mission success. 

OSMRE will continue to train personnel as UAS operators and purchase additional aircraft as needed.

OSMRE will be using the UAS to enhance its evaluation of active and abandoned mine sites, especially 

on large land areas with diverse or complicated topography, or on areas such as landslides where 

unstable, dangerous conditions may be avoided by using a UAS. OSMRE has various sensors that can 

be mounted on the aircraft based on the desired need of the missions. OSMRE is finding that as it 

develops its expertise, many States are seeking OSMRE assistance in using this technology for data 

collection and processing on sites that require quick action and accurate digital terrain modeling.

A project that exemplifies the advantage of using drones is the Isabella mine site that was flown over 

this summer. The site, located near Uniontown, Pennsylvania, is abandoned and has numerous safety 

and environmental concerns, from pollutional water quality, large unprotected refuse piles, and an 

impoundment that floods a nearby public road after heavy rainfall. The drone flights were conducted 

to create 3D models and GIS data that can be used to create a reclamation plan to remedy the problems 

and improve water quality discharges.

OSMRE will continue to test and evaluate additional aircraft, sensors and software as they become 
Technology Development and Transfer

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 68

approved and available, incorporating this technology into the business line.

Designating Areas Unsuitable for Surface Coal Mining: Section 522 of SMCRA establishes a 

process by which the public may petition the regulatory authority to limit or prohibit all or certain 

types of surface coal mining operations on land areas to protect certain features or environmental 

values. OSMRE receives and processes these petitions for all lands for which it is the regulatory 

authority. The decision-making process includes preparation of an environmental impact

statement and a takings implication assessment.

OSMRE also is responsible for making valid existing rights (VER) determinations under section 

522(e) of SMCRA for all Federal lands and all lands for which OSMRE is the regulatory authority. 

Section 522(e) prohibits or limits surface coal mining operating within certain areas, subject to 

valid existing rights.

Both unsuitability determinations and VER determinations require substantial technical and 

programmatic resources and are supported by the Environmental Protection business line. They 

also involve litigation support if a takings claim is subsequently filed against the Federal

Government.

b. Site-Specific Technical Assistance

OSMRE specialists assist in the technical aspects of compliance monitoring (including inspection 

and enforcement assistance), experimental practice reviews, reclamation cost estimate calculation, 

bond release application reviews, bond approval reviews, bond forfeiture reclamation designs, land 

unsuitability determiNations, surveying, revegetation, geologic sampling, AML designs, 

subsidence and AMD abatement, and any technical assistance on citizen complaints and ten-day 

notices. The following are examples of the types of assistance provided to States and Tribes.

Missouri Technical Assistance, Foster Mine Blasting Damage Complaints: In response to a 

damage allegation, the OSMRE Blast Log Evaluation Program (BLEP V2) was used to evaluate 

49 blast logs over a one-year period. The revised BLEP program found numerous inconsistencies 

in record keeping and ground vibration limits that were exceeded four times. Furthermore, 

individual blast vibration time histories had numerous instances where the regulatory limits of the 

Blasting Level Chart were exceeded. The vibration limits of the BLC are the best gauge of damage 

potential and damage caused by blasting to the residence and damage could not be ruled out. This 

resulted in a modification of the blasting activities to ensure the prevention of damage with a higher 

level of confidence.

The Wilds Ohio Mine Drainage and Impoundment Assessment, Ohio: OSMRE is working 

cooperatively with The Wilds, a 9,000 acre park that is home to numerous rare and endangered 

species from around the world, to remove a series of AML impoundments and to develop passive 

treatment systems to handle legacy acidic, metal-laden mine drainage. Encompassing a large area 

of the northern portion of the park, numerous abandoned impoundments with degraded mine water 

pose safety hazards. Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water Resources dam 

safety personnel wants to remove several dams considered hazardous that were created decades 

ago when the site was surface mined (pre-law). The Wilds requested our technical support to 

determine the hydrologic impacts (mainly quality) that might occur once the dams are removed. 
Technology Development and Transfer

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 69

Initially, an overall assessment was conducted of the water quality both in the impoundments and 

receiving streams. Based on what was learned, OSMRE was able to discern the impact removal 

would cause could be mitigated by the construction of low maintenance passive treatment systems 

developed to handle the numerous mine drainage sources. One of the larger impoundments known 

as “Dead Lake” is targeted as the first impoundment to be dewatered and a treatment system is 

under design to handle the mine drainage.

West Virginia Threatened and Endangered Species Protection and Enhancement Plans (PEPs): 

OSMRE ecologists are working with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection 

and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a series of PEPs for the threatened and 

endangered species of the State. These PEPs include crayfish (Guyandotte and Big Sandy), 

various mussels, and other aquatic species as well as terrestrial species (e.g., bats). This technical 

support project is an outgrowth of a specific study of the impacts of sediment from surface mines 

on the receiving streams which are the habitat of the Guyandotte and Big Sandy crayfish.

Isabella Mine Complex, Pennsylvania: OSMRE is providing considerable technical support to 

treat acid, metal-laden mine drainage, reclaim an AML/post-law abandoned mine coal refuse and 

partially dewater an existing impoundment for the PADEP. The project includes developing a 

large passive treatment system for several mine discharges combined to one point. The existing 

exposed, unreclaimed coal refuse will be regraded to afford positive drainage as well as topsoiled 

and vegetated. There is an existing large impoundment which no longer decants as needed and 

thus has flooded a nearby county road during heavy precipitation events. The water level in the 

impoundment will be lowered to prevent flooding with a new discharge system installed to 

maintain that lower water level. 

Isabella, PA Bathymetry Work: OSMRE has the ability to conduct bathymetric surveys of water 

features such as final impoundments, slurry ponds, sediment ponds, and other water bodies on 

active and AML sites. The work involves collecting water depth measurements using sonar pulses 

and GPS positions. The data can be used to derive underwater surface models and contours. At 

the request of PADEP, OSMRE conducted a bathymetric survey of a large impoundment (~32 

acres) on a bond forfeiture site (Isabella, PA) during the week of December 18, 2017. The surface 

models generated from this technical assistance enabled the project team to develop accurate 

reclamation cost estimate.

AL AML Drone Mission at Three Forks South: OSMRE established UAS program in FY 2018 

with two OAS approved drone pilots. OSMRE has the ability to conduct UAS missions and 

produce images and videos that can be used to aid in site assessment process. In June 2018, 

Alabama’s AML program requested a pre-construction drone mission to be conducted by OSMRE

pilots at Three Forks AML project site located near Oakman, AL. MCR pilots conducted the drone 

mission on July 18, 2018. OSMRE delivered orthomosaic images, elevation models, video, and 

photos. Alabama’s AML program expressed their great appreciation and asked OSMRE to 

conduct two more drone missions (during and post construction) at the Three Forks South site in 

FY 2019.
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AL AML Survey123 Forms: Survey123 is a simple and intuitive form-centric data gathering 

application that makes creating, sharing, and analyzing surveys or geospatial dataset possible in 

just few steps. Survey123 forms are designed to answer questions; geo point locations, select from 

prepopulated answers, show more options based on previously answered question, take geo tagged 

pictures, and record other useful attributes. The forms can be submitted as completed in realtime 

or later at the user’s convenience. The data generated from Survey123 can be used in other GIS 

Apps or software platforms such as ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, Global Mapper, AutoCad,and more. 

Alabama’s AML program requested a technical assistance from OSMRE for converting a couple 

of their daily report paper documents. OSMRE created Survey123 forms for AL AML program 

and provided a follow up training on “how to use” and “how to create/modify Survey123 forms” 

in FY 2018.

Illinois Old Ben 25 Bathymetry Work: Illinois Land Reclamation Division (LRD) contacted 

OSMRE on a short notice to conduct a bathymetric survey at SI Energy slurry impoundment (Old 

Ben 25) near West Frankfort, IL. The 70+ acre slurry impoundment is part of a bond forfeiture 

project in which the slurry pond volume had to be determined. OSMRE staff conducted the survey 

on May 16, 2018. Subsequent data processing took place immediately after the survey and final 

products (contour maps, surface models, and fill calculations) were delivered the next week.

Kansas Monahan AML Passive Treatment System Design: Kansas Department of Health and 

Environment (KDHE) requested for AMD treatment options and engineering design of finalized 

treatment option for Monahan AML site in Kansas. OSMRE’s hydrologist and mining engineer 

formulated a best treatment option and developed a draft design work in CAD format. The final 

products were delivered to KDHE in August 2018.

Mine Water Treatment Systems Efficiency Evaluation: Numerous cases of active and abandoned 

mine water treatment systems exist throughout the Appalachian Region. The efficacy of these 

systems is often well below optimum conditions due to a variety of reasons. Abandoned mine 

water treatment systems are generally operated by State agencies or local non-government 

organizations and require continual funding for ongoing operations and maintenance (O&M). 

Water treatment at active mine sites has the statutory requirement of treating to meet National 

Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) effluent standards. Sufficient bonding is 

required to assure that treatment continues until the water quality meets effluent standards without 

treatment; which in many instances lasts for decades. Characterization of the mine water treatment 

systems allows for determination of the estimated time period that treatment may be necessary, 

methods for improvement of the existing treatment system efficiency, and cost to construct and 

operate new or replacement treatment systems as well as the potential for employing new 

innovative technologies to save capital, labor and materials costs. Many existing treatment systems 

were designed and constructed based on technology developed many years ago. New technologies 

and methods (e.g., use of high-strength hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant for iron removal) have 

been shown to greatly reduce treatment costs and diminish the volume of residual sludge created 

during treatment.

In FY 2018, OSMRE continued evaluating numerous mine water treatment facilities in West 

Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Approximately 21 active permit sites 

in Tennessee have either been or need evaluated by the Knoxville Field Office (KFO) and technical 

support has been provided for the long-term treatment liability of perpetual mine water discharges. 
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Upon request, operators have provided mapping of the permit area including treatment facilities,

water quality and flow data, and long-term costs for O&M of the existing treatment facilities. 

Based on the information provided by the operator, OSMRE evaluates the current treatment 

approach and provides suggested improvements or new treatment technologies along with the 

associated capital and annual (O&M) costs for each mine discharge. In Tennessee, OSMRE uses 

the establishment of long term treatment trusts financed by the operator to provide perpetual 

funding for the O&M and capital improvements of mine water treatment facilities. The KFO also 

requested technical assistance in the form of conceptual passive treatment system layouts for four 

different civil penalty sites with perpetual mine water discharges. The passive treatment systems 

at each site have either been constructed or are currently under construction through contracts 

administered by KFO.

In FY 2018, Tennessee established a bond fund to address post-mining water quality at six sites as 

part of the Horizon Natural Resources bankruptcy. Tennessee Consolidated Coal Company, a 

subsidiary of Horizon, held 14 permits in Tennessee. Six of these permits have long-term treatment 

obligations. Through the bankruptcy negotiations, OSMRE successfully acquired $3 million in 

dedicated funding to address the poor water quality discharges in perpetuity.

Evaluations for three mine water treatment facilities within the North Branch Potomac River 

watershed in northeastern West Virginia were revised or finalized as requested by the Charleston 

Field Office for long-term treatment costs related to O&M of the mine pool pumping and water 

treatment facilities. Operators of the three facilities provided some of the information requested 

by OSMRE and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection related to treatment 

system mapping, schematic diagrams, and water quality and flow information for the raw mine 

water sources at each site. This information allowed OSMRE to evaluate each facility under 

multiple cost-modeling scenarios using AMDTreat software in order to develop annual O&M costs 

for the existing systems and the capital and annual costs for new replacement systems with 

recommended technologies to improve treatment efficiency and reduce operating costs. The 

capital and annual costs for the new and existing systems were used to calculate a present value as 

an estimated bond or trust amount for perpetual operation of each treatment facility.

In FY 2018, OSMRE provided technical assistance to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental 

Protection (PADEP) and Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, & Energy related to existing 

passive treatment systems for mine water discharges that are not functioning as intended. OSMRE 

personnel conducted site visits, sampled waters within each system to evaluate performance, 

measured flows, and reviewed information provided by the agencies related to the engineering 

design and historic water quality and flow data. Based on all of this information OSMRE is able 

to provide the respective agency with recommendations and where applicable an improvements 

plan to rebuild the entire system or replace specific components of a system to improve the 

treatment effectiveness and minimize future issues. Specifically, PADEP implemented OSMRE 

recommended improvements to an existing passive treatment system in Keystone State Park 

located in Westmoreland County in order to improve collection of the mine water and the passive 

treatment system components to improve the receiving stream. 

Engineering Evaluations, Analyses, and Investigations: OSMRE continues to provide engineering 

support to OSMRE field offices and State regulatory authorities in support of SMCRA. Field 

investigations and recommendations are provided to assist with citizen complaints, Ten-Day 
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Notices, and Deficiency Letters. Site investigations are performed to obtain field data to support 

engineering evaluations and analyses for slurry impoundments, oversight studies, and off-site 

impacts resulting from mining activities. Engineering support is provided through evaluations of 

design calculations, slope stability analyses, soil mechanics, surface water hydrology, seepage 

analyses, erosion and sediment control, cost estimating, and the preparation of Engineering 

Reports. OSMRE is currently providing engineering assistance on the following projects in West

Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky: One slurry impoundments required engineering assistance to 

address staging issues and slope stability concerns for upstream construction and a proposed 

downstream buttress. Evaluation of proposed remediation plans continued throughout FY 2018. 

A request to assess an orphaned impoundment was conducted to ensure stability of the structure 

and consistency with the approved permit. OSMRE provided recommendations to address short 

term deficiencies prior to conducting reclamation of the site. OSMRE also provided engineering 

support by evaluating engineering aspects of an experimental practice, at two sites, involving 

“weep berms” which convert point source discharges to non-point discharges. OSMRE also 

provided engineering support by evaluating engineering aspects of experimental practices 

involving retention of highwalls at a site in Kentucky with commercial development included in 

its post mining land use, and at a site in West Virginia proposed for conversion to a firing range 

by the West Virginia National Guard.

Coal Seam Fire Delineation: OSMRE continues to assist States and Tribes in the use of the FLIR 

(Forward Looking Infared) camera to delineate the extents of underground mine fires, burning coal 

seams, and burning stock- and waste-piles. Burning coal causes a multitude of problems ranging 

from minor (the smell of burning coal) to life threatening (mine subsidence or forest fires) and has 

environmental consequences (e.g., particulate and other air emissions). The FLIR camera is a part 

of TIPS’ equipment owned by OSMRE and loaned to States and Tribes throughout the Nation. 

Use of the FLIR camera to delineate the extents of burning coal seam helps States and Tribes

calculate the extent of the problem and derive solutions to address both present and future 

problems. OSMRE is also investigating the viability of emerging technologies in this area; in 

particular, OSMRE is evaluating devices that can be paired with smart-phones to obtain infrared 

imagery with these pervasive devices. OSMRE is also developing the technology and protocols 

for using drones to obtain infared imagery for use in identifying mine fires.

c. National Mine Map Repository

OSMRE maintains the National Mine Map Repository (NMMR), authorized under the former

U.S. Bureau of Mines and subsequently transferred to OSMRE in the mid-1980s. This repository, 

located in OSMRE’s Appalachian Regional Office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, maintains the only 

National inventory of mine maps and includes more than 181,000 abandoned coal and non-coal 

underground mines from throughout the United States. These maps, and the associated 

information, are used to fulfill customer requests for unique information that can range from rare 

maps for small projects to National collections for large interstate infrastructure projects such as 

high speed rail or electricity transmission lines. The maps bring great value to any project that 

depends on knowing the subsurface conditions of the earth for infrastructure design or public safety 

projects. Underground voids resulting from past mining have the potential to induce subsidence 

damage to homes, businesses, infrastructure, and to endanger underground miners. NMMR 

customers include State regulatory and reclamation staff, local government agencies, developers, 

engineering and mining companies, architects, universities, law firms, insurance companies, 
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environmental consultants, pollution control boards, realtors, law-enforcement agencies, historical 

societies, drilling companies, and homeowners. The NMMR also provides scanning of mine maps 

for its clients; these maps are then placed into the NMMR archives. Receipts from the sale of maps 

and charges for NMMR research services are minimal and support the program.

