Comments on Interior's Surface Mining Regulations.
Abstract
The General Accounting Office has been reviewing the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), Department of the Interior, regulations implementing the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-87). We initiated this review to follow-up on our September 21, 1979, report entitled 'Issues Surrounding the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act' (CED-79-83) and because of congressional, State, industry, and public interest and controversy in controlling and reclaiming coal surface mined areas. OSM is in the process of making major revisions to its regulations and we, therefore, do not plan further work at this time. However, during our regulatory analysis of seven regulations and discussions with various officials, we identified issues which we are suggesting OSM consider while revising its regulations. Our objective was to determine if key regulations provided adequate environmental protection while allowing States and coal mine operators sufficient flexibility to choose the appropriate methods necessary to achieve the Act's environmental goals at the least cost. Our review consisted of interviewing officials of four State natural resource agencies (Colorado, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wyoming), four coal associations, two coal companies, two environmental groups, one bonding association, the National Academy of Sciences, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau of Mines, and OSM.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 05, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA107185
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office