OSM administers the program in a cooperative manner with eligible states and tribes. OSM directly administers the reclamation and emergency programs for states and tribes that do not operate their own programs. This fiscal year, we anticipate that the AML program will reclaim more than 8,100 acres of abandoned mine sites. In addition, the program will abate more than 400 emergency hazards. Since the program's inception, more than 160,000 acres of abandoned mine related problems which represent a hazard to human health, safety or general welfare have been reclaimed nationwide.
Reclamation occurs in highly populated as well as less populated areas.
For example, a major project has been in the city of Rock Springs, Wyoming. Underground mining in seven coal seams created approximately 900 surface acres of Rock Springs that resulted in major subsidence throughout the city. The grouting of the underground voids began in 1988 and was substantially completed in 1994. Several major subsidence areas were reclaimed during the project duration. Another example in a less populated area is the Gas Hills Reclamation Projects, in Lander, Wyoming.