The NMMR continues to pursue the acquisition, digitizing, geo-referencing and archiving of mine 

maps located throughout the United States. During FY 2018, OSMRE significantly increased 

collection of Colorado, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia mine map scans and brought 

on four summer interns to increase production to fully utilize state of the art scanning equipment 

and complete digital records. Through this effort, the NMMR increased the archives by scanning 

3,029 new mine maps. In FY 2018, the NMMR database became searchable by the public. New 

software has been purchased to enable timelier scan processing. During FY 2018, the NMMR 

received 223 client requests consisting of a total of 5,408 mine maps.

d. Coal Information Management System (CIMS)

Coal mine operations need a convenient, efficient and cost effective method of applying for, and 

monitoring the status of, permits issued under SMCRA. While some States have fully integrated 

electronic information systems that provide for this, many, including the Federal Government, do 

not. In an example of State and Federal collaboration and cooperation, OSMRE has entered into 

a cooperative agreement with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to 

upgrade and modernize the Montana and OSMRE systems as well as provide the ability for other 

States to adopt the system at no or low cost, if they so choose. Under CIMS, mine operators will 

be able to plan and monitor multiple phases of applications and permits in an interactive, geospatial 

manner not possible with traditional, paper-based processes. The system will automate the 

workflow between operators and regulatory authorities and provide accountability for all parties 

at all stages of the process. The system and individual applications are designed so that the

SMCRA States, Federal and potential Tribal regulatory programs will have the ability to modify 

the system to fit their unique needs achieving economies of scale for cost savings and improved 

effectiveness.

In FY 2018, Release 1 of the electronic permit system (ePermit), an application within CIMS, was 

developed, tested, underwent final development, and was deployed for OSMRE’s Western 

Regional Office. Release 2 of ePermit is currently under development, with a target deployment 

in late 2019. This Release will provide enhanced capability to meet Federal-specific rules in the 

Western and Appalachian regions. In FY 2020, the Coal App, another application within CIMS, 

will be developed and tested. This application will be used to track regulatory timeframes, issue 

assignments, and report on permit, bond, contact, revision, and enforcement information.

e. Technical Innovation and Professional Services (TIPS)

The goal of TIPS is to provide State, Tribal, and OSMRE personnel with a comprehensive set of 

analytical tools to aid in technical decision-making related to regulatory and reclamation processes. 

The services provided focus around off-the-shelf scientific and engineering computer software and 

technical hardware supported by OSMRE in partnership with the States and Tribes. This technical 

assistance has grown from a few applications available on a single specially designed shared 

workstation, to a suite of software on each user’s desktop computer. TIPS hardware is available 
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for loan to SMCRA States and Tribes to advance reclamation projects Nationwide.

TIPS is a National program that continues to research and apply emerging technologies to SMCRA 

workflows. Currently, TIPS assistance consists of providing commercial software applications 

and hardware to State, Tribal, and OSMRE offices at considerable cost savings by sharing the 

commercial licenses for the software via the Internet and OSMRE Wide Area Network. The 27 

commercially available software applications cover a wide range of regulatory and AML subjects. 

The customer base covers over 90 State, Tribal, and OSMRE office locations throughout the 

country – about 2,000 users.

The TIPS suite of scientific, hydrologic, and mapping core software aids the technical decisionmaking associated with: (1) permit reviews, (2) performing cumulative hydrologic impact 

assessments, (3) quantifying potential effects of coal mining, (4) preventing acid mine drainage, 

(5) quantifying subsidence impacts, (6) measuring revegetation success, (7) assisting in the design 

of abandoned mine lands projects, and (8) providing the scientific basis for environmental 

assessments and environmental impact statements.

Demand for TIPS tools and support continues to increase, especially in geospatial data, and mobile 

computing tools for field use. TIPS is offering more on-site training to accommodate the use of 

mobile computing devices by inspectors. Mobile computing allows inspectors to be more efficient 

in the field in resolving issues with primacy State staff and industry. TIPS software users in States, 

Tribes and OSMRE logged into TIPS core software servers to check out licenses to aid in the 

permitting process and achieve abandoned mine land reclamation.

Examples of TIPS related activities include:

GeoMine Project (Geographic Information System): GeoMine was made available to the public 

in December 2016 and includes SMCRA-oriented data for geology, soils, and hydrology from 

multiple Federal and State agencies. In FY 2018, OSMRE continued to collaborate with the DOI 

Cloud team to host GeoMine geospatial data services through a secure, FedRAMP-approved 

vendor. Several SMCRA digital datasets that were “GeoMine-ready,” included Wyoming, 

Montana, and Utah mine locations, were loaded into the database.

GIS Mobile Computing: In FY 2018, OSMRE expanded the use of field tablets that can display 

and collect geospatial data while at the mine site. The base data for the systems comes from 

GeoMine and an OSMRE-hosted Imagery Server allowing field personnel to display data along 

with their Global Positioning System (GPS) location. Data collected in the field is synchronized 

to the GIS server and was made available to anyone in the OSMRE network via a web map. The 

lessons learned during the FY 2018 field season resulted in streamlined workflows and in FY 2019, 

mobile computing use will continue to extend into additional OSMRE locations, States, and Tribes.

Emerging Technology Testing (Mobile Computing Devices): Widespread adoption of smartphone 

and tablet technologies within the general population over the past few years has greatly enhanced 

the technical capabilities and adaptability of State, Tribal, and OSMRE staff. Success of previous 

efforts toward testing of mobile devices, and training of inspection field staff in their use was often 

limited due to the steep learning curves associated with those devices. The personal adoption and 

familiarity with smartphones has given field staff more confidence in their ability to learn and 
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productively adopt technology associated with smartphones (various apps and Bluetooth 

connected devices). OSMRE staff has been working to test the functionality and effectiveness of 

various GPS, laser measurement, water testing and infrared devices that are smartphone 

compatible.

Emerging Technology Testing (Survey123 Forms): Survey123 is a simple and intuitive formcentric data gathering application that makes creating, sharing, and analyzing surveys or geospatial 

dataset possible in just few steps. Survey123 forms are designed to answer questions; geo point 

locations, select from prepopulated answers, show more options based on previously answered 

question, take geo tagged pictures, and record other useful attributes. The forms can be submitted 

as completed in realtime or later at the user’s convenience. The data generated from Survey123 

can be used in other GIS Apps or software platforms such as ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, Global Mapper, 

AutoCad, and more.

Emerging Technology Testing (UAS, Photogrammetry. Cloud-based Data Processing and 

Ground-Based LiDAR Scanners): Rapidly evolving technologies in the last few years include the 

wide-spread adoption of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) throughout the Nation. An effort has 

been made in cooperation with the DOI Office of Aviation Services (OAS) to test the applicability 

of UAS technologies in the field in relation to SMCRA activities. From FY 2010 – FY 2018, UAS 

were used to fly missions over active coal mines and AML sites in all OSMRE regions. OSMRE 

procured a number of UAS for OSMRE office staff. Current efforts are underway to procure 

additional drones, providing training for new drone pilots, and testing various types of cameras 

such as multispectral and thermal sensors. UAS data have been proven effective in assisting site 

inspectors in the field, as well as allowing collection of georeferenced imagery that can be used 

for advanced data processing for site design work for AML. Photogrammetry software has been 

utilized successfully to create fully rendered surface models taken from satellites, manned aircraft, 

unmanned aircraft, and ground- based imagery. Cloud-based data processing of UAV data and 

imagery is being piloted through the DOI GeoPlatform to realize efficiencies of server-side 

processing of large datasets. Ground-based LiDAR scanners are also being used in conjunction 

with these photogrammetric models to allow for accurate surface modeling for enforcement and 

reclamation design. FY 2018 SMCRA State projects using this LiDAR technology have been 

conducted in Utah, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Mexico.

ArcGIS Online: In 2018, the ArcGIS Online web mapping system was made available to SMCRA 

States. Twenty-seven States are participating in the web mapping system allowing States and 

OSMRE to share geospatial data. In 2018, the system use expanded into additional work groups 

at the State level performing Title IV and Title V projects.

f. Applicant/Violator System (AVS)

The AVS is a National information database OSMRE maintains to support many types of research 

and program efforts, but primarily it supports permit eligibility determinations under section 510(c) 

of SMCRA. As part of the permit review process, State and Federal regulatory authorities use the 

information contained in the AVS to evaluate if an applicant for a mining permit or AML contract 

has outstanding or unabated violations in order to determine the applicant’s eligibility to 

receive a mining permit to engage in surface coal mining operations or receive an AML 

reclamation contract.
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During FY 2018, the AVS Office processed 627 requests for data evaluations from State and 

Federal regulatory authorities and State abandoned mine land program officials to assist in 

identifying permit and AML-project eligibility problems.

In FY 2018, the AVS Office also facilitated the collection of $3,739,632.82 from entities trying to 

remedy unabated Federal civil penalty and reclamation fee violations tracked in the AVS.

In line with the Department’s intent in pursuing IT efficiencies, the AVS’s virtualized database 

uses Cloud infrastructure services from a third-party contractor who supplies all hardware and 

maintenance support. The AVS office will continue to work with system users to identify and 

implement system improvements during FY 2019. To ensure that customers can continue to rely 

on accurate data and a stable environment to support their efforts with implementation of section 

510(c) of SMCRA, OSMRE’s AVS staff will continue to conduct data studies in FY 2019 and FY 

2020. These studies will ensure regulatory program staff enter and maintain permit and violation 

information in the system in accordance with regulations and data standards.

The AVS Office staff provides services to customers, including regulatory authorities, the coal 

industry, citizens groups, and other Federal agencies. Some of the services provided include: an 

ongoing notification process for OSMRE and our State regulatory partners in identifying potential 

bankruptcies; financial analysis; assistance in interpreting AVS data; updating information in the 

AVS for coal businesses that mine in more than one State; providing system training to users; and 

providing investigative assistance to regulatory authorities on complex ownership and control 

issues.

Customer surveys are used to document the responsiveness of AVS services provided to its 

customers. During FY 2018, the AVS Office received a customer satisfaction rating of 99 percent 

with a returned survey rate of 52 percent. OSMRE attributes the high 99 percent customer service 

rating to a shared conviction by all the staff that responding to customers’ needs in a timely manner 

is the AVS office’s primary business.

2. Technical Training

Technical Training provides OSMRE, State, and Tribal staff the necessary information and skills 

to implement the surface mining reclamation and enforcement program. This request includes

$2,798,000 and 26 FTE for this program activity. The various training program components are 

explained below.

a. National Technical Training Program

OSMRE established the National Technical Training Program (NTTP) in 1985, recognizing the 

need for an ongoing educational program to increase the technical competence and professionalism 

of Federal, State, and Tribal personnel. The program delivers training related to permit approval, 

bond release, reclamation, and enforcement. The training serves to build and update technical 

expertise and fosters consistent application of standards. Training is provided in each of the 

disciplines involved in implementation of SMCRA, which include chemistry, geology, 
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engineering, hydrology, blasting, agronomy, and botany.

All aspects of the program from identification of needs through course development and 

presentation are cooperative efforts of State, Tribal, and OSMRE offices. There is an economy of 

scale achieved by the pooling of State and Federal resources that allows instruction in a wide 

variety of subjects each year for all State, Tribal, and OSMRE programs.

Meeting Office Specific Needs of Mining and Reclamation Staff through Special Sessions: In 

addition to regularly scheduled FY 2018 courses, NTTP presented the following special sessions: 

Blasting and Inspection-81, Blasting and Inspection-82, Blasting and Inspection-State Park, 

Blasting and Inspection-State Park-1, Blasting and Inspection-83, Blasting and Inspection-84 and 

Blasting and Inspection-85. All Blasting and Inspection Special Sessions were held in various 

Kentucky locations with a total of 157 students trained. In addition, Coalfield Communications 

was held in Window Rock, AZ, with 22 students trained and Mine Gas Safety and Investigations 

in Pikeville, KY with 13 students trained.

Course Enhancements: The Wetlands Awareness course was enhanced to include differing 

regional site specific needs that produce on-the-ground results. Revisions to the AML Dangerous 

Highwalls addresses varying regional field conditions, AML Realty addresses updated regulations 

and current policy changes and Soils and Revegetation addresses student needs with current 

updated procedures necessary to address soil enhancement and stabilization.

Plans for FY 2019 and FY 2020: NTTP received 1,577 requests for spaces in FY 2019, and 

anticipates it will receive additional requests for special sessions during the year. To keep travel 

costs down and to provide the maximum experience of field conditions most like those that 

students work in, courses will be scheduled as close to home offices as possible in both FY 2019 

and FY 2020. In FY 2018, courses were held in 27 locations in 11 States.

Annual Program Planning to Identify Training Needs: Each spring, OSMRE conducts a Training 

Needs Survey for the upcoming fiscal year to determine the training needs of the almost 2,000

State and Tribal regulatory and reclamation staff, as well as over 400 OSMRE regulatory and 

reclamation staff. NTTP analyzes the annual survey results to determine if there is sufficient 

interest to justify a course, and if so, how many sessions of the course are needed. Students are 

assigned to classes that are closest to their office to minimize travel costs and to provide students 

with field experience most similar to their geographic working conditions. The number of requests 

for courses usually exceeds the number that NTTP can offer. Students who are not assigned to 

classes are put on a waiting list. Those on the waiting list are notified 30 days prior to class if 

space becomes available. To address changing on-the-ground needs, NTTP staff continues to work 

with offices to meet subject specific needs that arise subsequent to the Needs Survey. To assure 

that students are receiving the latest technical and programmatic information, NTTP continually 

reviews courses based on student, supervisor, and instructor feedback, and revises or add courses 

accordingly in consultation with the NTTP Steering Committee.

Course Revisions: FY 2019 and FY 2020 course revisions are planned for AML Design 

Workshop: Dangerous Highwalls, AML Reclamation Projects, Applied Engineering Principles, 

Bonding: Administrative and Legal Aspects, Bonding: Cost Estimation, Historical and 

Archaeological Resources, AML Realty, Permitting Hydrology, Quantitative Hydrology, SMCRA 
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and ESA, Soils and Revegetation, Underground Mining Technology, and Wetlands Awareness.

On Line Program Planning: FY 2019 and FY 2020 planning includes development for on-line 

components of the Underground Mining Technology and Wetland Awareness courses as 

appropriate, and also a Basic Mining Related Chemistry course to serve as a pre-requisite to the 

Acid-Forming Materials courses. Once revised, the Basic Inspection Workbook and Principles of 

Inspection/SMCRA will be online also.

b. TIPS Software Application Training

The tools that TIPS provides to State, Tribal, and Federal offices ensure that all agencies with 

SMCRA responsibilities are using the same advanced software and hardware tools to conduct the

business required by the Act. TIPS offers more than just software and hardware; the program also 

provides specialized training to use these tools in mining and reclamation. The TIPS Training 

Program is a collaborative effort among OSMRE, States, and Tribes. Course developers and 

instructors are reclamation experts who use TIPS software to solve a wide-range of complex 

permitting, enforcement and abandoned mine land problems. Although most of TIPS tools are 

off-the-shelf applications, TIPS training is tailored exclusively to mining and reclamation uses. 

TIPS courses are delivered on-site at the customer’s request, and in training centers located in 

OSMRE’s offices in Denver, Colorado; Alton, Illinois; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In FY 2018, the TIPS training program received a customer satisfaction rating of 98 percent, 

meeting the annual GPRA goal. Twenty instructor-led classes were held in FY 2018 with 234 

students completing class sessions. Additionally, 26 students attended two on-line self-study 

training classes sponsored by TIPS, bringing the FY 2018 total to 260 students. Three of the 20 

on-site training classes were conducted at State office locations to meet the specific training needs 

of particular groups of students throughout the SMCRA community. In FY 2019, TIPS plans to 

hold 20 instructor-led classes (including one State office special session in Virginia), and two online training courses. Additionally in FY 2019, there are two course revisions planned: 1) ArcGIS 

Spatial Analyst for Mining and Reclamation and 2) Modeling and Analysis with Groundwater 

Vistas. Also, there are two course developments planned: 1) Introduction to Remote Sensing and 

2) Collector 200.

