(WASHINGTON) - Interior Secretary Gale Norton today announced that the Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining has awarded Pennsylvania $8.9 million in funding for the state's regulation of active coal mines.

"This grant, combined with state matching funds, will support Pennsylvania's program to inspect active coal mines and enforce Surface Mining Act requirements to protect people and the environment during mining and ensure prompt land restoration afterward," said Norton.

The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, the law that regulates coal mining throughout the country, established a coordinated effort between the states and the federal government to prevent abuses that characterized surface coal mining in the past. The Law gives states authority to regulate active coal mining and also fund reclamation of abandoned mine problems. The OSM grant, together with state matching funds, will cover costs of salary and fringe benefits for 246 Pennsylvania employees involved in the regulation of active coal mines. The total budget for the state's Surface Coal Program is $17.8 million dollars for the period October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2005. Information about coal mine reclamation is available online at www.osmre.gov