Alleged Unauthorized Use of Appropriated Moneys by Interior Employees

GAO investigated the possible unauthorized use of appropriated funds by the Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining (OSM). Also investigated were allegations that OSM misused appropriated moneys by conducting illegal lobbying activities to defeat pending legislation in the House of Representatives. The proposed legislation would: (1) postpone for 12 months the date for submitting state surface mining programs for federal approval; (2) postpone the date for implementing the surface mining control program on federal lands to coincide with the date for implementing the state program; and (3) add language to the act which specifies that a state program need only comply with the provisions of the act itself and not with the regulations issued by OSM pursuant to the act.