While many TIPS courses are facilitated by an instructor in a traditional classroom, the TIPS 

Training Program continues to actively expand online opportunities and provide “just-in-time” 

training resources for our customers. Over 100 online courses are available through the TIPS 

Virtual Campus and ESRI, which is the world leader in GIS modeling and mapping. TIPS utilizes 

its Virtual Campus and continues to educate our instructors on techniques to teach in an on-line

environment.

c. Regional/Site Specific Training

OSMRE regions also conduct courses and workshops at OSMRE, State and Tribal locations to 

address specific needs. The OSMRE regions provide specific, on-the-job training on topics such 

as: technical software applications, field equipment, blasting certificate update training, grants 

management, how to prepare and/or process State program amendments, GIS data collection, 

performance bond cost estimation, and conducting AML project design. OSMRE provides these 
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classes on short notice (usually 1 to 3 months) and tailors them to the specific needs of the 

audience.

Oklahoma Mobile Computing OTJ Training: OSMRE Tulsa Filed Office (TFO) and Oklahoma 

Department of Mines (ODM) requested for an on-the-job (OTJ) training on “ESRI Collector” 

application in January 2018. Collector is a simple mobile GIS app that allows users to collect and 

update geospatial information in the field using various types of smart devices. MCR’s mobile 

computing expert provided the training at TFO office during the week of February 26, 2018. 

ODM New Biologist OTJ Training: ODM requested a training from MCR Natural Resources 

Specialist for a newly hired biologist. The OTJ training was conducted at the State field office in 

Wagner, OK during the week of March 12, 2018 and consisted of topics covering SMCRA, permit 

review, 1996 Biological Opinion, Endangered Species Act, and other Fish and Wildlife related 

issues. 

Site specific classes allow State, Tribal and OSMRE managers to rapidly respond to changing 

technology and workforce. OSMRE plans to continue providing this specific training in FY 2019 

and FY 2020. With rapidly developing technologies in Unmanned Aerial Systems, 

photogrammetry and terrestrial scanning, OSMRE expects the requests for specialized training to 

increase over the next few fiscal years. As the varying programs acquire their own systems in 

these fields, training on operation, data collection, processing and using the results in enforcement 

processes will be essential to the efficient enforcement of SMCRA in coming years.

In particular Statewide training of blasting will be needed in West Virginia and Kentucky. Until 

recently, blasting inspections were conducted by blasting specialists. These duties have been 

transferred to the inspection staff as a way to manage dwindling resources. State specific training 

will ensure that the inspectors have the knowledge and tools to effectively regulate the blasting 

aspects of coal mining.

Use of narrative standards for the determination of mining impacts has led to the development of 

specialized stream bioassessment training for field personnel of the States and OSMRE. 

Knowledge of techniques and early pertinent data collection will lead to better understanding of 

existing and new narrative standards and protection of the stream and aquatic life. The training 

entails determination of stream morphology and habitat, collection of macroinvertebrates and 

preliminary categorizing of insect and other organisms types. Based on several parameters 

assessed, the condition of the stream can be assigned and possible mining impacts evaluated.

3. Technology Transfer

Technology Transfer is an integral component of OSMRE’s Restoration and Protection business 

lines providing National support to State and Tribal programs. Technology Transfer is 

accomplished through a variety of activities. This request includes $3,258,000 and 12 FTE for 

these activities. State technical representatives meet frequently with OSMRE regional staff to 

share resources whenever practicable to resolve regional technical issues. OSMRE sponsors or 

participates in interactive technical forums, computer applications workshops, and technical 

seminars to address mining and reclamation environmental issues. OSMRE partners with the 

States, Tribes and industry to develop technology transfer priorities.
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The OSMRE National and regional technology transfer teams evaluate initiatives to encourage 

networking and information sharing that will result in program improvement or enhancement. 

OSMRE’s Technology Transfer activities bring a new approach to nationwide cooperation and 

customer service. They encourage the timely and efficient use of our natural resources while 

protecting the environment.

In addition to activities between OSMRE and States, Tribes and industry, OSMRE has extended 

Technology Transfer opportunities to other Federal agencies, in particular the Mine Safety and 

Health Administration (MSHA). When seats are available in OSMRE training classes they have 

been made available to MSHA. OSMRE also informs MSHA representatives of funded Applied 

Science projects, and invites their participation in site and laboratory visits; and asks for their 

comments regarding conduct and results of these studies.

Mid-Continent Roadshow: A number of years ago, OSMRE initiated and performed a series of 

technology transfer events (roadshows) for mid-continent States focusing on delivering the latest 

and innovative SMCRA related technology information to potential end users. In FY 2018, 

OSMRE decided to revamp the roadshow concept and conducted a roadshow on July 17, 2018 at 

Alabama AML office in Irondale, AL. Employees from OSMRE, Alabama title V program 

(ASMC) and Alabama AML attended the session. OSMRE staff demonstrated equipment/tools 

and provided talks on topics covering UAS, GNSS GPS receivers, Global Mapper software, 

Bathymetric Survey, LiDAR and other remote sensing image applications, and Borehole camera.

2018 American Society of Mining & Reclamation (ASMR) Conference: OSMRE staff attended 

the 35th annual ASMR conference held on June 3-7, 2018 in St. Louis, MO. During the event, 

staff members from several OSMRE offices managed the OSMRE booth. The conference 

attendance was around 200 and included exhibitors.

a. Technology Development

One of OSMRE’s most important missions is to advance and transfer technologies that will 

improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the science of mine land reclamation. Advancement 

of this technology will result in better mining and reclamation practices, and provide for better 

science-based decision-making. OSMRE will continue to advance technologies and practices 

specific to coal mine sites for more comprehensive ecosystem restoration, including reforestation 

and reclamation using native vegetation and plant habitat.

During FY 2018 OSMRE developed and implemented a new, more comprehensive SOP for the 

program, and updated guidance and proposal solicitation documents. This will result in a much 

more transparent and better documented process, particularly regarding evaluation of proposals. 

In addition, OSMRE continued to track the progress of active projects.

b. Technology Transfer and Publications

Technology Transfer is accomplished through a variety of activities including: conducting 

workshops and technical forums; publication of workshop and forum proceedings, handbooks, and 

other materials; maintenance of the OSMRE technical library and various information websites. 
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Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 81

Examples of activities include:

Reforestation: OSMRE continues its effort to encourage proper reforestation practices to increase 

the amount of mined land reclaimed as healthy, productive forests. The reforestation initiative 

effort has resulted in not only increased use of the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA), but also 

technical and policy symposia and a reforestation website to explain the methods and benefits of 

reforestation. The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) team members give 

presentations at professional meetings, and the 33-member Science Team (made up of university 

researchers from across the country and members of the American Bird Conservancy, The 

American Chestnut Foundation, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Forest Service) publish 

bulletins on state-of-the-art reforestation practices. In August 2018, ARRI brought together 

landowners, industry representatives, environmental groups, researchers, regulatory personnel, 

and citizens groups to the 12th annual Mined Land Reforestation Conference in Indiana, 

Pennsylvania, to learn about advancements regarding the use of the FRA to reclaim coal mine 

sites. In FY 2018, ARRI partners organized over 1900 volunteers to plant approximately 400,000 

trees on post-bond release mine sites across Appalachia. The volunteers learned about planting 

trees using FRA and the positive environmental and economic impacts of forests in their State.

Workshops and Forums: National and regional workshops and forums facilitate the exchange of 

information between technical experts in the mining and reclamation fields, and also communicate 

that knowledge to the wide audience of regulators, citizens and mining company officials. 

OSMRE plans to hold workshops on issues such as bonding, water quality, gas wells in coal mining 

areas, stream restoration techniques, geomorphic reclamation, protection of endangered species, 

etc. OSMRE has formed a team that is working to develop and implement a strategic approach to 

technology transfer, taking advantage of new and emerging technologies in addition to more 

traditional approaches. In particular, OSMRE is currently updating technology development and 

transfer web pages of the OSMRE website to include hosting of webinars; providing access to 

presentations from conferences, workshops, forums, and webinars, and marketing upcoming 

events using various forms of social media, as well as a newsletter. 

Examples of National and regional events that occurred in FY 2018 were OSMRE’s participation 

in the American Society of Mining and Reclamation conference held in St. Louis, Missouri and 

the joint National Association of Abandoned Mine Lands Programs and National Association of 

State Land Reclamationists conference held in Williamsburg, Virginia. One example of National 

and regional events that occurred in FY 2018 is OSMRE’s presentation at the 2018 National 

Association of Abandoned Mine Land Program (NAAMLP) conference held in Williamsburg, VA 

during the week of September 9, 2018. MCR staff presented a paper titled “Occurrences of 

Artesian Net Acid Mine Drainage in the Western Interior Coal Field and Implications for Passive 

Treatment.” The paper identifies the principle difficulties with implementation of AMD passive 

treatment systems in the Western Interior Coal Field of the Mid-Western U.S. The paper also 

provides several promising technologies that have been successfully implemented in the Western 

Interior Coal Field. The study was conducted in coordination of OSMRE and State agencies 

(OSMRE/MCR, Oklahoma Conservation Commission – AML program, Arkansas Department of 

Environmental Quality, and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship).

Reports, Forums and Workshop Proceedings: OSMRE makes available on their website various 

technical publications. The agency publishes proceedings, reports and event notices in paper copy, 
Technology Development and Transfer

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 82

on CD/DVDs, and over the Internet to reach the widest audience possible

OSMRE Technical Library: OSMRE maintains a National Technical Library in its Western 

Region Office in Denver, Colorado. The Library provides access to technical, scientific, and legal 

information for the bureau, as well as the States, Tribes, industry, citizen groups, and the public 

through a variety of services including: reference assistance, technical research, document 

delivery, and the dissemination of critical current awarenessinformation.

c. Educational Outreach and Partnerships

To make the public and students aware of OSMRE’s responsibilities and to create a conservation 

stewardship legacy, OSMRE staff provides educational outreach to science teachers associations, 

science classes, educational fairs, Earth Day events, career days, foreign visitors, grassroots 

organizations, and professional associations and societies. Additional outreach is provided 

through publications and distribution of forum proceedings. Outreach efforts will continue in FY 

2019 with OSMRE’s participation in local activities supporting such events as college and 

university seminars, high school career days, and primary grade school presentations that provide 

age-appropriate information and workshops about environmental stewardship and promote careers 

in science, technology, engineering, and math to over 10,000 students across the country.

University Partnerships: Minority Higher Education Program: OSMRE works to build mutually 

beneficial partnerships with minority serving colleges and universities under the OSMRE Minority 

Higher Education Program (MHEP). OSMRE provides guidance and direction on these projects 

to ensure that the intended results are achieved. OSMRE also collaborates with our MHEP partners 

on training and educational programs.

In addition to traditional training within the SMCRA community, OSMRE has been involved in a 

collaborative partnership with Adams State University (ASU), a Hispanic Serving Institution, in 

Alamosa, Colorado, since November 2009. OSMRE and ASU had a signed 5-year Memorandum 

of Understanding (MOU), August 2012 to August 2017, during this time the parties successfully 

implemented the three core critical initiatives: ASU Curriculum/Student Development, OSMRE 

Training Program Development, and OSMRE Involvement at ASU Campus. Several examples 

include: 1) ASU increased efforts to add electives/coursework elements that bring practical 

working skills to students. Five students completed internships assisting OSMRE map conversion 

processing of hard copy mine permit data into digital geo-referenced mine data for inclusion in the 

GeoMine web application database; 2) Capstone projects where ASU students learn SMCRA 

concepts outside of the traditional “paid internship” that involved the ASU Art Department 

designing and building a Mining Model for OSMRE to use for public outreach; 3) The new 

distance learning education and course development opportunities for OSMRE where ASU 

provided online course development expertise and offered a “Best Practices of Distance Learning” 

online course to our instructors; and 4) Participation from OSMRE at several ASU career fairs, as 

well as donating OSMRE excess equipment (plotters, monitors, and Global Positioning System 

equipment) to the ASU GIS Department. These partnerships will continue to support government 

and academia as they contribute their joint efforts to engage youth in the outdoors and increase

student and recent graduate opportunities for training and exposure to science, technology, 

engineering, and mathematics careers.
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Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 83

In FY 2018, OSMRE staff attended career fairs and National conferences at several Minority 

Serving Institutions (MSI) including three Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCU) 

career fairs, and the National conferences of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities 

(HACU), the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS), the 

White House Initiative on HBCU’s, and the Society of American Indian Government Employees

(SAIGE).

University Internships: In FY 2018, OSMRE participated in the Hispanic Association of Colleges 

and Universities (HACU) Federal Internship Program. A geology student from the University of 

Puerto Rico successfully completed a 15 week internship in the fall of 2017 with the Pittsburgh 

Field Division.

Student Collaborations: One member of PTSB staff, along with other OSMRE employees from 

the Western Region, attended and presented at this year’s Girls in the Middle 20th annual event at 

Otero Junior College (Hispanic Serving Institution). This annual event provides girls in the middle 

grades (6, 7, and 8) with the opportunity to explore different careers in the STEM (Science, 

Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields to consider for their future. OSMRE has partnered 

with Otero Junior College in LaJunta, Colorado for this event that was held on March 2, 2018.

Throughout FY 2018, OSMRE staff conducted an ongoing partnership with students from L&N 

STEM Academy in Knoxville, Tennessee, providing coursework related to science and 

engineering activities.
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Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 84

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER

2019 Planned Program Performance

In 2019, in addition to activities previously mentioned, the planned activities in Technology 

Development and Transfer include:

 OSMRE will continue to provide technical assistance to States and Tribes, making use of 

emerging technologies for field data collection, and in-house information processing 

capabilities.

 OSMRE is working with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, Bureau 

of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, on the Isabella Mine site to establish a passive treatment 

system to remediate mine drainage discharges, reclaim abandoned coal refuse piles, and 

partially dewater a large impoundment to prevent flooding of a nearby road and ensure public 

safety. This project is a combination site with both Title IV and forfeited Title V lands.

 OSMRE is providing technical support to the West Virginia Department of Environmental 

Protection in conjunction with the Fish and Wildlife Service to create Protection and 

Enhancement Plans for aquatic and terrestrial species throughout the State. This proactive 

effort will minimize concerns of the potential stream sediment from surface mines impacting 

two threatened/endangered species of crayfish and possible impacts on other aquatic and 

terrestrial species.

 OSMRE is partnering with “The Wilds”, an animal park for rare and endangered species in 

southcentral Ohio. The 9,000 acre park has large areas of surface mined lands with acidic 

metal laden discharges and unsafe earthen dam impoundments that originated prior to 

enactment of SMCRA. OSMRE specialists are working to determine the best means by 

which to dewater the impoundments and passively treat the mine water. This is a multiyear 

project with geologists, hydrologist, engineers and GIS specialists from the Appalachian 

Region involved. 

 The OSMRE Blaster Certificate Coordinator will continue to coordinate blaster certificate 

activities with State personnel, Federal agencies (MSHA, OSHA, and ATF) and professional 

organizations (International Society of Explosives Engineers, Institute of Makers of 

Explosives and National Fire Protection Association).

 OSMRE, States, and Tribes will continue to work on development of e-Permitting solutions 

for their legacy coal permitting systems. Strides have been made on this issue and will 

continue in FY 2019.

 OSMRE will continue evaluating emerging technologies, including smart-phone and tablet 

accessories, unmanned aerial systems, and developing workflows to process data obtained. 

Results of these evaluations and workflows will be disseminated to OSMRE, States, Tribes, 

and industry by reports, and presentations at conferences, workshops, symposia, and 

meetings.
Technology Development and Transfer

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 85

 NTTP and TIPS will continue to develop course materials and topics that are relevant, useful, 

and impressive. Course revisions are planned for 14 NTTP courses. NTTP and TIPS will 

continue to recruit instructors from the States, Tribes, and OSMRE who are confident, 

knowledgeable, and fluent in the subjects presented, articulate in answering questions, 

thorough, concise, and accurate in presentation methods.

 OSMRE will continue to cultivate a relationship with MSHA, with goals of reaching 

consensus on technical issues, and cooperation in areas where jurisdictions may overlap. 

Significant progress has been made, and will continue.

 Continue to monitor 13 applied science projects and 4 technical investigation projects, 

reporting results as available.

 ARRI partners will organize 2,000 volunteers to plant approximately 400,000 trees on postbond release mine sites across Appalachia.

 Conduct technical training and TIPS courses in accordance with revised schedules and 

available funding levels.

 Expand the OSMRE Technology Development and Transfer presence on the OSMRE 

website. Implement a strategic Technology Transfer process, and market Technology 

Development and Transfer presence and products using social media and a newsletter.

