OSMRE Stories
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OSMRE Innovates with UAS and the Applied Science Program
OSMRE Innovates with UAS Applied Science ProgramAcross Appalachia, Unarmed Aircraft System (UAS) programs are revealing what land managers could never see from the ground. They are identifying hidden mine fires, unstable slopes, invasive species…
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OSM Freedom 250 Outreach STEM SciTech Day at the Kamin Science Center
What does America’s story look like through the eyes of future scientists and engineers?On March 12, 2026, OSM Appalachian Region staff brought the Freedom 250 campaign to the STEM SciTech Day at the Kamin Science Center, joining students,…
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Restoring America’s Lands: Science and Stewardship for the Next 250 Years
Turning Former Mine Lands into Forests Across Appalachia … -
From Coal to Comeback
A decade of rebuilding America’s mining communities.
Leonard Lawson Cancer Center treatment roomIn Pikeville, Kentucky, there is a room where the lights are soft and a couch is angled toward a loved one…
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OSMRE Inspires Kids with Hands-on Science
In classrooms across Appalachia, a federal science program is making geology real with hands‑on activities that spark curiosity.What Is OSMRE and Why Are They Teaching Kids About Coal?OSMRE's mission is to apply science, technology, and…
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Innovation in Action: How Mine Reclamation Protects American Communities and Shapes the Future
When people talk about innovation today, the conversation often starts with artificial intelligence, automation, or cutting-edge software. But across the United States, another form of innovation has been quietly reshaping landscapes, protecting…
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OSMRE Director Visits Kayenta Mine Complex
Kayenta, Ariz. – Deep within the desert of Arizona, within the Navajo and Hopi Nations, a once active coal mine is undergoing post mining reclamation. The nearly 65,000 acre mine complex consists of two separate mines, the Black Mesa and Kayenta…
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West Virginia and Interior Renew a 40-Year Partnership
Modernizing cooperative federalism to support responsible mining, energy reliability, and state leadership
In a consequential ceremony at the Stewart Lee Udall Building, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the state of West Virginia…
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10 Things to Know About How OSMRE Supports America’s Energy Legacy and Communities
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, a bureau in the U.S. Department of the Interior, plays a vital role in supporting energy development, preserving America’s working lands, and protecting mining communities. As the nation…
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Centralia Mine: From Legacy Mining to Long-Term Stewardship
The Centralia Mine is one of many places across the country where legacy coal mining shaped local landscapes and communities. While mining activity supported energy needs for decades, it also left behind challenges that required long-term…