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Directives

This page contains the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) active policy directives. Directives are organized by subject area. 

Policy is official guidance issued by an organization with the intent to provide high-level procedures and protocols to achieve organizational goals and priorities.    

In the Federal government, policy follows a hierarchy. If an agency's policy conflicts with that of another level in the Federal government, this is how the conflict generally resolves:

  • Federal law and regulations supersede all other corresponding federal policies. 

  • The policies issued governmentwide from the Executive Branch supersede all other corresponding Departmental policies. 

  • The policies of the Department of Interior supersede all other corresponding OSMRE policies. 

  • OSMRE policies supersede other non-policy establishing practices, documents, and manuals.  

Stacked venn diagram showing Federal Legislation as the largest circle, Federal Regulations, Policies, Directives, as the second largest circle, DOI Policies as the second smallest circle and OSMRE Directives as the smallest circle

OSMRE does not intend to issue policy directives to restate Departmental or Federal policies. In the absence of specific OSMRE directives for a specific subject, OSMRE defaults to the Departmental and/or Federal policy or policies for that subject. Contact the OSMRE program area most closely related to the subject for more information on all policies governing that subject. 

Examples:

Directives are written communications provided in the form of instructions, manuals, notices, guides, policies, and certain high-level procedures. Directives assist OSMRE employees in effectively performing their jobs. Additionally, some directives are designed for use by external stakeholders.

Before 2023 some revisions to directives were enacted through Change Notices. In these cases the directive will have a subject code format with an additional dash and number (e.g. ADS-16-2). In cases where there are Change Notices associated with directives it is recommended to read the base directive first and then subsequent Change Notices.

OSMRE reviews all policy directives on a regular and recurring basis to assess continued alignment with applicable statutes, regulations, related policies, or other formal requirements, based on assigned and delegated authorities. These ongoing reviews inform OSMRE’s decision to update or rescind directives, as appropriate, to ensure continued relevance and applicability.

OSMRE employees interested in learning how to prepare, modify, or remove a directive, should consult Directive OPM-1.

OPM-1 Appendix F Action Summary was created as a desk reference for different actions in the Directives and SOP processes.

Contact the Directives Coordinator for additional resources.

When a directive is rescinded it is archived for historical purposes and is available to employees on the OSMRE Intranet. The rescission notice explaining the Bureau's decision to rescind the directive is posted on this website for at least one year. 

External stakeholders may request information on archived directives by contacting getinfo@osmre.gov or by phone at (202) 208-2565. The TTY telephone text number is (202) 208-2694.

For questions about the content of a specific directive please contact the OSMRE program area listed for that directive.

For questions or suggestions regarding OSMRE's Directives Program, please contact the OSMRE Directives Coordinator, Lilli Pickens-Mitchell, at lpickens@osmre.gov.

 

Use the buttons below to jump to the directive subject code section:

 

Administrative Services (ADS)

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact
ADS-2

Safety and Occupational Health Program

6/4/2009 Office of Administration
ADS-6 Printing, Publications and Reprographic Management 5/11/2000 Office of Administration
ADS-7

Motor Vehicle Management Program

5/22/2009 Office of Administration
ADS-13

Management of Leased Space

8/10/2000 Office of Administration
ADS-14

Aircraft Safety

8/8/2000 Office of Administration
ADS-16

Uniform Standards and Allowances

8/3/1992 Office of Administration
ADS-16-1

Change Notice - Deletion

2/25/1993 Office of Administration
ADS-16-2

Change Notice - Revisions

10/31/1996 Office of Administration
ADS-16-3

Change Notice

9/30/2008 Office of Administration
ADS-17

Loan of Government-Owned Personal Property

8/8/1988 Office of Administration
ADS-17-1

Change Notice - Clarification

10/24/1991 Office of Administration
ADS-17-2

Change Notice - Amendment

8/12/1992 Office of Administration
ADS-18

Personal Property Management Program

5/29/2014 Office of Administration
ADS-19

Environmental Management Systems

8/31/2006 Office of Administration
ADS-19-1

Change Notice - Environmental Management Systems

2/27/2009 Office of Administration

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Abandoned Mine Lands (AML)

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact
AML-1

Abandoned Mine Land Inventory Manual NEW

Appx. A - Abandoned Mine Land Inventory Manual

10/10/2023 Program Support Directorate 
AML-4

Procedures for Federal Reclamation Program Emergency and High Priority Projects

5/8/2000 Program Support Directorate 
AML-22

Evaluation of State/Tribe Abandoned Mine Land Programs

3/28/2013

Program Support Directorate 

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Budget and Funds Management (BFM)

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact
BFM-1

Administrative Control of Funds

12/18/2008 Office of Planning, Analysis and Budget

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Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact

EEO-1

EEO Complaints Settlement Authority 12/6/2012 Office for Equal Opportunity

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Financial Management (FIN)