 Issue a solicitation for Applied Science proposals that will help to use science-based 

solutions to mining and reclamation issues. OSMRE will select the best proposals to achieve 

the highest valued outcomes. Funded proposals will continue to be tracked to verify value 

of results.

 Continue to expand partnering opportunities for students and recent graduates in science, 

technology, engineering, and mathematics. OSMRE staff plan to attend outreach events at 

several K-12th grade schools and educational organizations. In FY 2019, OSMRE staff will

participate in the USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C. OSMRE staff 

will conduct a SMCRA overview with Biology students at the Indiana University of 

Pennsylvania. OSMRE staff will attend GIS day at Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, 

Missouri. OSMRE staff to attend a science fair at Denver Public Schools.

 The new ArcGIS/SQL database for the National Mine Map Repository, which allows for 

more efficient data entry and retrieval of mine map information, was made available in FY 

2018 for the public. Improvements to this database are scheduled to be made in FY 2019.

 OSMRE/MT DEQ completed e-permit software Release 1 in FY 2018; an improved second 

release of the software will be available in FY 2019.

 Serve customers needing information for our National Mine Map Repository (in FY 2018 

NMMR served 223 clients).
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Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 86

 Increase the National Mine Map Repository’s document collection by 6,100 new maps.

 In FY 2018, the AVS Office managed a contract that enhanced certain features of the AVS 

to promote data accuracy and system usability. All major changes to the system have been 

successfully implemented and the remaining administrative portions of the contract are 

projected to be completed ahead of schedule in the first quarter of FY 2019.

 OSMRE will make the long-awaited revised version of AMDTreat available to users and 

continue to upgrade the modules to reflect the newest treatment technologies. We will 

provide assistance and training to assist the users in the application of the advanced software.

2018 Program Accomplishments

In 2018, in addition to accomplishments previously mentioned, the major accomplishments in 

Technology Development and Transfer include:

 Conducted State specific blasting inspection training for over 200 employees, conducted 

continuing education training for over 500 certified blasters across the Nation, revised the 

Blast Log Evaluation Program in Microsoft Excel to gauge compliance with the regulations 

and evaluate the adverse effects of blasting, maintained the ARblast webpage that continues 

to be one of the most used OSMRE webpages, hosted monthly “Blasting Technical Chat” 

conference calls with 15 to 20 participants per month to discuss blasting technology 

applications in the field, hosted a Blasting Inspectors Workshop with 26 participants from 

six States, facilitated regulatory discussions at Appalachian Blaster Certification Delegation 

(AL, PA, KY, VA, MD, IN, OH, WV and TN) meeting, and responded to numerous inquiries 

for technical information and advice from the public, States, and other Federal agencies.

 OSMRE conducted over 12 Unmanned Aerial Systems flights in the second half of FY 2018. 

Using this drone technology, aerial imagery, video, digital elevation models, contour maps, 

and infrared and thermal imagery related to landslides, pit and spoil volumetric calculations, 

and mine fires for both active and AML operations were created.

Thermal Image of a Coal Stockpile created from UAS data collection
Technology Development and Transfer

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 87

 The Technology Support Division in the Appalachian Region started this new small 

Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) technical chat group to support our SMCRA 

constituents. Increasingly popular, sUAS is able to take photographs and video with a bird’s 

eye view. The technical chat group was formed to support and encourage discussion among 

the sUAS users and covers a wide variety of on-the-ground issues that can be explored using 

sUAS, such as engineering, hydrology, geology, and geography. Also the group shares 

experiences with the successes, and failures using sUAS hardware and software. Currently 

over 15 States and OSMRE offices actively participate in the effort.

 Provided technical assistance related to water quality and quantity of mine discharges at 

various sites in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Tennessee.

 OSMRE continued to provide technical assistance involving analysis of quality control and 

stability issues at coal mine waste slurry impoundments in Tennessee and Kentucky.

 Appalachian Region Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) partners organized 2000 volunteers to 

plant approximately 400,000 trees on post-bond release mine sites across Appalachia.

 Expanded the OSMRE Technology Development and Transfer presence on the OSMRE 

website, implementing a strategic Technology Transfer process.

 Taught a first of its kind for the agency class on aviation safety with more such efforts 

expected in FY 2019.

 Completed software development and initial testing for e-permitting, Release 1. Release 2 

will enhance Release 1 by incorporating Federal-specific rules for Federal Program States 

and Tribes. Release 2 is expected to be completed in late 2019.

 Developed and implemented a new ArcGIS/SQL database for the National Mine Map 

Repository, allowing for more efficient data entry and retrieval of mine map information.

 Fulfilled 223 client requests consisting of a total of 5,408 mine maps.

 Conducted educational outreach opportunities regarding the OSMRE mission, coal mining 

and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for K- 12th grade students 

across various schools and educational organizations throughout the country.
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Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 88

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Financial Management
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Financial Management

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 89

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Financial Management Budget Request

(Dollars in Thousands)

2018

Actual

2019 CR 

Baseline

2020

Fixed 

Costs 

(+/-)

Internal 

Transfers 

(+/-)

Program 

Changes 

(+/-)

2020

Request

Change 

From 2019

(+/-)

Regulation and 

Technology 505 505 +2 -2 505 -

Revenue Management 410 410 +2 -2 410 -

FTE 2 2 - 2 -

Grants Financial 

Management 95 95 - - 95 -

FTE 0 1 - 1 -

Abandoned Mine 

Reclamation Fund 5,182 5,182 +22 - -13 5,191 +9

Fee Compliance 5,081 5,081 +21 -21 5,081 -

FTE 35 34 -6 28 -6

Grants Financial 

Management 101 101 +1 +8 110 +9

FTE 1 1 - 1 -

Total, Financial 

Management 5,687 5,687 +24 - -15 5,696 +9

Total FTE 38 38 -6 32 -6

NOTE: 2018 FTE figures reflect actual usage. 

Fixed Costs result of $24,000 in pay related items.
Financial Management

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 90

Summary of 2020 Program Changes for Financial Management

Request Component ($000) FTE

Priority Alignment -15 -6

TOTAL Program Changes -15 -6

Financial Management provides resources for OSMRE to carry out its responsibilities through 

fee compliance, revenue management and grants management.

Justification of 2020 Program Change

Priority Alignment (-$15,000/-6 FTE): The FY 2020 budget maintains Financial Management

operational activities, and aligns OSMRE’s existing staffing and fiscal resources across business lines to 

optimize fulfilment of OSMRE’s statutory responsibilities and support of administration priorities
Financial Management

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 91

OVERVIEW

This Financial Management business line provides resources for OSMRE to carry out its financial 

management program responsibilities through three activities: fee compliance, revenue 

management, and grants management.

• Fee compliance covers the collection, accounting, audit and investment of abandoned 

mine reclamation fees, assistance to operators on compliance matters, and regulatory 

and policy development on fee compliance issues.

• Grants management includes accounting for and reporting on grants awarded to State

and Tribes for Abandoned Mine Land (AML) and regulatory purposes.

• Revenue management involves the accounting and collection of revenue other than 

reclamation fees, such as civil penalties assessed under Federal citations for mining 

violations and Federal performance bonds forfeited by coal mine permittees.

The Financial Management business line also provides for United Mine Workers of America Fund 

(UMWAF) Transfers, which involves reviewing the annual transfer request, supporting 

documentation, audited financial statements, reconciling true-up from prior-year transfers; 

estimating future interest earnings; preparing various budgetary estimates and projections; and 

planning annual audit procedures for the unreimbursed health care expenses for coal miners and 

their dependents.

Financial Management operations are an integral part of OSMRE’s Environmental Restoration 

and Environmental Protection mission goal areas. State and Tribal grant funding (reclamation and 

regulatory) disbursement for the administration of regulatory activities and reclamation cleanup 

projects is managed through this program activity. OSMRE, States, and Tribes fund reclamation 

project work through the fees collected from current mine operators. The funds are provided 

through annual mandatory grants provided to States and Tribes. The reclamation projects clean 

up environmental hazards resulting from past mining operations that degrade land and water 

resources. The regulatory grants, which are appropriated annually, fund the administration of State

regulatory programs that protect people and the environment from adverse effects associated with 

current mining and ensure the land is restored at the conclusion of mining.
Financial Management

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 92

Operational Processes (Program Activities): 

As previously discussed, OSMRE carries out its 

program financial management responsibilities 

through three program activities: fee 

compliance; grants management; and revenue 

management. Financial management also 

includes activities involved in funding transfers 

to the United Mine Workers of America Fund 

(UMWAF). This business line does not include 

administrative accounting or reporting for 

appropriated funds.

The outcome of OSMRE’s Financial Management program performance is measured primarily by 

the success of the Surface Mining Program in carrying out the two major missions of the organization 

– Environmental Restoration and Environmental Protection. The Financial Management business 

line is an integral part and supports accomplishment of both missions. Workload indicators 

identified for this business line include the quarterly fee collection reports and fee collection rate for 

operators reporting coal tonnage, internal audits for fee collection and compliance, and accounting 

and reporting requirements.

Actions Required to Achieve Annual Goals: OSMRE will use technology and customer service 

initiatives to achieve compliance and improve processing of collections. This includes using the 

Internet to ease the coal companies’ reporting burden, receive quarterly coal production reports, 

provide information to companies, and allow companies to make payments on-line. OSMRE will 

continue to use new and streamlined collection services as they become available and will work with 

customers and stakeholders to ensure fair and consistent policies.

In FY 2019 and FY 2020, OSMRE will continue to improve its Coal Fee Collection Management 

System (CFCMS), which OSMRE uses to process and manage coal reclamation fees, compliance 

audit findings, and civil penalties. CFCMS supports the continued success of the fee compliance 

program. OSMRE continually looks for opportunities to automate processes and streamline coal 

operating company reporting through the consolidated coal data reporting system (Single Source 

Coal Reporting System). OSMRE will also continue to support State and Tribal program operations 

through the Grants Management activity. OSMRE has over 206 grants and cooperative agreements 

with the States and Tribes, accounting for over $873 million.

Resources, Skills, and Technology Needed: To support program activities and to assure the 

collection of appropriate fees, OSMRE plans to maintain a highly trained cadre of fee compliance 

auditors, program accountants, and financial systems personnel. OSMRE will use training to ensure 

that financial management personnel maintain a high level of skill and technical expertise. OSMRE 

will also continue to use contractors to handle billing, data entry, and appropriate collection

functions.

The following section details, by program activity, the funding and FTE resources required to meet 

the performance measures.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

ENCOMPASSES:

Fee Compliance 

Grants Management 

Revenue Management

UMWAF Transfers
Financial Management

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 93

2019 PROGRAM PERFORMANCE

1. Fee Compliance

The fees collected from active coal operators provide the funding used by OSMRE, States and 

Tribes to restore land and water degraded by past mining practices to beneficial uses. OSMRE 

collects the fee from active coal operators based upon tons of coal produced. These funds 

contribute to accomplishment of the Department of the Interior’s “Ensure energy and economic 

security for America” goal by generating revenue and utilizing our natural resources to decrease 

dependency on other Nations while also supporting employment in the Nation’s coal mining 

regions.

OSMRE’s Fee Compliance Program carries out the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation 

Act’s (SMCRA) requirements to ensure coal operators accurately report coal production and pay 

appropriate reclamation fees. The program goal is to maximize compliance by applying policy 

and collection procedures fairly and consistently at a reasonable cost. This request includes 

$5,081,000 and 28 FTE for the Fee Compliance activity.

In FY 2018, OSMRE’s Fee Compliance Program achieved a 99.8 percent collection rate resulting 

in $155.5 million in total collections. Collections decreased slightly from FY 2017 due to 

decreased coal production. By working closely with the industry, the program achieved a 99.5 

percent compliance rate for operators filing their tonnage reports. OSMRE maintained a high 

percentage of permits that filed OSM-1 Reports electronically, at 85.9 percent in FY 2018. During 

FY 2018, OSMRE also processed 84.4 percent of the coal reclamation fee reports automatically, 

and 86.1 percent of payments automatically. Further automation of payment processing is 

constrained by the inability of some companies to use the Treasury Department’s Pay.Gov system.

The Fee Compliance Program is comprised of two highly integrated components -- collections and 

audits -- that work hand-in-hand to maximize compliance, minimize the burden on industry, and 

ensure the efficient use of resources. For example, key initiatives that these components will 

pursue in FY 2019 include:

• Maintaining and improving the Single Source Coal Reporting (SSCR) system and the 

Coal Fee Collection Management System (CFCMS). 

• Increasing the use of automation in conducting fee compliance audits to further 

improve efficiency.

Details of these and other services the collection and audit components provide are described in 

the following sections.

a. AML Fee Collection

The collection component assures that the AML Fee payment requirements of SMCRA are applied 

consistently and fairly across the country. In FY 2018, OSMRE collected 99.8 percent of the AML 

Fees due during the year. Total FY 2018 AML Fee collections were $155.5 million.
Financial Management

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 94

To assist in managing AML Fee collections, OSMRE utilizes CFCMS. This computerized system 

provides subsidiary accounts receivable and management information needed to manage the fee 

compliance program. CFCMS is integrated with the Applicant Violator System (AVS) to track 

new permits from initial permitting through fee reporting. CFCMS tracks AML fee payments by 

permit number of producing coal companies each quarter. In addition, the system issues quarterly 

OSM-1 coal reclamation fee reports for industry coal sale reporting and fee computation. The 

reports are available on-line through OSMRE’s E-filing website. Permit information is pre-filled 

and the system automatically calculates the coal reclamation fees due, based on the data entered 

by the company. For the permits that are not filed on-line, OSMRE mails a paper reporting

package.

On average, over 1,117 permits are reported on OSM-1 reports and processed each quarter. 

OSMRE uses an internet-based system to allow coal companies to file their quarterly coal 

production reports electronically. Companies report that the on-line reporting system saves them 

time and money. The efficiency is evidenced by the fact that 362 companies voluntarily use the 

E-filing system to report on approximately 959 permits and over 97 percent of the coal tonnage 

produced nationwide. The system significantly streamlines the reporting process, makes it easier 

for companies to report on time, reduces errors, and makes it easier for OSMRE to follow-up with 

companies that have not reported. The system also allows companies to make payment online, 

using the Treasury Department’s Pay.Gov payment method. This feature saves companies time 

and wire transfer costs, while providing OSMRE with timely information about collections for 

investment purposes.

OSMRE uses CFCMS to provide the ongoing support for the Fee Compliance Program. The 

system enables OSMRE to manage the fee compliance process, from permit issuance to mining 

completion. CFCMS also supports the related financial processes, including fee accounting, 

payment processing, billing, debt collection, and financial and management reporting. During FY 

2018, OSMRE implemented a new SSCR/CFCMS enhancement that enables the system to 

electronically generate and accept unsolicited OSM-1 forms. Prior to the enhancement, the process 

to submit an unsolicited OSM-1 form involved printing a blank paper form, manually writing in 

all key required fields, and reporting via mail. The unsolicited form would also require manual 

data entry into CFCMS. The process proved to be time consuming and inconvenient to customers, 

and requests to have the capability of filing electronically were submitted to OSMRE’s Finance 

Division.

With the enhancement, SSCR automatically identifies users permitted to file unsolicited OSM-1 

forms, and provides those users the option to re-activate and report on permits previously filed. 

CFMCS automatically updates all tables necessary to process tonnage and AML fees. The 

streamlining and automation of the process allows new e-filers, and companies with temporarily 

inactive permits, to re-initiate their filing process in a more convenient and timely manner. 

b. AML Fee Audit

SMCRA requires OSMRE to conduct audits to ensure full compliance with the law’s reclamation 

fee requirements, so funds are available for State, Tribal, and Federal reclamation efforts. To meet 

that mandate, the AML Fee Audit program is designed to promote timely and accurate reporting 
Financial Management

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 95

of coal tonnage and to ensure correct fee payments. In addition to conducting a comprehensive 

audit program, the audit staff also performs other activities to promote compliance; this includes 

identifying responsible parties for reclamation fee liability on new and transferred permits, 

providing the information and assistance operators need to comply, and taking appropriate 

enforcement action when non-compliance occurs.

