OSM FACT SHEET
U.S. Department of the Interior                                    
Office of Surface Mining                     
March 24, 1999
                                                                                                                                                
                  OSM AWARDS MARYLAND $1, 294, 054 GRANT
                          FOR ABANDONED MINE LANDS PROGRAM

          The Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and

Enforcement (OSM) has awarded Maryland a $1, 294, 054 grant to fund the 

state's abandoned mine lands (AML) program.

     Funds for AML grants come from fees paid by coal producers at the

rate of 35 cents per ton of surface mined coal and 15 cents per ton of coal 

mined underground.
       
                                                              -DOI-

                                
For additional information about the grant, contact Ruth Booth (301) 689 - 6104.