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact
FIN-1

Conference Officer Operations Manual

See FIN-1-1 for updated manual 

9/4/1987 Finance and Acquisition Directorate 
FIN-1-1

Change Notice - Civil Penalty Conference Officers Manual

12/9/2008 Finance and Acquisition Directorate 
FIN-7

Non-Federal Reimbursements to OSMRE

10/15/1991 Finance and Acquisition Directorate 
FIN-7-1

Change Notice - Revisions

11/21/1991 Finance and Acquisition Directorate 

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Grants Management Program (GMT) 

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact
GMT-1

Allocation and Suballotment of Small Operator Assistance Program Funds

06/08/90 Program Support Directorate
GMT-1-1

Change Notice - Revisions

11/05/92 Program Support Directorate
GMT-6

Eligibility of Operators and Authorized Services in the SOAP

06/07/89 Program Support Directorate
GMT-6-1

Change Notice - Organizational Titles and Statutory Regulatory changes

06/24/94 Program Support Directorate
GMT-10

Federal Assistance Manual

See GMT-10-1 for updated manual

8/15/19 Program Support Directorate
GMT-10-1

Change Notice - Federal Assistance Manual ; Federal Assistance Manual Annexes

08/04/21 Program Support Directorate
GMT-11

SOAP Annual Liability Reviews

08/04/88 Program Support Directorate
GMT-11-1

Change Notice - Revisions

03/12/93 Program Support Directorate

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Inspection and Enforcement (INE)

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact
INE-3

Furnishing Operator/Permittees with Copies of Inspection Reports and Ten-Day Notices

3/3/1987 Program Support Directorate
INE-4

Notice of Potential Liability for an Individual Civil Penalty

3/1/1990 Program Support Directorate
INE-4-1

Change Notice - Revisions

2/5/1993 Program Support Directorate
INE-5

Mining Without a Permit and/or Mining Off a Valid Permit

9/17/2008 Program Support Directorate
INE-6

Informal Public Hearing Under 30 CFR 843.15

3/24/1983 Program Support Directorate
INE-8

Services of Notices of Violation and Cessation Orders

5/19/1983 Program Support Directorate
INE-13

Revision of Inspection and Enforcement Policy

4/11/1983 Program Support Directorate
INE-18

Authorized Representatives

10/13/2020 Program Support Directorate
INE-19

Vacation of Notices of Cessation Orders

1/7/1987 Program Support Directorate
INE-23

Completion and Processing of Mine Site Inspection Federal Program and Mine Site Evaluation State Program Report Forms

12/28/1998 Program Support Directorate
INE-26

Approximate Original Contour

6/26/2020 Program Support Directorate
INE-29

Inspectable Units Inventory

7/7/1992 Program Support Directorate
INE-30

Alternative Enforcement Referrals for Criminal Penalties and Civil Action for Injunctive Relief

3/1/1990 Program Support Directorate
INE-35

Ten-Day Notices

5/3/2019 Program Support Directorate
INE-40

Individual Civil Penalty Assessment

3/1/1990 Appalachian Region
INE-41

Civil Penalty Assessment for Unabated Imminent Harm Cessation Orders

7/18/1989 Program Support Directorate
INE-43

Inspection of Durable Rock Fills Under Construction

11/12/2008 Appalachian Region
INE-44

Contemporaneous Evaluation of Reclamation Activities

11/21/2008 Program Support Directorate

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Information Services and Program Promotion (INF)

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact
INF-1

OSMRE Records Management 

Appx. A - Records Management Manual

10/8/2008 Information Resources Office
INF-2

Administrative Records System

9/28/1989 Program Support Directorate
INF-3

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

9/20/1993 Information Resources Office
INF-5

Subpoenas to Compel the Attendance of Witnesses, the Production of Written or Printed Materials, or Both

10/19/1993 Appalachian Region
INF-11

Information Resources Management Policy and Procedures Manual

3/12/1991 Information Resources Office
INF-13

Information Resources Management Review Council

1/19/1993 Information Resources Office

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Information Technology (IT)

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact
IT-1

Information Systems Security Program

3/20/2000 Information Resources Office
IT-2

Hardware and Software Management

12/9/2008 Information Resources Office
IT-3

OSMRE Digital Media PolicyDigital Media Guidance

8/13/2019 Office of Communications

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Organizational Planning and Management (OPM)

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact
OPM-1

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Directives and Standard Operating Procedures System NEW
Appx. A - Subject Code Identification
Appx. B - Directive Template
Appx. C - Change Notice Template
Appx. D - SOP Template
Appx. E - Appendix Revision Log
Appx. F - Action Summary 

7/26/2023 Office of Administration
OPM-5

Delegations of Authority

12/6/2012 Office of Administration

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Personnel (PER)