The audit staff is strategically stationed in locations which minimize travel costs to coal company’s 

recordkeeping locations. Over 70 percent of the audit staff are full time teleworkers, with no bricks 

and mortar office – significantly reducing general services costs. To ensure quality, audits are 

performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General 

of the United States, and the continuing professional education and training of OSMRE’s audit 

staff is emphasized in accordance with those standards. The audit program maintains an internal 

control system and monitors it on an ongoing basis to provide reasonable assurance that the 

policies and quality controls are suitably designed and effectively applied. This ensures 

consistency and fairness in the application of SMCRA reclamation fee requirements.

With a highly visible and comprehensive audit presence structured, to ensure all companies are 

appropriately audited, the small audit staff serves as an effective deterrent to noncompliance. To 

support the program goal of maximizing compliance, OSMRE auditors will conduct more than 

150 reclamation fee compliance audits in FY 2020. In addition to deterrence, audits afford an 

opportunity to promote compliance by providing direct assistance to the industry on accounting 

and reporting matters needed to meet their reclamation fee responsibilities. For example, when 

instances of non-compliance are identified, the auditors thoroughly explain the issues and the 

corrective actions needed to avoid reoccurrences.

Auditors also provide several other services necessary to achieve a high level of compliance. The 

following are a few examples of the work planned for FY 2020.

Increasing audit automation: By using an automated audit package designed and developed inhouse and applying computer techniques to the data gathering, analysis, and reporting function, 

the audit staff has been able to maintain a high compliance level despite limited resources. To 

further improve efficiency, OSMRE will continue to increase the use of computer assisted auditing 

techniques and work with coal companies to increase the use of electronic transaction files in the 

audit process.

Examining all permit transactions recorded by regulatory authorities: The audit staff will need to 

review more than 1,600 newly issued coal mining permits and transactions (transfers and 

amendments), which can affect the parties responsible for paying fees. In FY 2018, the staff 

handled 1,647 permit transactions. By continuing these efforts, the program provides significant 

assurance that all producing permits are identified in a timely manner, and operators are informed 

of their reporting and payment responsibilities.

Developing necessary revisions to the fee requirements and process: The auditors have the most 

direct contact with operators and the subject-matter expertise to identify, develop, test, and 

implement any needed changes. This is part of an ongoing effort to ensure fairness and a level 

playing field among all operators in fee payment.
Financial Management

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 96

Promoting E-government: OSMRE’s audit staff has been instrumental in the successful 

implementation of various E-government efforts. During FY 2020, the audit staff will continue to 

promote electronic tonnage reporting and fee payment by demonstrating the systems for 

companies during audits and notifying OSMRE’s collection staff of those interested in enrolling 

in E-filing and Pay.Gov.

Coordinating work with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS): OSMRE will continue working with 

the IRS to ensure the fee compliance and coal excise tax compliance programs function together 

more efficiently. SMCRA requires OSMRE to forward audit results to the IRS and both agencies 

coordinate issues affecting the industry. Overall, there also will be a continued emphasis on 

improving compliance and customer service in FY 2020 and beyond.

Table 7 shows annual production in tons and fees collected. Table 8 provides a summary of the 

Abandoned Mine Reclamation fund from 1978.

Table 7 – Deposits to the AML Fund and AML Production Fees

(Production in Millions of Tons) (Dollars in Millions)

2018

Actuals

2019

Projections

2020

Projections

2021

Projections

Production * EIA OSM EIA OSM EIA OSM

Underground 265 258 266 269 278 263 272

Surface 424 422 397 410 385 403 378

Lignite 63 59 59 52 53 50 51

AML Fees ** $155.5 $147.9 $172.3 $142.7

*DOE projections are based on calendar year (CY) projections made by the Department of 

Energy’s (DOE) Energy Information Administration (EIA) Annual Energy Outlook 2018, 

Reference Case Forecast, Table 67 (Coal Production by Region and Type). OSMRE tonnage uses 

the last reported production (Fiscal Year 2018) and then increases or decreases based on the 

percentage increase or decrease in DOE production for each coal type. The OSMRE projections 

are usually lower because AML fees are assessed on the tonnage sold, used, or transferred while 

the DOE figures are based on the tonnage produced.

**AML Fees are calculated based on the OSMRE tonnage estimates multiplied by the applicable 

current fee rate: $0.12, $0.28, and $0.8 for underground, surface, and lignite, respectively. The 

calculations are adjusted for moisture content, reduced coal prices and fees, administrative fees 

and uncollectible fee estimates.
Financial Management

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 97

Table 8 – Summary Status of Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund

(Dollars in Thousands)

Fiscal 

Year

Receipts and Interest Income Appropriations

Cumulative 

Appropriated 

Balance

Cumulative 

Unappropriated 

AML Fund 

Amount Balance

Interest 

Earned Cumulative

Amount 

Appropriated 

from

AML Fund Footnote

Appropriations 

from

Other Sources

Transfer To 

UMWA

Health

& Retirement 

Funds

1978-99 4,984,248 472,032 5,456,282 3,819,485 /1,/2,/3 17,363 192,886 4,012,370 1,443,912

2000 274,297 94,369 5,824,949 195,873 /4 108,960 / /4 4,317,203 1,507,745

2001 284,044 103,496 6,212,489 215,038 /5 182,019 /5 4,714,260 1,498,228

2002 287,066 43,278 6,542,833 203,455 /6 90,179 /6 5,007,894 1,534,939

2003 282,555 23,620 6,849,007 190,499 /7 89,858 /7 5,288,251 1,560,756

2004 287,023 45,695 7,181,725 190,591 14,967 5,493,809 1,687,916

2005 293,604 75,017 7,550,347 188,206 66,533 5,748,548 1,801,798

2006 302,992 95,687 7,949,025 185,248 59,004 5,992,800 1,956,225

2007 304,880 105,818 8,359,723 185,393 114,329 6,292,522 2,067,201

2008 286,272 83,764 8,729,759 139,334 /8 100,394 6,532,251 2,197,508

2009 272,764 55,465 9,057,988 142,977 /9 61,224 6,736,452 2,321,536

2010 251,784 55,193 9,364,964 177,502 /10 63,926 6,977,881 2,387,083

2011 259,935 54,881 9,679,781 185,649 /11 57,246 7,220,777 2,459,004

2012 249,725 54,789 9,984,295 247,595 /12 48,430 7,516,802 2,467,493

2013 213,675 36,634 10,234,603 237,544 /13 54,789 7,809,135 2,425,468

2014 202,872 34,928 10,472,403 206,726 /14 12,359 8,028,220 2,444,183

2015 197,973 29,426 10,699,802 208,403 /15 31,803 8,268,426 2,431,376

2016 158,807 32,175 10,890,784 202,356 /16 29,109 8,499,891 2,390,893

2017 159,499 33,922 11,084,205 171,873 /17 32,140 8,703,904 2,380,301

2018 155,475 49,236 11,288,916 232,436 /18 46,257 8,982,597 2,306,318

2019 147,934 54,321 11,491,171 235,372 54,321 9,272,290 2,218,881

2020 145,382 60,098 11,696,651 184,472 60,098 9,516,860 2,179,791

2021 142,741 64,596 11,903,988 184,372 64,596 9,796,001 2,138,160

/1 FY 1988 total does not include $7M transferred into the fund by supplemental authority, which does not affect the Unappropriated Balance.

/2 FY 1994 total includes $7.2M transferred into the fund by supplemental authority, which does not affect the Unappropriated Balance.

/3 FY 1998 total does not include $3.2M transferred into the fund by supplemental authority, which does not affect the Unappropriated Balance.

/4 FY 2000 total includes one-time $68M emergency appropriation, as well as the annual appropriation of $41M.

/5 FY 2001 total includes annual amount of $102.9M, as well as $81.6M of the one-time $96.7M mandated under PL 106-291.

/6 FY 2002 total includes annual amount of $113.6M, less $23.4M returned by UMWACBF trustees mandated under PL 106-291.

/7 FY 2003 total includes annual amount of $56M as well as $33.8M mandated under PL108-7.

/8 FY 2008 total includes annual amount of $52M as well as $87.4M mandated under PL 109-432.

/9 FY 2009 total includes annual amount of $52M as well as $90M mandated under PL 109-432.

/10 FY 2010 total includes annual amount of $35.5M as well as $141.9M mandated under PL 109-432.

/11 FY 2011 total includes annual amount of $35.5M as well as $150.1M mandated under PL 109-432.

/12 FY 2012 total includes annual amount of $27.4M as well as $220.2M mandated under PL 109-432.

/13 FY 2013 total includes annual amount of $27.4M as well as $210.1M mandated under PL 109-432.

/14 FY 2014 total includes annual amount of $27.4M as well as $179.3M mandated under PL 109-432.

/15 FY 2015 total includes annual amount of $27.4M as well as $181.0M mandated under PL 109-432.

/16 FY 2016 total includes annual amount of $27.3M as well as $175.1M mandated under PL 109-432.

/17 FY 2017 total includes annual amount of $27.2M as well as $144.7M mandated under PL 109-432.

/18 FY 2018 total includes annual amount of $24.7M as well as $207.8M mandated under PL 109-432.

Notes: FY 2019 figures are estimates except for the UMWA transfer. FY 2020 and FY 2021 figures are estimates.

Annual figures for FY 1978-1999 are displayed in the FY 2015 Budget Justification, Table 9.
Financial Management

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 98

2. Grant Financial Management

This activity accounts for and disburses reclamation and regulatory grants to States and Tribes

under OSMRE’s Environmental Restoration and Environmental Protection business lines. The 

grants financial management activity includes the disbursement, accounting, reporting, and 

recovery of grant funds. This request includes $205,000 for Grant Financial Management.

Most Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund (AML) grant activity was made mandatory, and no 

longer part of OSMRE’s discretionary budget, by the amendments to SMCRA enacted at the 

beginning of FY 2007. Starting in FY 2008, OSMRE has calculated grant distribution based on 

the amendments to SMCRA included in Public Law 109-432.

Along with the mandatory AML distributions given to the States, OSMRE also distributes 

mandatory treasury funds to the States as part of the grant distribution. More information is 

provided in the Permanent Appropriations section of this document.

Table 9 on the following page details the AML Unappropriated Balance as of September 30, 2018, 

by a description of its allocation.
Financial Management

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 99

Table 9 – AML Unappropriated Balance

Office of Surface Mining

AML Unappropriated Balance

September 30, 2018

Prepared by the Division of Financial Management

Description of

Allocation

Balance

as of 10/01/17

LESS: 2018

Appropriation/

Distribution

LESS: 2017

Treasury Funds

LESS: 2018

UMWBF Transfer 3/

Post Appr. &

Trans. Balance

Investment Int.

10/01/17-9/30/18

Collections for

10/01/17-9/30/18

Balance

As Of 9/30/18

Federal Expense 1/ $376,540,971.58 ($43,368,795.00) $0.00 $0.00 $333,172,176.58 $31,112,537.70 $364,284,714.28

Historic Coal 2/ $1,618,235,860.13 ($162,073,538.00) $114,215,889.00 $0.00 $1,570,378,211.13 $46,668,806.54 $1,617,047,017.67

Investment Interest $150,620,191.32 $0.00 $0.00 ($46,257,312.05) $104,362,879.27 $49,235,675.27 $0.00 $153,598,554.54

Total Fed Share 3/ $2,145,397,023.03 ($205,442,333.00) $114,215,889.00 ($46,257,312.05) $2,007,913,266.98 $49,235,675.27 $77,781,344.24 $2,134,930,286.49

Total State Share $234,903,542.13 ($26,993,373.00) ($114,215,889.00) $0.00 $93,694,280.13 $77,693,579.68 $171,387,859.81

Total $2,380,300,565.16 ($232,435,706.00) $0.00 ($46,257,312.05) $2,101,607,547.11 $49,235,675.27 $155,474,923.92 $2,306,318,146.30

3/ $46,257,312.05 is the amount transferred at the beginning of FY 2018 to the United Mine Workers Benefit Fund and the 1992 Benefit Plan for estimated expenses in FY 2018 and for 

 adjustments to actual expenditures in FY 2016.

Total Funds to be Allocated: $2,306,318,146.30

1/ The Federal Expense Allocation is reduced by the annual appropriation in addition to the mandatory grant distribution.

2/ The Historical Coal balance is calculated based on the following: 1) 30% of fees collected increase the balance; 2) the current year mandatory grant distribution reduces the balance, and;

 3) state share funds from certified states are transferred into the Historic Coal share to increase the balance.
Financial Management

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 100

3. Revenue Management

The 2020 budget request includes $410,000 and two FTE for the Revenue Management program 

activity. The Revenue Management activity involves managing a variety of non-fee revenues and 

receivables that come from the agency’s operations. These include the following:

• Federal civil penalties issued for mining violations. The total outstanding balance of open 

civil penalty cases was $1,873,807 at the end of FY 2018, including interest and late 

charges. New civil penalties recorded in FY 2018 totaled $1,847,700, and OSMRE 

collected $4,055 during the year, including late charges.

• Bond forfeitures by Federally permitted mining companies.

• Fees for mine permit reviews and administration.

• Other miscellaneous fees and receipts.

The bonds and penalties assessed ensure responsible management practices in the extraction of 

coal resources. Levy of penalties and fees help to ensure operators’ compliance with coal mining 

regulations and ensure the land is restored to beneficial use at the conclusion of mining operations.

Civil penalty collections are used to reclaim post-SMCRA mine sites. To maximize the collection 

rate on civil penalties, OSMRE uses all of the debt collection tools available. These tools include 

demand letters, personal contact with the debtor, use of payment plans, referral to private collection 

agencies through the Department of Treasury, litigation through the Solicitor’s Office, and referral 

to the Department of Treasury for payment offset. Additionally, delinquent civil penalties are 

reported to the Applicant Violator System so that violators and debtors do not obtain permits to 

mine coal until the outstanding debt and violations have been resolved. These are the same tools 

used in the AML Fee collection program. However, because the majority of the companies that 

incur AML Fees are viable, the collection rate for AML Fees is higher than the collection rate for 

civil penalties.

During FY 2019 and FY 2020, OSMRE will refer civil penalty debt that is more than 120 days 

delinquent to the Department of Treasury for collection, in accordance with the Digital 

Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014. OSMRE has a memorandum of understanding with 

the Department of Treasury whereby they will provide collection services on debts over 120 days 

delinquent. During FY 2018, OSMRE referred 100 percent of qualifying civil penalty debts to the 

Department of Treasury.

4. United Mine Workers of America Health Benefit Plans (UMWAF) Transfers

While not considered a separate OSMRE program activity, the transfers to the UMWAF activity 

are an integral and important component of OSMRE’s SMCRA responsibilities. These transfers 

provide funding for the unreimbursed health care expenses of UMWA retired coal miners and their 

dependents. The process involves reviewing the UMWAF annual transfer requests, the annual 

UMWAF financial statements audit reports, and true-up calculations from prior-year transfers. It 
Financial Management

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 101

also entails estimating future interest earnings; preparing various budgetary estimates, projections 

and transfer requests for funding from the Treasury; and planning annual audit procedures to 

provide reasonable assurance that the transfers conform to the authorizing legislation and General 

Accountability Office principles.

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Section 9722) amended SMCRA to provide for transfers of 

interest earnings from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to the UMWAF Combined Fund 

to pay for the unreimbursed health benefit expenses of unassigned beneficiaries. The 2006 

SMCRA Amendments provided for additional funding for certain beneficiaries of the UMWAF 

1992 and 1993 Health Benefit Plans, from any excess interest earnings and from the Treasury. On 

May 5, 2017, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 was enacted and Section 101 of the 

Act, cited as the Health Benefits for Miners Act of 2017, amended SMCRA to provide funding for 

additional beneficiaries of the UMWAF 1993 Health Benefit Plan.

