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OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT
news and stories
For prior news and stories, select the News and Stories Archive.
To see information that has been newly added to our website, see our What's New page.
Salazar Announces $395 Million Available to States and Tribes for Cleaning Up Abandoned Coal Mines
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the availability of more than $395 million in grants to states and tribes to restore abandoned mine lands nationwide, generating jobs and eliminating health and safety hazards caused by past coal mining. The Fiscal Year 2011 funding for the grants administered by Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) represents an increase of more than $25 million over last year.
Salazar Commends OSM Initiatives to Improve Oversight of State Surface Coal Mining Programs
WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today commended employees of the Office of Surface Mining for their efforts to improve oversight of state surface coal mining regulatory programs. The Secretary was joined at OSM headquarters by Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Wilma Lewis and OSM Director Joseph Pizarchik.
OSM to Recognize Projects Demonstrating Exemplary Mine Reclamation, Good Community Relationships
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) will recognize today the six winners of the 2010 Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Awards.
OSM to Recognize 2010 Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Award Winners
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) will recognize today five Abandoned Mine Land (AML) projects for their exceptional reclamation results.
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) Employee Len Meier Wins Department of Defense Award for Support of National Guard and Reserve
OSM’s Len Meier, Branch Chief for Program and Technology Support in the Mid-Continent Region, 
received the Department of Defense Patriot Award for his support of National Guard and Reserve troops.
Now, at any given time, Guardsmen or Reservists serve side-by-side with active duty troops in and around war zones. The increased demand for National Guard and Reserve troops led Meier to recognize that OSM had an opportunity to support the part-time citizen soldier, sailor, and airman. Three of the seven people in Meier’s branch are part-time soldiers. O’Dell (left) serves in a Medical Support Unit as an environmental science/engineering officer. Fellow employee LaVon Edwards commands a Medical Command Detachment from St. Charles, Missouri, and Nicholas Grant teaches Modern Army Combatives, the Army’s close quarters fighting system for the Illinois National Guard.
We celebrate SMCRA’s 33rd Anniversary on August 3, 2010!
OSM Director Pizarchik and OSM employees commemorate the 33rd Anniversary of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.
On August 3, 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) into law. Today, OSM takes pride in its many accomplishments over the last 33 years. While we reflect on what we have accomplished under SMCRA, we realize there is still work to be done - and that work has begun. As we commemorate the 33rd Anniversary of SMCRA, we also recognize the dedicated employees of OSM who work hard to contribute to the mission of SMCRA.
The organizers asked the Director to discuss his vision of what OSM is working toward with respect to reclamation, new rules, and increased oversight of coal mining.
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik Addresses the 2010 Joint Mining Conference
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik served as the plenary session speaker at the 2010 Joint Mining Conference in Pittsburgh, PA on Monday, June 7th.
The organizers asked the Director to discuss his vision of what OSM is working toward with respect to reclamation, new rules, and increased oversight of coal mining.
OSM Employee Honored for Work with Volunteers in Coal Country
Photos of Dr. Allan Comp at a recent reception honoring him for his Service to America Medal for his work with volunteers who address environmental and economic issues in coal-producing states.
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Employee Honored as Recipient of Service to America Medal Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Lauds Work with Volunteers in Coal Country
(Washington) – Dr. T. Allan Comp from the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) will be honored the evening of May 3 as the recipient of an award recognizing members of the Federal workforce who have made significant contributions to the Nation through their commitment and innovation.
A reception in Washington, DC, sponsored by the Southwest Conservation Corps and Citizens Conservation Corps West Virginia will celebrate Comp’s Service to America Medal, given to him in 2009 by the Partnership for Public Service, for his work with volunteers who address environmental and economic issues in coal-producing states.
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik Visits Kentucky
On February 9th, with snow locking in much of the Federal government, OSM Director Joe Pizarchik caught one of the last flights out of Washington, D.C. to continue his listening tour for 2010, this time to get a firsthand look at mining operations in Kentucky. While in the Bluegrass State, Director Pizarchik met with OSM staff and state officials, and toured a couple of active and reclaimed sites.
Director Joe Pizarchik Meets with the West Virginia Coal Association
As part of his West Virginia listening tour, Director Pizarchik also set aside time to hear directly from the industry itself. The meeting with the West Virginia Coal Association (which happened immediately after the aerial mine tour), provided a useful perspective on how OSMRE should continue its effort in developing new rules, re-evaluate its oversight duties, and act as a better conduit between the regulated community and coalfield citizens.
Director Joe Pizarchik's Aerial Tour of West Virginia Coalfields
While in West Virginia, Director Joe Pizarchik took part in a two-hour flyover of many of the area's mountaintop mining sites. All of the stakeholders stressed the importance of seeing the size and scope of the industry from the air, saying that would provide an important backdrop to the discussions about employment, economic activity, environmental impact and reclamation. The 21 photos in this essay were taken from the helicopter that trailed Director Pizarchik's. Select the image to enlarge.
A New Appalachian Region Website is Coming Soon
A new Appalachian Region website is coming soon to OSM. The website’s name will remain the same http://www.arcc.osmre.gov, but the site will have a new look and will be easier to navigate. Here is a preview into the new AR Website. Stay tuned.
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik Continues Fact Finding and Listening Tour in WV.
The final day of OSMRE Director Joe Pizarchik’s West Virginia listening tour. At the request of several citizens groups representing several states, Director Pizarchik met them at a local hotel conference room to hear their concerns first hand. Then, with no prior knowledge of where he was going, the director traveled by van to meet with people who live in the coalfields and are directly affected by mountaintop mining. Here are some of the most memorable parts of that day.
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik Visits West Virginia on Fact Finding and Listening Tour.
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik is spending a few days in the nation’s second largest coal producing state, West Virginia. While there, he is meeting with OSM field officials, state and federal officials and interested parties. What follows are a few photos from his travels during the week of January 18th.
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik Meets With Environmental Groups in Washington, D.C.
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik met with several interested environmental representatives in Washington, D.C. on Friday, January 15, 2010, to discuss OSM’s outlook on the disposal of coal combustion byproducts (CCBs), also known as coal waste or ‘fly ash.’ The meeting is part of Director Pizarchik’s intent to gather a wide range of input from interested parties before moving forward with any new policies.
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Director Meets with Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe Officials
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik spent January 8-11 in northern Arizona, touring both active mines and reclaimed mine lands on the Navajo and Hopi reservations, and holding meetings with tribal leaders and citizens.
Getting To Know Joe
For the first time since joining OSM, Director Joe Pizarchik was interviewed by reporters from the coalfield areas the week of December 7, 2009. Their insightful questions will also provide the public — as well as OSM employees — a chance to get to know Joe a little better. What follows is a partial transcript of a few of the questions he answered. We’ll add more as the sessions are transcribed.