budget and planning

Comparison of FY 2002 to the FY 2003 President's Budget

Requested Funding Level

The Office of Surface Mining's FY 2003 budget request totals $283.6 million in current authority, $70 million in permanent authority, and 637 FTE's. However, included in this amount is $4.2 million to reflect a government-wide legislative proposal to shift the full cost of the government's pension system and employee health benefits program for current employees to their employing agencies. Thus, the Office of Surface Mining's FY 2003 request net of this reform proposal is $279.4 million, a decrease of $27.1 million below the FY 2002 enacted level of $306.5 million.

The Office of Surface Mining's net request for the Regulation and Technology appropriation is for $105.4 million, an increase of $2.3 million over the FY 2002 enacted level. The Office of Surface Mining is requesting a net $1 million increase in State regulatory grants. This is comprised of a $2 million increase for West Virginia offset by a $1 million reduction to other States' grants. The Office of Surface Mining is also requesting $1.3 million for uncontrollable cost increases.

The Office of Surface Mining's net request for the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund is for $174 million, a reduction of $29.4 million from the FY 2002 enacted level. The budget proposes a $17 million reduction for State reclamation grants. It removes a $0.5 million earmark for a grant to Pennsylvania for an acid mine drainage demonstration project. It eliminates $10.9 million in funding for the Federal emergency program; The Office of Surface Mining has sufficient carryover funds to operate the program for FY 2003. The proposal also reduces funding for high priority projects by $1.3 million. The budget identifies savings of $0.2 million in travel costs and $0.1 million in general services efficiencies. It requests $0.6 million for uncontrollable costs.

Additionally, the budget proposes to transfer $2 million in carryover for federal emergencies to state reclamation grants.

Finally, the $70 million request in permanent authority is for a transfer of interest earnings on the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to the United Mine Workers of America Combined Benefit Fund for health benefits for retired mine workers whose employing companies no longer exist.

This budget proposal also supports the President's Government-wide management reform agenda by:

• Integrating Budget and Performance Measures
• Improving Strategic Management of Human Capital
• Increasing Competitive Sourcing
• Improving Financial Performance
• Expanding E-Government

Summary of 2002 Appropriations and 2003 Budget Changes by
Appropriation and Business Line

Figures are in thousands of dollars.

Regulation & Technology	FY 2002 Enacted	FY 2003 Proposed	Change
Environmental Restoration	$435	$437	$2
Environmental Protection	77,741	79,159	1,418
Technology Development and Transfer	12,151	12,593	442
Financial Management	477	485	8
Executive Direction	12,271	12,693	422
Appropriation without Leg. Prop.	103,075	105,367	2,292
CSRS/FEHB Cost	2,896	2,731	-165
Total, with Leg. Prop.	$105,971	$108,098	$2,127
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund	FY 2002 Enacted	FY 2003 Proposed	Change
Environmental Restoration	$186,697	$156,987	$-29,710
Environmental Protection	0	0	0
Technology Development and Transfer	4,136	4,164	28
Financial Management	6,070	6,179	109
Executive Direction	6,552	6,705	153
Total Appropriation	203,455	174,035	-29,420
CSRS/FEHB Cost	1,237	1,459	222
Total, with Leg. Prop.	$204,692	$175,494	$-29,198