During FY 2019 and 2020, OSMRE will process the UMWAF transfer requests for the three 

UMWAF health plans and provide funding for an estimated 41,848 beneficiaries. OSMRE will 

work with the UMWAF’s external auditors to plan the testing of selected internal controls and 

utilize existing audit work where practical. OSMRE will also work to implement 

recommendations from the Department of the Interior’s Inspector General to provide additional 

assurances that transfers conform to the authorizing legislation. The transfer requests for FY 2018, 

2019 and 2020 are outlined in Table 10 below:

Table 10 – UMWA Transfer Requests

Health Benefit Plan

Fiscal Year Transfer Amounts

(Dollars in Millions)

2018 Actual 2019 Actual 2020 Projected

Combined Fund including the 

Reachback Provision $ 60.7 $ 46.8 $ 40.65

1992 Plan 59.6 40.0 54.4

1993 Plan 211.2 192.6 219.9

Total – All Plans $331.5 $279.4 $323.9

Funding Sources

• AML Fund Interest

• Treasury Funds

$ 46.3

$285.2

$ 54.3

$225.1

$ 39.5

$284.4
Financial Management

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 102

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

2019 Planned Program Performance

In FY 2019, OSMRE will maintain a high rate of fee compliance. To help ensure that results 

continue to be achieved efficiently, OSMRE will:

 Look for opportunities to create efficiencies in the fee accounting and collection

processes.

 Continue to promote electronic payments and E-filing.

 Continue to support the financing and accounting of the AML and Regulation and 

Technology Grants to States and Tribes.

 Process transfer requests from the UMWAF totaling $279.4 million to provide funding

of unreimbursed health care expenses for an estimated 41,848 coal miners and their 

dependents.

 Continue to analyze the reasonableness of the UMWAF transfer and work to implement 

Office of the Inspector General recommendations to improve the oversight of the 

UMWAF transfer process.

2018 Program Accomplishments

In 2018, the major accomplishments in the Financial Management program activity include:

 Collected $155.5 million in coal reclamation fees resulting in a collection rate of 99.8 percent 

on quarterly coal reclamation fees.

 Maintained an E-filing enrollment rate of 85.9 percent of the active reporting permits, which 

are reported electronically through OSMRE’s internet-based reporting system.

 Processed automatically 86.1 percent of quarterly fee payments, or 2,468 fee payments.

 Processed automatically 84.4 percent of coal reclamation fee reports during the fourth quarter.

 Continued to analyze investment opportunities to maximize earnings on the Abandoned Mine 

Reclamation Fund.

 Processed transfer requests from the UMWAF totaling $331.5 million and provided funding 

of unreimbursed health care expenses for an estimated 44,769 retired coal miners and their

dependents.

 Implement three Office of the Inspector General recommendations to improve the oversight 

of the UMWAF transfer process.
TAB

Executive Direction and 

Administration
Page Intentionally Left Blank
Executive Direction and Administration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 103

EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND ADMINISTRATION

Executive Direction and Administration Budget Request

(Dollars in Thousands)

2018

Actual

2019 CR 

Baseline

2020

Fixed 

Costs 

(+/-)

Internal 

Transfer

s (+/-)

Program 

Changes 

(+/-)

2020

Request

Change 

From 

2019

(+/-)

Regulation and Technology 13,936 13,936 -814 - +814 13,936 -

Executive Direction 2,054 2,054 +10 -10 2,054 -

FTE 17 15 - 15 -

Administrative Support 3,575 3,575 +17 -17 3,575 -

FTE 32 30 - 30 -

General Services 8,307 8,307 -841 +841 8,307 -

FTE

Abandoned Mine 

Reclamation Fund 6,466 6,466 -398 - +398 6,466 -

Executive Direction 910 910 +4 -4 910 -

FTE 9 9 -2 7 -2

Administrative Support 1,846 1,846 +11 -11 1,846 -

FTE 16 16 -2 14 -2

General Services 3,710 3,710 -413 +413 3,710 -

FTE

Total, Executive Direction 20,402 20,402 -1,212 - +1,212 20,402 -

Total FTE 74 70 -4 66 -4

Note: 2018 FTE amounts reflect actual usage.

Fixed Costs of $42,000 cover pay related items including a pay raise and FERS employer 

contribution increase. Additional fixed costs include an increase in worker’s compensation 

($2,000) and decreases in working capital fund adjustments ($-146,000) and GSA rental 

rates (-$1,110,000).
Executive Direction and Administration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 104

Summary of 2020 Program Changes for Executive Direction and Administration

Request Component ($000) FTE

Priority Alignment -42 -4

Investment in Future Efficiencies +1,254

TOTAL Program Changes +1,212 -4

The Executive Direction and Administration business line provides leadership, policy, program 

management guidance, and support for all areas of responsibility for OSMRE.

Justification of 2020 Program Change

Priority Alignment (-$42,000/-4 FTE): The FY 2020 budget maintains Executive Direction and 

Administration operational activities, and aligns OSMRE’s existing manpower resources across business 

lines to optimize fulfilment of OSMRE’s statutory responsibilities and support of administration priorities.

Investment in Future Efficiencies (+$1,254,000): The FY 2020 budget maintains General Services 

funding and invests in technologies, such as advanced telecommunications and video conferencing 

capabilities, that will yield cost savings and operational efficiencies in future years. The funding proposed 

for General Services will enable OSMRE to fulfill its statutory responsibilities, improve service delivery,

and effectively support high priority work activities in the other business activities.
Executive Direction and Administration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 105

OVERVIEW

The Executive Direction and Administration business line supports all the bureau’s programs. 

This business line includes the Director’s Office and staff offices, information technology, 

administration, human resources, and internal financial management for the organization. 

Executive Direction and Administration provides internal executive direction and administrative 

support to programs, regions, and field offices through the development and coordination of 

agency policy, budget, plans, and other guidance documents. Additionally, Executive Direction 

and Administration also oversees the implementation of Departmental and Administration 

initiatives in the Bureau.

The responsibilities for Executive Direction and Administration are accomplished through the 

efficient and effective operations of the two mission critical bureau business lines (i.e., 

Environmental Restoration and Environmental Protection) and the two business lines providing 

support functions (i.e., Technology Development and Transfer and Financial Management). The 

Executive Direction and Administration business line supports the DOI’s strategic plan goals and 

measures by providing the required leadership and administrative support functions for these 

programs.

Operational Processes (Program 

Activities): The funding request for this 

usiness line is to support the activities of 

Executive Direction, Administrative 

Support, and General Services. Executive 

Direction provides executive leadership 

and policy direction for the Bureau, which 

includes the immediate office of the 

Director. Administrative Support provides 

all of the support services for day-to-day 

operations, including human resources 

information technology, procurement, and 

finance and accounting. General Services 

funds bureau-wide fixed costs such as 

office space, telephones, postage, 

unemployment compensation, and other 

epartment-wide fixed costs assessed to 

OSMRE.

The performance of the Executive Direction and Administration business line’s activities is an 

integral component of OSMRE’s Environmental Restoration and Environmental Protection 

mission goal areas; and the Technology Development and Transfer and Financial Management 

support functions. OSMRE supports the Department’s current Strategic Plan Mission Goal of 

Conserving Our Land and Water.

Program performance will be measured by the success of OSMRE in carrying out the 

environmental restoration and protection missions and through OSMRE’s contribution to 

Departmental initiatives and high priority goals.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND

ADMINISTRATION

ENCOMPASSES:

Executive Direction

• Director’s Office

• Staff Offices under the Director

Office for Equal Opportunity

Office of Communications

Office of Planning, Analysis, and Budget

Information Resources Office

Administrative Support

• Human Resources

• Administration

• Finance and Accounting

• Information Technology

General Services
Executive Direction and Administration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 106

Actions Required to Achieve Annual Goals: OSMRE continuously monitors its programs for 

management efficiencies and savings.

Resources, Skills, and Technology Needed: OSMRE and its State and Tribal partners will 

continue to need a diverse and multi-disciplinary cadre of personnel to accomplish the mission and 

goals of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). These personnel will guide 

OSMRE through technical and policy decisions to ensure that coal-mining activities, including 

post-mining reclamation, are carried out in such a manner that the safety and health of coalfield 

citizens is protected and the environment is not degraded.

FY 2020 Budget Request: The request is for $20.4 million for Executive Direction and 

Administration activities. Of this total, $3.0 million will be used to provide executive direction 

and effective policy guidance for the overall program and liaison efforts with States, Tribes, 

coalfield citizens, Congress, and other Federal agencies. Administrative support and services for 

OSMRE will require $5.4 million, and basic bureau-wide fixed overhead costs in general services 

will cost $12.0 million.
Executive Direction and Administration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 107

2020 PROGRAM PERFORMANCE

1. Executive Direction

This activity provides executive direction and leadership, and policy and program management 

guidance for all areas of responsibility for OSMRE. The Executive Direction activity includes the 

salaries and operating expenses for the Office of the Director and four immediate staff offices, 

which include Equal Opportunity; Communications; Planning, Analysis, and Budget; and the 

Information Resources Office. The request includes $2,964,000 and 22 FTE for Executive

Direction.

a. Office of the Director (DIR)

The Director is OSMRE’s Chief Executive. The Director provides the leadership and direction of 

OSMRE activities as required under SMCRA. The Director’s primary objectives are to 

aggressively pursue the reclamation of abandoned mine lands (AML) and to prevent environmental 

problems in the coalfields during active mining by working collaboratively with the State

regulatory agencies and other agencies with a role to play in the process. OSMRE makes every 

effort to ensure full public participation in the development and implementation of its regulatory 

responsibilities. An extensive outreach approach stimulates a more cooperative partnership not 

only with OSMRE’s regulatory partners, but with other stakeholders as well, resulting in better 

and more effective implementation of the objectives of SMCRA.

In FY 2019 and FY 2020, OSMRE will continue outreach efforts which promote public 

participation in policy making. The arena for such participation includes public meetings on 

proposed rulemakings and conferences, which promote discussion and exchange of information 

on the current State of the coal industry and OSMRE’s evolving role. OSMRE will continue to 

take positive steps to collaborate with States, Tribes, citizens, other stakeholders, and industry and 

encourage their participation.

The Deputy Director in the Office of the Director is the Chief Operating Executive for the bureau, 

and provides direct supervision for the business operations of the Bureau to the staff offices, as 

well as, executive leadership to the other programs and offices.

b. Office for Equal Opportunity (OEO)

OEO is responsible for promoting equal employment opportunities for all OSMRE employees. 

The staff advises and assists the OSMRE Director in carrying out the Bureau’s responsibilities 

relative to Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Age Discrimination 

in Employment Act of 1967; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; as well as Executive Orders, 

regulatory guidelines, and other nondiscrimination laws within the Federal Government. The 

Office:

• Provides leadership, direction, and policy guidance for Equal Employment 

Opportunity (EEO) Program development;
Executive Direction and Administration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 108

• Provides for the prompt, fair, and impartial processing of complaints of 

discrimination;

• Provides technical assistance and advice to employees and managers on all equal 

opportunity issues;

• Communicates the Bureau’s equal employment opportunity policy and program and 

its employment needs to all sources of job candidates without regard to race, color, 

religion, sex, national origin, age or handicap;

• Ensures that a reasonable accommodation program is in place and is implemented in 

a fair and timely manner;

• Ensures that an alternative dispute resolution program is available for both the precomplaint process and the formal complaint process;

• Develops, monitors, and evaluates EEOC MD-715 Affirmative Employment 

Program Plans to promote equal employment opportunities;

• Conducts studies on systemic employment problems, assesses the effect of policies 

and practices on equal employment, identifies employment barriers, recommends 

solutions, and develops written guidance for management; and

• Maintains a Civil Rights Complaints and Compliance program for Federally assisted 

and conducted programs.

In addition, OEO is responsible for Special Emphasis programs and assists the Bureau in creating 

a model equal employment program which ensures that all OSMRE employees and applicants for 

employment have equal access. It is responsible for implementing initiatives in response to 

Presidential Executive Orders, which provides for agencies to work more closely with Historically 

Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges and 

Universities in an effort to enhance opportunities for minority serving institutions to participate 

and benefit from programs related to surface coal mining and reclamation activities.

c. Office of Communications (OC)

OC shares information about OSMRE programs, policies, and Congressional activities with the 

public, Congress, State regulatory agencies, the coal industry, citizen groups, and the media. OC 

facilitates requests for information from the news media, Congress and the public, and manages 

official Bureau correspondence. OC also coordinates OSMRE’s annual reclamation awards that 

recognize excellence in reclaiming active and abandoned mines.
Executive Direction and Administration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 109

OC plans, coordinates, produces, and distributes the following products:

• Congressional Testimony

• Exhibits

• Fact Sheets

• News Releases

• Reports

• Publications

• Stakeholder Outreach

• Video

• Web and Social Media Content

d. Office of Planning, Analysis and Budget (OPAB)

OPAB performs nationwide planning, program analysis, and budgetary functions for OSMRE. 

OPAB:

• Supports the development of the Department of the Interior’s strategic plan;

• Collects, reviews, and reports annual regulatory and reclamation program 

accomplishment data;

• Analyzes trends in domestic coal production and reclamation progress;

• Carries out formulation, presentation, and execution of OSMRE’s budget; and 

• Coordinates internal control and other program assessment reviews, in accordance 

with Executive Orders and Departmental initiatives.

e. Information Resources Office (IRO)

The IRO provides Information Management and Technology (IMT) services to OSMRE. The IRO 

provides advice and assistance to the Director, Deputy Director, and other senior OSMRE 

managers to ensure that information technology is acquired, utilized and managed in a manner that 

is consistent with applicable policies, regulations, and industry best practices. The major functions 

include:

• Providing advice and assistance to management and employees on IT policy, 

applicable laws, regulations, and directives;

• Maintaining a management framework for and coordinating OSMRE’s nationwide 

IT capital planning and investment control activities, including approval of IT 

expenditures within OSMRE;

• Developing and implementing IT strategic planning to ensure that all of OSMRE’s 

information systems are administered and developed in accordance with policies, 

long-range systems, and strategic planning;

• Managing OSMRE’s General Support System (GSS) and Information Security 
Executive Direction and Administration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 110

program in support of OSMRE’s SMCRA mission;

• Providing IRM-related support to OSMRE’s system owners to include information 

system security support; and

• Ensuring integrity of IT systems and databases through cybersecurity programs.

In addition, the IRO manages all aspects of OSMRE’s information management flow to ensure 

government transparency, accuracy, and responsiveness to information requests. OSMRE 

continues to evolve a comprehensive information management capability that includes meeting the 

requirements for a responsive and compliant Privacy Act Program awareness and loss-mitigation 

strategy, responding to Freedom of Information Act requests, and a Federal Records Act (FRA) 

compliant Records Management Program.

2. Administrative Support

This program includes the administrative functions necessary to support the program activities of 

OSMRE. The specific functions are included in four areas: Administration, Human Resources, 

Administrative Financial Management, and Information Technology. This request includes

$5,421,000 and 44 FTE to support these support activities.

This function is responsible for managing OSMRE’s financial and administrative activities.

a. Administration

The Division of Administration is responsible for development of bureau-wide administrative 

policy and procedures. The Division also implements the following support activities:

• Acquisition

• Property Management

• Vehicle Fleet Management

• Space Management

• Emergency Coordination

• Physical Security

• Employee Safety & Occupational 

Health

• Directives Management

• Printing and Publications

• Employee Transit Subsidy

The Division of Administration also provides administrative support to headquarters offices. 

These support activities include office moves, provision of general supplies and services, and 

mailroom functions.

The Division of Administration is responsible for providing guidance to ensure OSMRE meets its 

competitive sourcing goals. The Division of Administration provides guidance in the completion 

of the annual Federal Activities Inventory Reform (FAIR) Act Inventory to identify all functions 

throughout OSMRE and their designation as either inherently governmental or commercial in 

nature. The Division of Administration also maintains a presence on the Departmental Acquisition 

Special Interest Group (SIG) as an active member to ensure OSMRE acquisition needs and 

requirements are met. 
Executive Direction and Administration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 111

The Division of Administration provides direction, coordination, and implementation of all aspects 

of OSMRE’s emergency management program. This includes, but is not limited to, internal policy 

development; program guidance and direction as it relates to emergency response/continuity of 

operations/recovery planning, readiness, and, security; and coordination of OSMRE's 

response/recovery role to declared emergencies and/or disasters on a government- wide basis.

b. Human Resources (HR)

The Division of Human Resources (HR) develops and implements policies, standards and systems 

for the effective use of human resources to accomplish the overall mission of OSMRE. 

