U.S. Department of the Interior
Office of Surface Mining
May 27, 2004						   	Contact: 	Mike Gauldin, OSM
For immediate release								(202) 208-2565	
			       

Kentucky Awarded $12.3 Million
 to regulate coal mine reclamation

OSM funds programs to protect people and environment during coal mining

(WASHINGTON) - Interior Secretary Gale Norton today announced that the Interior 
Department's Office of Surface Mining has awarded Kentucky $12,313,367 as initial funding for 
the state's FY2004 Administration and Enforcement grant.

"This grant, combined with state matching funds, will support Kentucky'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 318 Kentucky employees involved in the regulation of active coal mines. Kentucky, 
with 3,645 units to inspect and annual coal production of 157.5 million tons, receives the 
largest grant given by OSM for a regulatory program.




-OSM-
Information about coal mine reclamation is available online at www.osmre.gov