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact
PER-6

Alternative Work Schedule

7/10/1990 Office of Human Resources 
PER-16

Merit Promotion Policy and Implementation

8/31/2000 Office of Human Resources 
PER-24

Employee-Initiated Remote Work Policy
Appx. A - Definitions
Appx. B - Remote Work Agreement
Appx. C - Telework and Employee-Initiated Remote Work Comparison Chart
Appx. D - General Requirements
Appx. E - Position and Employee Eligibility Criteria
Remote Work Request Evaluation Form

5/24/2022

Office of Human Resources 

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Procurement and Contracting (PRC)

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact
PRC-6

Uniform Contract Review System (Except Federal Emergency Reclamation Projects)

8/2/1993 Finance and Acquisition Directorate
PRC-7

Interagency Acquisitions (Agreements)

8/30/1988 Finance and Acquisition Directorate
PRC-7-1

Change Notice - Clarification

7/6/1989 Finance and Acquisition Directorate
PRC-10

Anti-Lobbying Statute - Restrictions on Lobbying and Semi-Annual Reporting Requirements

10/24/1991 Finance and Acquisition Directorate

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Regulatory Program Development (REG)

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact
REG-1

Handbook on Procedures for Implementing the NEPA ; National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Handbook

7/31/2019 Program Support Directorate
REG-2

522(b) Federal Lands Review

12/7/1990 Program Support Directorate
REG-7

Experimental Practices

4/24/1992 Program Support Directorate
REG-8

Oversight of State and Tribal Regulatory Programs

5/30/2019 Program Support Directorate
REG-10

Bond Forfeiture

5/26/1987 Program Support Directorate
REG-10-1

Change Notice - Revisions

12/20/1993 Program Support Directorate
REG-14

Interpretation of Initial Program and Indian Lands Regulations Concerning Rills and Gullies

7/9/1987 Program Support Directorate
REG-15

Policy and Procedures for Maintaining Confidentiality of Permit Application Information

11/21/1991 Program Support Directorate
REG-18

Tribal Consultation and Protection of Tribal Trust Resources

6/26/2013 Program Support Directorate
REG-19

Incidental Boundary Revisions

10/19/1987 Program Support Directorate
REG-22

Developing and Processing State - Federal Cooperative Agreements for State Regulation on Federal Lands

5/4/1999 Program Support Directorate
REG-23

Corrective Actions for Regulatory Program Problems and Action Plans

1/31/2011 Program Support Directorate
REG-28

Bond Forms and Procedures

3/10/1989 Program Support Directorate
REG-31

Preparation of Mining Plan Decision Documents

6/4/1999 Program Support Directorate
REG-33

Federal Blaster Certification Program and Blasting Enforcement

12/9/2008 Appalachian Region
REG-35

Permit Fees in Federal Program States and On Indian Lands

8/27/1990 Program Support Directorate
REG-35-1

Change Notice - Revisions

10/26/1993 Program Support Directorate

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State and Tribal Programs (STP)

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact
STP-1

Processing of Proposed State/Tribal Regulatory Programs and Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Plans; Amendments; and Part 732 and Part 884 Notifications

3/20/2019 Program Support Directorate

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Technical Guidance and Research (TGR)

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact
TGR-1

OSMRE Blasting Guidance

1/28/1987 Appalachian Region

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Technical Services and Research (TSR)

Subject Number Directive Effective Date Contact
TSR-1

Calculation of Reclamation Bond Amounts
Appx. A - Handbook for Calculation of Reclamation Bond Amounts

5/5/2021 Program Support Directorate
TSR-2

Quarterly Examination of Water Impoundments

9/14/1987 Program Support Directorate
TSR-3

Sediment Control Using Best Technology Currently Available

11/2/1987 Program Support Directorate
TSR-4

Technical Studies

9/25/2008 Mid-Continent Region
TSR-5

Alternative Postmining Land Use Requirements for Real Property

11/10/1987 Program Support Directorate
TSR-6

Drainage Control on Valley and Durable Rock Fills

11/10/1987 Program Support Directorate
TSR-7

Protecting Historic Properties

12/18/1987 Program Support Directorate
TSR-8

Transportation and Handling of Abandoned Coal Mine Refuse Piles

3/31/1988 Program Support Directorate
TSR-9

Construction Certification of Siltation Structures

4/27/1988 Program Support Directorate
TSR-10

Use of Wetland Treatment Systems for Coal Mine Drainage

10/27/1997 Program Support Directorate
TSR-12

Post-Act Reclamation Program

6/13/2017 Program Support Directorate
TSR-14

Construction of Wetlands as a Postmining Land Use

1/31/1995 Program Support Directorate
TSR-15

Dam Safety Program

8/14/1996 Program Support Directorate
TSR-16

Reforestation of Title IV and Title V mined lands

6/10/2008 Program Support Directorate

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