Specifically, the human resources program provides managers and employees advice and technical 

assistance on the full range of human resources programs in accordance with OSMRE, DOI, OPM, 

and other Federal policies and guidelines. HR provides processing and record keeping on 

recruitment, staffing and hiring; conducts position classification and organizational analysis; and 

administers pay and compensation programs for general schedule and senior executive service 

positions. The Division also advises and processes employee and retirement benefits; oversees 

performance management, awards and recognition programs; implements Human Capital 

initiatives; manages ethics and financial disclosure holdings programs; implements the personnel 

security (HSPD-12) process for both Federal and contractor staff; provides mandatory employee 

development and training assistance; and provides guidance on employee relations and workplace 

issues including disciplinary actions. The staff has continued to use automated systems such as 

Monster Government Solutions (MGS) Hiring Enterprise, the Federal Personnel and Payroll 

System (FPPS), Employee Express, DOI Learning Management System (LMS), Personnel 

Investigative Processing System (PIPS), and the e-QIP web site linking employees to security 

forms needed for background investigations. These automated systems provide direct online 

personnel history files, human resources information and services directly to the manager, 

employee, and applicant.

Special ongoing initiatives this office is working on are highlighted below:

Strategic Recruitment: Human Resources, in conjunction and cooperation with OSMRE’s 

Office for Equal Opportunity, continues to expand recruitment of the number of women, 

minorities, and persons with disabilities identified in under-represented occupations. Efforts 

to hire veterans are an integral part of this expanded recruitment effort as authorized under 

recent Executive Orders as well. OSMRE promotes workforce diversity and to continue to 

improve and strengthen human capital process and tools to attract highly skilled applicants 

in support of building a 21st Century workforce.

Strategic Management of Human Capital: OSMRE establishes quality control processes in 

staffing and personnel processing to ensure compliance and support implementation of its 

workforce plan. OSMRE HR executes strategic position management activities with 

quarterly and annual evaluations that link individual hiring decisions made during the course 

of the year, thus empowering managers to focus on developing competencies and skills 

needed to accomplish OSMRE mission goals. To promote retention in positions where skill 

gaps have been identified, OSMRE can utilize several programs including student loan 

repayments, relocation allowances, and retention incentives. In addition, OSMRE uses 

honorary, non-monetary, and monetary awards to reward employees based on their 
Executive Direction and Administration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 112

contributions to the work of the organization. Annual and tri-annual accountability audits 

are conducted to ensure compliance and identify deficiencies for improvement.

Hiring Reform: OSMRE evaluated its current performance against Office of Personnel 

Management’s 80-day model and and has revised the Time 2 Hire workflow to include 

stakeholders involved in the process. OSMRE will begin FY 2019 implementation of new 

processes to improve accountability and service quality metric to gauge and monitor progress 

toward improving its hiring process. In addition, OSMRE identified critical training needs 

for managers and supervisors in drafting job analysis, assessments, and position descriptions. 

Training will be a priority throughout FY 2019.

Performance Management: OSMRE’s current performance management process is labor intensive 

for supervisors and human resources. DOI plans to roll out an automated performance 

management tool. OSMRE will focus on training supervisors on effective standard development, 

roles and responsibilities, and employee performance awards to increase organization 

effectiveness.

Employee Relations: OSMRE is committed to preventing harassment in the workplace. This is 

an agency priority. OSMRE’s new Anti-Harassment C.A.R.E. program will improve 

accountability, communications, and transparency to ensure a workplace free from harassment. 

OSMRE will deliver targeted training and employee relations consultation service to managers 

and employees.

c. Administrative Financial Management

The Financial Management activity funded in this business line provides OSMRE’s program 

offices with accounting and financial services for operational funds to implement SMCRA. 

Additionally, such services include improved access and presentation of financial data to improve 

the management of operations and allow for more informed decision making. These services 

include timely bill pay, recording of receipts and expenditures, issuing financial guidance and 

management reports, collecting administrative debts, development of financial management 

operating procedures and tutorials, ensure compliance of Federal travel regulations, supporting 

DOI’s audited financial statements, and maintaining financial systems and tools that support these

functions.

d. Information Management and Technology (IMT)

OSMRE is dependent upon information technology to provide efficient and accurate management 

information to assist OSMRE’s program managers in accomplishing the agency’s mission. 

Activities span all business lines and are funded under other business lines in the budget as well as 

Executive Direction.

As of FY 2016, OSMRE operates a centralized Information Management Technology (IMT) 

program under the direct authority of the Bureau’s Associate Chief Information Officer (ACIO). 

OSMRE leverages IMT shared services and services provided under reimbursable agreements to 

supplement its IMT service offerings. OSMRE will continue to evaluate shared service
Executive Direction and Administration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 113

opportunities and technology to meet OSMRE mission needs in order to increase operational 

efficiencies and harden its cyber security posture.

Through its cyber security program, OSMRE ensures the integrity of its systems and data assets. 

The ACIO and the Information Resources Office (IRO) staff provides the Bureau with system 

assessment and accreditation services as well as performing continuous monitoring security 

controls to ensure security compliance. The IRO provides, as a component of its security program, 

virus filtering and continuous traffic monitoring systems which significantly enhance efforts to 

manage security for its information systems. To ensure cyber security hygiene, the IRO also 

maintains vulnerability, configuration management, and incident responses processes to ensure 

timely installation of software patches and fixes while strengthening incident handling responses.

Additionally, employee awareness and compliance are assured through a comprehensive training 

program. In response to the Federal Information Systems Security Awareness (FISSA) training 

requirements, employee mandatory training was expanded to include Privacy, Records 

Management and Rules of Behavior training on an annual basis. OSMRE also provides specialized 

and role-based security training (RBST) to its employees that have significant IT security 

responsibilities.

The IRO continues to manage OSMRE’s Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC) process 

to ensure the Bureau’s IMT investment portfolio represents the optimal mix of technology and 

services sufficient to support the OSMRE mission. OSMRE works closely with Departmental 

counterparts to ensure the CPIC program is maintaining the desired results of the program.

3. General Services

This funding activity includes essential fixed costs to support OSMRE’s program missions. No 

personnel or operational activities are funded by this component. The costs below are estimates 

for FY 2020 and reflect estimated Departmental fixed cost changes from FY 2019 levels and 

known future plans, including field office closures, co-location, space reduction, anticipated 

contracting efficiencies, and investment in technologies and systems to yield additional 

efficiencies in the future.

Table 11 shows projected the General Services costs by category for FY 2019 and FY 2020.
Executive Direction and Administration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 114

Table 11 – Estimated General Services Costs

(in Round Dollars)

Line Item

2019 CR

Baseline

2020

Estimate

Estimated 

Change 

2019 – 2020

Rent and Utilities 6,228,000 5,118,000 -1,110,000

Telecommunications 300,000 300,000

Postage 10,000 10,000

DOI Working Capital Fund 2,328,000 2,182,000 -146,000

DOI Program Requirements 145,000 145,000

Unemployment Compensation 6,000 6,000

Worker's Compensation 131,000 133,000 +2,000

Bureau-wide Printing/Supplies 272,000 272,000

Service Contracts 170,000 170,000

GSA Work Authorizations 5,000 5,000

Operational Support Contracts/IT Shared 

Services (Quickhire, Quicktime, Enterprise 

Service Network, software licenses, etc.)

2,422,000 3,676,000 +1,254,000

Total 12,017,000 12,017,000 -
Executive Direction and Administration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 115

EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND ADMINISTRATION

2019 Planned Program Performance

In 2019, planned activities in the Executive Direction and Administration program activity 

include:

 Training - Continue to utilize training as a strategy to increase cultural competencies, 

reduce the number of EEO complaints filed, and conduct civil rights reviews on Federal

assisted and Federally conducted programs.

 Space – Continue to review opportunities to reduce OSMRE’s leased space footprint and 

expenditures.

 Acquisition – Continue to review opportunities to improve oversight of OSMRE’s 

acquisition functions.

 Property – Continue to improve the quality of Financial and Business Management System 

(FBMS) asset record data.

 Budget and Performance Management – Enhance the bureau’s performance management 

program by formalizing an OSMRE performance management directive and making 

strategic improvements to program performance measures.

 Support DOI’s Financial Audit Statements for FY 2018 and FY 2019.

 Improve the availability of self-guided videos and instructions through a single application.

 Continue to improve the delivery and accessibility of financial information.

 Capital Planning and Investment Capital (CPIC) – Conduct required evaluations for all IT 

programs and major investments.

 Information Management and Technology (IMT) – Continue to provide component-level 

IMT services and mission system support while supporting DOI IMT initiatives to include 

deployment of DHS Continuous Diagnostic and Mitigation (CDM) capabilities consistent 

with applicable rules and regulations.

 Continue to provide administrative support across the bureau to enable mission success in 

the other four business lines (Environmental Restoration, Environmental Protection, 

Technology Development and Transfer, and Financial Management).
Executive Direction and Administration

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 116

2018 Program Accomplishments

In 2018, the major accomplishments in the Executive Direction and Administration program 

activities include:

 Developed an electronic “Mobile Office” demonstration module that enables employees to 

initiate and complete common administrative processes directly from their laptops 

wherever they may be.

 Improved the efficiency of OSMRE’s Emergency Management program by reducing labor 

costs while still exceeding program performance targets.

 Facilitated OSMRE’s use of small business in meeting the Bureau’s acquisition needs, 

achieving the highest small business obligation rate within theDOI for the third consecutive 

year.

 Improved the quality of OSMRE’s Safety and Occupational Health program by enhancing 

the ability of OSMRE managers to identify and mitigate employee risk.

 Scored green in all areas of DOI’s Financial Performance Metrics.

 Achieved 100 percent prompt pay on vendor payments.

 Capital Planning and Investment Capital (CPIC) – Completed required evaluations for all 

IT programs and major investments.

 Provided educational and employment opportunities to youth in the areas of 

communications, budget, information technology, auditing, and general administration.

 Supported DOI’s Audited Financial Statements for FY 2017 and FY 2018.
TAB

Permanent Appropriations
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Permanent Appropriations

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 117

PERMANENT APPROPRIATIONS

ALLOCATIONS TO STATES AND TRIBES

TRANSFERS TO UNITED MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA HEALTH BENEFIT 

FUNDS

INVESTMENTS TO ADDRESS IMPORTANT LEGACY COSTS IN COAL COUNTRY

OSMRE receives mandatory funding to distribute grants to States and Tribes and transfers to three 

health benefit plans that are part of the United Mine Workers of America Health and Retirement 

Funds. The three health benefit plans that receive funding under the Surface Mining Control and 

Reclamation Act (SMCRA) are collectively referred to as the “UMWA Health Benefit Plans.” 

These payments are derived from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund (AML Fund) and the 

General Treasury.
Permanent Appropriations

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 118

Table 12 – Permanent Appropriation Estimates

(Dollars in Millions)

Permanent Appropriation

2018

Actuals*

2019 CR 

Baseline*

2020

Estimates

Change from 

2019 to 2020

Proposed

Payment (or Grants) to States

in Lieu of Coal Fee Receipts 

(U.S. Treasury Funds)

106.7 103.0 47.3 -55.7

• In Lieu Payments to 

Certified States and Tribes 106.7 103.0 47.3

Mandatory Grants to 

Noncertified States (AML 

Fund)

194.1 188.3 141.1 -47.2

• State and Tribal Share 25.2 25.5 26.6

• Historic Coal Share 151.4 145.5 91.7

• Min Program Make Up 17.5 17.3 22.8

Subtotal- Payments to States

and Tribes 300.8 291.3 188.4 -102.9

Payments to UMWA Health 

Benefit Plans (AML Fund 

Interest)

46.3 54.3 60.1 +5.8

Supplemental Payments to 

UMWA Health Benefit Plans 

(Treasury Funds)

285.2 225.1 263.9 +38.8

Subtotal- Payments to 

UMWA Health Benefit Plans 331.5 279.4 324.0 +44.6

Total Mandatory Funding 632.3 570.7 512.4 -58.3

Subtotal from AML Fund 240.4 242.6 201.2 -41.4

Subtotal from Treasury 391.9 328.1 311.2 -16.9

*Includes reductions due to sequestration.
Permanent Appropriations

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 119

OVERVIEW

One of the basic concepts of SMCRA is to charge a fee on coal production to finance the 

reclamation of abandoned mine lands (AML) across the country. Reclamation fees are deposited 

into the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund (AML Fund) and distributed through the annual 

appropriations process to States and Tribesfor AML reclamation and to OSMRE for administrative 

expenses. In 2006, amendments to SMCRA extended the authority to collect the reclamation fee 

and altered the distribution of payments beginning in 2008.3

Collection of Reclamation Fees

Reclamation fees collected are placed in the AML Fund. The current reclamation fee authorized 

by SMCRA is: 28 cents/ton of surface mined coal; 12 cents/ton of coal mined underground; and 8 

cents/ton of lignite; or ten percent of the value of the coal (two percent of the value of the lignite), 

whichever is less. Total fee receipts for FY 2018 were $155.5 million. Reclamation fee collections 

form the basis for mandatory grants to the certified and noncertified States and Tribes. The 

remaining funds collected are available for discretionary appropriations.

Interest accrued on the AML Fund becomes part of the AML Fund and is available for transfer to 

the United Mine Workers of America Health and Retirement Funds in order to help finance three 

health care plans (collectively referred to as the “UMWA Health Benefit Plans”).

Allocation and Distribution of Reclamation Funds to States and Tribes

Generally, States must have an approved SMCRA regulatory (Title V) program and an approved 

reclamation (Title IV) program to be eligible to receive mandatory AML funding. Three Tribes

(Crow, Hopi, and Navajo) are eligible for funding through the AML program, and each has an 

approved reclamation program. As part of the 2006 amendments to SMCRA, Tennessee also 

became eligible for AML program funding although it does not have an approved regulatory 

program. A total of 25 States and three Tribes received reclamation funding in FY 2019; of these, 

five States and all three Tribes have certified completion of coal abandoned mine land problems.

Amendments to SMCRA since 2006 have included section 100125 of Moving Ahead for Progress 

in the 21st Century Act (Public Law No. 112-141), and section 10(d) of the Helium Stewardship 

Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-40). These two amendments, enacted in 2012 and 2013, provided 

limitations on the amount of funds available for distribution to the certified States and Tribes from 

FY 2013 to FY 20154. On December 4, 2015, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, 

or FAST Act, (Public Law 114-94) was enacted, which lifted the limitations to payments to certified 

States and Tribes that were contained in the prior amendments, and provided for $241.9 million in 

additional payments to certain eligible certified States and Tribes.

3 OSMRE published regulations implementing the Act (November 14, 2008, 73 FR 67576), which

became effective on January 13, 2009.

4 Public Law No. 112-175 (section 142 of the Continuing Appropriations Resolution for 2013) enacted 

language so that the uncertified States were not impacted by the limitations put in place on certified 

State and Tribe funding by the 2012 and 2013 referenced amendments.
Permanent Appropriations

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 120

a. AML Fund

Noncertified States are allocated mandatory grants from the AML Fund based on the reclamation 

fees collected the previous fiscal year. The amount of the grant for each noncertified State is 

determined through a formula that adds the following allocations:

1. Half of reclamation fees collected in that State (known as the State Share);

2. A State’s portion of 30 percent of all reclamation fees collected Nationwide and the amount 

of the State/Tribal Share forgone by certified States and Tribes; each State’s portion is 

determined proportionally based on the amount of coal production in that State prior to 

1977 (known as Historic Coal Share); and

3. Any amount needed to ensure that each noncertified State receives at least $3 million 

annually (known as the Minimum Program Make Up Funds).

SMCRA specifies the eligible uses of each of specific allocation. All funding provided to 

noncertified States can be used to address hazards and problems on abandoned coal mine lands, 

such as underground fires, subsidence, landslides, open shafts, unstable or burning refuse piles, 

acid mine drainage, and dangerous, unstable highwalls. Some of the allocations are restricted to 

use on the highest priority coal mine sites, i.e., minimum program make up funds, while other 

allocations may be used to address problems such as water supplies adversely affected by coal 

mining, i.e., State Share. In certain circumstances, State Share and Historic Coal Share funds may 

lso be used to reclaim certain non-coal sites, such as abandoned hardrock mine lands. Western 

States, in particular, often use their reclamation funds to address high priority hardrock AML sites, 

for which there is no other source of Federal funding.

In FY 2019, noncertified States will receive $188.3 million after sequestration ($25.5 million in 

State Share, $145.5 million in Historic Coal Share, and $17.3 million in Minimum Program Make 

Up Funds).

