December 15, 2009 Contact: Peter Mali- pmali@osmre.gov
For immediate release :
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Extends Public Comment Period on New Coal Mining Oversight Initiatives
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is extending the public comment period on new initiatives to strengthen oversight of state surface coal mining programs.
The Department of the Interior originally announced these initiatives on November 18, 2009, and planned to accept comment for thirty days. Today’s announcement extends the deadline to January 19, 2010.
“We are committed to considering the views of all stakeholders, including the environmental community, the regulated community, the state regulatory authorities, and the general public as we improve our oversight,” said OSM Director Joe Pizarchik. “Allowing time for more thorough public input while that effort continues is consistent with our commitment to be inclusive as OSM charts a new course in executing its oversight responsibilities,” he explained.
Interested parties can review the oversight initiatives at:
http://www.osmre.gov/topic/oversight/scm/scm.shtm.
The preferred method for submitting comments is via e-mail to Oversight@osmre.gov. Comments may also be mailed to: Administrative Record (MS 252 SIB), Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20240.
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement carries out the requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 in cooperation with states and tribes. OSM’s objectives are to ensure that coal mining activities are conducted in a manner that protects citizens and the environment during mining, to ensure that the land is restored to beneficial use after mining, and to mitigate the effects of past mining by aggressively pursuing reclamation of abandoned coal mines.
-OSM-
Click to see some questions from the media to OSM Director, Joseph Pizarchik