OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION & ENFORCEMENT
For Release October 7,  1993
Jerry Childress 202-208-2719

OSM PROPOSES REVISED DEFINITIONS OF COAL

The Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation &
Enforcement  (OSM)  is proposing new definitions of coal and
related terms for purposes of the Surface Mining Control &
Reclamation Act of 1977  (SMCRA).

Although OSM has generally experienced little difficulty in
applying the existing definitions in the administration of SMCRA,
OSM officials believe the amended definitions are needed to
eliminate any uncertainty in connection with revisions to the ASTM
standard cited in the current rules, and to provide detailed
definitions for bituminous/subbituminous and lignite.

The proposal was published in the Federal Register of October 7, 
1993, for public review and comment.   It includes a revised
definition for anthracite,  adds definitions for  lignite and
bituminous/subbituminous coal, and deletes current definitions.  
Coal is defined as "combustible, carbonaceous rock composed
principally of consolidated and chemically altered plant remains." 
 Carbonaceous materials not covered by SMCRA,  such as oil shales, 
heavy oils,  and tar sands,  are excluded.

Unlike a number of the existing definitions promulgated by OSM
shortly after passage of SMCRA, none of the proposed definitions
incorporates any of the classification standards of the American
Society for. Testing and Materials (ASTM).   Thus the proposed
definitions will not be affected if ASTM standards are revised.

Instead,  the proposed rule uses commonly accepted physical and
chemical characteristics to define the terms.   OSM officials
believe that from a regulatory standpoint,  the exacting
petrographic distinctions in the ASTM standards have little
relevance in regulating surface coal mining and reclamation
operations and the surface effects of underground coal mining.

OSM wants public input on how the definitions apply to material in
abandoned piles of coal mining refuse,  whether any coal has been
inadvertently excluded from the definitions,  and on whether final
rules should include references to specific ASTM testing
procedures.   written comments should be sent to the OSM
Administrative Record,  Room 660-NC,  1951 Constitution Avenue
N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.  20240,  no later  than December 6,  1993.

Upon request, public hearings will be held at the Department of the
Interior Auditorium,  1849 C Street N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.,  at
a date and time to be announced later.   Public hearings will also
be held upon request in California, Georgia,  Idaho, 
Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, 
South Dakota,  Tennessee,  and Washington.


Requests for hearings or additional information should be directed
to Douglas J.  Growitz,  P.G.,  Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation & Enforcement, Room 640-NC,  1951 Constitution Avenue
N.W., Washington,  D.C.  20240, (202) 343-1507.

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