For FY 2020, OSMRE estimates that noncertified States will receive $141.1 million in grants from 

the AML Fund ($26.6 million in State Share; $91.7 million in Historic Coal Share; and $22.8

million in Minimum Program Make Up Funds).

b. Treasury Funds

Mandatory payments from the Treasury to certified States and Tribes are also allocated by formula. 

In lieu payments to certified States and Tribes are equal to half of the reclamation fees collected 

in that State or Tribe in the previous fiscal year. Certified States and Tribes will receive $103.0

million, after sequestration, in FY 2019. These payments can be used for any purpose.

Under current law, total mandatory payments to States and Tribes from Treasury funds in FY 2020

are estimated to be $47.3 million.

Treasury funds paid to the States and Tribes and transfers to the UMWA Health Benefit Plans are 
Permanent Appropriations

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 121

subject to an overall $490 million cap on all annual transfers from the Treasury under the 2006 

amendments to SMCRA.

Transfers (or Payments) to the UMWA Health Benefit Plans

Sections 402(h) and (i) of SMCRA require OSMRE to transfer funds to three United Mine Workers 

of America (UMWA) health care plans that are part of the UMWA Health and Retirement Funds: 

the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Combined Benefit Fund (CBF), the UMWA 1992 

Benefit Plan, and the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan (aka, the 1993 Benefit Plan). The three 

plans are collectively referred to as the “UMWA Health Benefit Plans.” These transfers are as

follows:

• Annual transfers of all estimated AML Fund interest earnings for each fiscal year to the 

UMWA Health Benefit Plans, to the extent payments from premiums paid by operators 

and other sources (i.e., payments from other Federal agencies for benefit purposes) do not 

meet those plans’ expenditure needs, subject to certain limitations. Transfers under the 

current law began in 2007 to the CBF and in 2008 to both the 1992 and 1993 Plans.

• The UMWA Health Benefit Plans are also entitled to payments from the Treasury, which 

are subject to the same overall $490 million cap on all annual transfers from the Treasury 

under the 2006 amendments to SMCRA.

• In general, the amount of the transfers to the UMWA Health Benefit Plans is dependent on 

the extent that their revenues do not meet their expenditures. When that occurs, OSMRE 

will transfer available funds in the following order as needed:

o Estimated interest to be earned by the AML Fund during the fiscal year in question.

o Unappropriated balance of the RAMP allocation. (Note: Funds were exhausted as of 

the FY 2010 distribution.)

o Transfers from the U.S. Treasury, subject to the $490 million cap on annual transfers 

from Treasury to both the UMWA Health Benefit Plans and the States and Tribes.

o Reserve fund created from existing stranded interest earned by the AML Fund.

In FY 2019, the UMWA Health Benefit Plans received $54.3 million in interest payment from the 

AML fund and $225.1 million from the Treasury.

For FY 2020, under current law, OSMRE estimates that $60.1 million in interest payments from 

the AML Fund and $263.9 million from the Treasury will be transferred to the UMWA Health 

Benefit Plans.
Permanent Appropriations

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 122

Table 13 – Mandatory Funding for States and Tribes, FY 2018-2020

(Dollars Rounded in Millions)

State/Tribe 2018

Actual

2019 CR 

Baseline

Hypothetical 

Distribution 

for FY 2020

Alabama 5.3 5.1 3.7

Alaska 2.8 2.8 3.0

Arkansas 2.8 2.8 3.0

Colorado 3.3 3.1 3.0

Illinois 19.0 18.7 13.0

Indiana 8.1 8.1 6.2

Iowa 2.8 2.8 3.0

Kansas 2.8 2.8 3.0

Kentucky 19.0 18.3 12.9

Maryland 2.8 2.8 3.0

Missouri 2.8 2.8 3.0

New Mexico 2.8 2.8 3.0

North Dakota 2.8 2.8 3.0

Ohio 10.8 10.3 6.7

Oklahoma 2.8 2.8 3.0

Pennsylvania 55.7 53.9 35.4

Tennessee 2.8 2.8 3.0

Utah 2.8 1.4 .9

Virginia 5.8 5.6 3.9

West Virginia 36.3 35.8 25.3

Sub-total for noncertified States 194.1 188.3 141.1

Louisiana .2 .2 -

Mississippi .1 .1 .1

Montana 7.6 7.8 3.9

Texas 2.8 2.5 1.4

Wyoming 91.3 87.8 40.1

Crow 1.2 1.2 .5

Hopi .5 .6 .3

Navajo Nation 3.0 2.8 1.0

Sub-total for certified States and Tribes 106.7 103.0 47.3

AML Site Reclamation/Redevelopment

Total for All States/Tribes 300.8 291.3 188.4

Source of Mandatory Funding:

• AML Fund 194.1 188.3 141.1

• Treasury 106.7 103.0 47.3

Notes:

Noncertified States are those that have remaining coal AML problems to address. Certified States and Tribes have certified that there are no 

remaining coal AML problems.

FY 2018 figures reflect a reduction of 6.6 percent due to sequestration. FY 2019 figures reflect a 6.2 percent reduction due to sequestration. 

References:

P.L. 109-432, SMCRA Amendments Act of 2006; P.L 112-141, MAP-21; P.L. 112-175, the Continuing Appropriations Resolution for 2013; and

P.L. 113-40, The Helium Stewardship Act of 2013.
TAB

Budget Exhibits
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Exhibit A

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 123

BUDGET EXHIBITS

Exhibit A: Section 403 Compliance

Exhibit A: Section 403 Compliance6

Program/Project Support of Bureau, Department, and Government-wide Costs

2019

CR Baseline 2020 Request

External Administrative Costs

WCF Centralized Billings $2,377,000 $2,181,800

WCF Direct Billing/Fee for Service $1,306,700 $1,257,400

External Administrative Costs

OSMRE funds external administrative costs, to include amounts paid to the Department of the 

Interior (DOI) to support Departmental or government-wide costs, in the General Services activity 

within the Executive Direction and Administration business line.

Bureau Administrative Costs

OSMRE does not assess a charge for overhead, deductions, reserves, or holdbacks against the 

amounts requested in each of its business lines; rather, Bureau level administrative costs are 

identified in the Executive Direction and Administration business line in the budget justification. 

The Executive Direction activity provides executive direction in overall leadership and bureauwide policy and program performance management guidance. The Administrative Support 

activity includes all the administrative functions necessary to support program activities 

including: Administration, Human Resources, Administrative Financial Management, and 

Information Technology. In addition to the DOI Working Capital Fund, the General Services 

activity includes essential fixed costs to support OSMRE’s program missions such as rent, 

telecommunications, and service contracts. Further information on specific elements of each 

activity can be found in the Executive Direction and Administration section.

Support functions at the regional and field offices ensure various activities are integrated so the 

mission is accomplished. The majority of these costs are comprised of the salary and benefits for 

field office directors, regional directors and their administrative staff. These costs are not 

identified under Executive Direction and Administration, but rather included in the program 

funding requested in the respective business lines.

Activity Based Costing allows OSMRE to internally track the indirect costs associated with its 

various organizational units and program activities. This is important in determining the full cost 

of program activities for evaluation purposes. By having employees report and track costs at the 

lowest work breakdown structure level, managers are able to assess both the direct and indirect 

costs of the Bureau’s programs and activities.

6 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141)
Exhibit B

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 124

Exhibit B: Employee Count by Grade (PER-4)

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Employee Count by Grade

(Total Employment)

FY 2018

Actual

FY 2019

Estimate

FY 2020

Estimate

Executive Level V ................................................. 1 1 1

SES.................................................................... 5 6 6

Subtotal.................................................... 6 7 7

GS/GM-15............................................................ 21 23 23

GS/GM-14............................................................ 47 55 55

GS/GM-13............................................................ 108 112 114

GS-12.................................................................. 139 141 146

GS-11.................................................................. 27 29 30

GS-10.................................................................. 0 0 0

GS-9.................................................................... 15 17 17

GS-8.................................................................... 6 7 7

GS-7.................................................................... 4 12 13

GS-6.................................................................... 0 4 4

GS-5.................................................................... 0 0 0

GS-4.................................................................... 1 1 1

GS-3.................................................................... 0 0 0

GS-2.................................................................... 0 0 0

Subtotal.................................................... 380 401 410

Total employment (actuals & estimate)................... 386 408 417

Note: This is employee count projected at the end of each 

fiscal year and not FTE levels.
TAB

Appendixes
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Appendix – AML Reclamation Accomplishments

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 125

AML Reclamation Accomplishments

Historical Data through September 30, 2018

Priority 1, 2, and 3 Problems

Problem Type Units

Number 

of Units

GPRA

Acres

Cost of 

Completed 

Reclamation

Remaining 

Reclamation 

Costs

Bench ** Acres 699 698 2,998,597 14,748,023

Clogged Streams Miles 1,345 6,663 64,055,266 65,185,833

Clogged Stream Lands Acres 20,080 31,753 222,214,031 211,957,781

Dangerous Highwalls Feet 3,825,104 55,319 546,623,127 1,160,339,495

Dangerous Impoundments Count 1,966 10,576 59,485,263 31,184,449

Industrial/Residential Waste (Priority 1 & 2) Acres 1,298 1,296 5,552,251 11,741,617

Dangerous Piles & Embankments Acres 13,522 13,470 271,667,683 303,455,295

Dangerous Slides Acres 4,052 4,070 236,350,093 99,432,931

Equipment/Facilities ** Count 785 84 7,594,341 5,714,970

Gases: Hazardous Explosives Count 49 49 628,055 2,349,001

Gobs (Coal waste piles) ** Acres 7,157 7,151 96,736,447 82,657,764

Highwall ** Feet 273,693 3,911 20,573,859 1,296,902,056

Hazardous Equipment & Facilities Count 5,144 1,222 30,801,126 27,993,050

Haul Road ** Acres 2,038 2,038 9,996,361 4,589,664

Hazardous Water Body Count 910 4,757 51,551,744 84,927,310

Industrial/Residential Waste ** Acres 306 305 1,950,842 931,333

Mine Opening ** Count 1,019 103 4,418,463 15,193,057

Other (*)(**) ---- 2,821 N/A 10,141,977 23,901,033

Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial Count 435 2,152 43,755,856 81,038,070

Polluted Water: Human Consumption Count 55,207 258,129 409,768,293 3,011,884,544

Portals Count 12,491 1,271 73,461,659 42,843,933

Pits ** Acres 3,050 3,051 22,817,815 45,456,848

Subsidence Acres 8,323 8,305 429,453,799 616,727,178

Spoil Area ** Acres 90,366 88,029 88,137,428 900,576,288

Surface Burning Acres 1,602 1,601 62,127,457 20,018,301

Slurry ** Acres 2,835 2,835 33,519,297 8,228,766

Slump ** Acres 736 732 6,853,332 102,461,073

Underground Mine Fire Acres 1,808 2,006 107,705,665 852,267,441

Vertical Opening Count 7,211 773 49,438,260 41.161,956

Water Problems (*)(**) Gal/Min 256,441 N/A 61,517,091 967,169,496

Total 512,349 $3,031,895,478 $10,133,038,556

* Not converted to GPRA Acres Source: enhanced Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System (e-AMLIS)

** Adjacent Priority 3 Problems

Notes:

1. GPRA Acres are non-acre measures (feet of highwalls or number of portals) that are converted by formula to acres 

and used to measure programperformance.

2. The e-AMLIS inventory is not a fixed target that declines each year by the amount of reclamation accomplished. 

Instead, the inventory is dynamic and updated by States and Tribes on an ongoing basis. New AML problems are added 

to the inventory as they are identified, and cost data on existing AML problems are updated to reflect current reclamation

costs.

3. Reproducing the data in this table from the public-facing e-AMLIS webpage may be problematic. The public- facing 

webpage has limits on the type and amount of query capabilities which impacts the ability of the public to reproduce 

OSMRE published e-AMLIS tables. An approved e-AMLIS account holder has more query functions than what is 

available to the general public. Additionally, the OSMRE e-AMLIS Coordinator performs a rigorous quality control 

and quality assurance process on the data before it is published. This is required due to complexities in the coding 

system of the e-AMLIS program and retrieving information that was historically entered differently (e.g. not 

georeferenced) and placed on a different system platform within the e-AMLISprogram.
Appendix – By State and Tribe Funding Data

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 126

By State and Tribe Funding Data

FY 2018 Obligations for Grants, Cooperative Agreements and Federal Project Spending

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

STATE/TRIBE Environmental Restoration Environmental Protection (Regulatory)

AML

Funding Federal Reclamation Grants/Agreements TOTAL

Emergency 

Projects

High 

Priority 

Projects

Emergency 

Projects

NonFederal

Lands

Federal

Lands

Alabama 1,270 20 1,290

Alaska 372 372

Arkansas 111 111

California 75 75

Colorado 618 1,707 2,325

Georgia 0

Illinois 3,223 3,223

Indiana 1,649 1,649

Iowa 44 44

Kansas 74 74

Kentucky 11,905 1,495 13,400

Louisiana 187 187

Maryland 750 900 1,650

Michigan 720 720

Mississippi 183 183

Missouri 205 205

Montana 2,317 402 1,624 4,343

New Mexico 229 633 862

North Dakota 560 435 995

Ohio 1,635 1,635

Oklahoma 99 711 476 1,286

Oregon 0

Pennsylvania 12,959 12,959

Rhode Island 0

South Dakota 0

Tennessee 0

Texas 2,633 2,633

Utah 150 2,382 2,532

Virginia 3,661 3,661

Washington 367 367

West Virginia 11,320 11,320

Wyoming 275 1,998 2,273

Cherokee Nation 0

Crow 572 572

Hopi 402 402

Navajo 1,800 1,800

N. Cheyenne 0

Total 750 3,211 367 57,678 11,142 73,148
Appendix – Organization Chart

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 127

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Organizational Chart

Work is underway in 2019 to plan implementation, conduct analysis, and identify areas of collaboration within the new Department unified regions designated

on August 22, 2018.

Office of Communications

Office of the Director

Deputy Director

Office for Equal 

Opportunity

Office of Planning, 

Analysis and Budget

Information Resources 

Office

Program Support 

Directorate

Appalachian Office 

Regional Director

Mid-Continent Office 

Regional Director

Western Office

Regional Director

Finance and 

Administration 

Directorate

Technology 

Management 

Division

Alton Field 

Division

Division of 

Regulatory 

Support

Division of 

Compliance 

Management

Division of 

Reclamation 

Support

Division of 

Financial 

Management

Division of 

Technical 

Training

Division of 

Administration

Division of 

Human 

Resources

Field and Area 

Offices

Program 

Support 

Division

Denver Field 

Division

Field and Area 

Offices 

Technical 

Support 

Division 

Program 

Assistance 

Division 

Pittsburgh Field 

Division

Program 

Support 

Division 

Field and Area 

Offices 
Appendix – Abandoned Mine Land Program Sites

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 128

Abandoned Mine Land Program States Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Abandoned Mine Land Program States 

Uncertified State or Tribe: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,

Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio,

Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia

Certified State or Tribe: Crow Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Navajo Nation,

Texas, Wyoming

Federal Responsibility State or Tribe: California, Cherokee Nation, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, Michigan,

North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Washington

US AML Programs

AML Status

Uncertified OSMRE Federal State

Certified Non-AML State
Appendix – Regulatory Programs and Office Locations

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 129

Regulatory Programs and Office Locations Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Regulatory Program and Office Locations 

State Regulatory Program OSMRE Regional Location

Federal Regulatory Program OSMRE Field or Area Office

State without Regulatory Program US Coal Fields

Last Revised: 2/14/2019 Sources: OSMRE, US Census Bureau
Appendix – DOI Unified Regions

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 130

Alignment of Legacy Regions to DOI Unified Regions

DOI UNIFIED REGIONS

1. North Atlantic Appalachian 5. Missouri-Basin 9. Columbia-Pacific Northwest

2. South Atlantic-Gulf 6. Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas-Gulf 10. California-Great Basin

3. Great Lakes 7. Upper Colorado-Basin 11. Alaska

4. Mississippi-Basin 8. Lower Colorado-Basin 12. Pacific Islands

OSMRE 

Headquarters

OSMRE Regional

Headquarters

Legacy Appalachian Region 

Legacy Mid-Continent Region 

Legacy Western Region 

Tribes

Non-Coal State

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Alignment of Legacy Regions to DOI Unified Regions