Skip to main content

Abandoned Mine Reclamation: Interior May Have Approved State Shifts to Noncoal Projects Prematurely

RCED-91-162 Published: Jun 07, 1991. Publicly Released: Jul 09, 1991.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reported on the Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement's (OSMRE) process for allowing states to spend federal surface coal mine reclamation funds to address noncoal reclamation problems, focusing on whether OSMRE ensured that states met the certification requirements.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Interior The Secretary of the Interior should direct the Director, OSMRE, to adopt policies consistent with SMCRA and require reasonable assurance that all eligible coal projects, including priority-3 through -6 projects, have been addressed before approving state requests for certification. To assist its field offices and the states in accomplishing this, OSMRE should develop written policy and guidance on how: (1) all coal reclamation projects are to be identified and addressed; and (2) OSMRE will verify a state's certification request.
Closed – Implemented
Interior included the recommended policy and guidance in a proposed rule. The final rule was published on May 31, 1994.
Department of the Interior The Secretary of the Interior should direct the Director, OSMRE, to formally notify states of OSMRE policy regarding the implications of certification, which is a state can no longer share in the Secretary's discretionary funds once its request for certification has been approved.
Closed – Implemented
Interior included the recommended guidance in a proposed rule. The final rule was published May 31, 1994.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Administrative lawCoal miningEnvironmental engineeringstate relationsGrants to statesMine safetyMineral bearing landsReprogramming of appropriated fundsState-administered programsSurface mining land reclamation