Surface Mining: Information on the Updated Abandoned Mine Land Inventory

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation Enforcement's (OSMRE) procedures for updating the national inventory of abandoned coal mine land problem areas, focusing on the: (1) role and composition of the inventory update committee; (2) criteria OSMRE used to determine a problem area's priority for inclusion in the national inventory; and (3) procedures OSMRE used to screen problem areas to ensure that it would place only those areas that affected public health, safety, and general welfare in the inventory.