1997 OSM-UTAH ANNUAL EVALUATION PLAN


     The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
(OSM), Western Regional Coordinating Center (WRCC), and the State
of Utah, Division of Oil, Gas and Mining (DOGM), jointly prepared
this annual evaluation plan for the oversight of Title V
implementation of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
in Utah.

     This OSM-Utah annual plan, which is for the oversight period
from October 1, 1996, through September 30, 1997, establishes the
basic elements of oversight to be evaluated in Utah.  Oversight
will be directed and conducted by the OSM-Utah team, which
consists of representatives of WRCC responsible for oversight and
representatives of DOGM responsible for Title V permitting and
compliance.  As needed and as oversight elements warrant, other
members may be added to the team on an ad hoc basis.

     Revised OSM Directive REG-8 served as guidance for the
selection of oversight topics.  The topics chosen for review are
those that are important to citizens, operators, OSM, and DOGM.

     The chosen topics fall into one of two categories:  public
participation and environmental protection.  For the public
participation topics, the team will evaluate whether DOGM
adequately complies with its public access and notification
procedures.  For the environmental protection topics, the team
will evaluate whether DOGM assures that minesite reclamation is
successful and offsite mine impacts are prevented.

     Offsite impact data will be compiled from sources including
minesite evaluations conducted by the team, WRCC and DOGM joint
complete inspections, and DOGM partial and complete inspections. 
For the purposes of counting offsite impact observations for
Table 4 of the annual evaluation report, each team minesite
evaluation that focuses on offsite impacts, and each of the
aforementioned inspections, shall count as one observation.  In
order that the team may keep an up-to-date tally of the number of
offsite impacts, and to facilitate a discussion and agreement
between WRCC and DOGM on the degree of these impacts (minor,
moderate, or major), DOGM will promptly notify WRCC after each
inspection where DOGM cites a violation that causes offsite
impacts.


     Mutually agreed upon this 22nd day of January 1997 by the
OSM-Utah Oversight Team.

                                                            
Henry Austin (WRCC)                Pamela Grubaugh-Littig (DOGM)

                                                                 
Daron Haddock (DOGM)               Joseph Helfrich (DOGM)

                                                                 
Ranvir Singh (WRCC)                Dennis Winterringer (WRCC)