May 4, 1999  
  
  
  To All Interested Parties:
  
  The Office of Surface Mining (OSM) just completed the enclosed oversight
  report entitled, An Evaluation of Approximate Original Contour and
  Postmining Land Use in West Virginia.  As the title implies, the report
  relates to approximate original contour, or the shape of the land prior to
  mining, and the kinds of postmining land uses that are allowed for
  mountaintop mining operations in West Virginia.
  
  OSM initially released the draft of this report for public comment in
  December 1998.  The comment period closed on February 12, 1999.  The
  initial report contained many facts and information concerning specific
  mines in West Virginia and identified some programmatic problems as a
  result of the evaluation.  The enclosed report briefly summarizes those
  problems, but more importantly, it focuses on measures that will be taken
  to fix the mountaintop mining issues in West Virginia.
  
  With the release of this report, an action plan was formalized between the
  West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection and OSM and calls for
  joint actions to be initiated over the next several months to address the
  issues brought to our attention concerning mountaintop mining.  The
  complete text of the action plan is contained in Appendix C and is
  discussed throughout the report.
  
  OSM would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the individuals who
  took time to comment on the draft report.  OSM received more than sixty
  letters, E-mail messages, and comments on the draft report.  Public
  participation played a very important part in the development of this
  report, and it will continue to play an important role if we are going to
  resolve the mountaintop mining issues.  A summation of the comments
  received on the draft report and OSM's responses to them are contained in
  Appendix A.
  
  For those who may be interested, electronic copies of the initial draft
  report and this final report are posted on OSM's Web page.  The reports may
  be viewed and downloaded at: http://www.osmre.gov/mtindex.htm.  Upon
  request, additional copies of the enclosed report may also be obtained by
  calling (304) 347-7158 or by writing to the Charleston Field Office at 1027
  Virginia Street East, Charleston, West Virginia 25301.  Again, thank you
  for your interest in this important matter.
  
                              Sincerely,
  
  
                              /s/ Roger W. Calhoun
  
                              Roger W. Calhoun, Director
                              Charleston Field Office
  
  Enclosure