Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Annual Evaluation Summary Report for the North Dakota Public Service Commission Abandoned Mine Lands Program, Evaluation Year 2010 (July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010)

摘要

The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) created the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) in the Department of the Interior to oversee regulation of coal exploration, surface coal mining and reclamation operations, and reclamation of lands adversely affected by past mining practices. SMCRA provides that, if certain conditions are met, a state may assume primary authority for reclamation of abandoned mine lands (AML) within its borders. Once a state has obtained such approval, OSM has the responsibility to make investigations, evaluations, and inspections necessary to determine whether that states AML program is being administered in accordance with approved program provisions. On December 23, 1981, the Secretary of the Department of Interior approved North Dakotas Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AMLR) Plan under Title IV of SMCRA. With that approval, the State of North Dakota through the North Dakota Public Service Commission (NDPSC) has exclusive responsibility and authority to operate the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program. On September 27, 1993, the Secretary approved North Dakotas May 25, 1993 amendment to its AMLR Plan allowing North Dakota to assume responsibility for an emergency response reclamation program. The North Dakota Public Service Commission, Abandoned Mine Lands Division (AMLD) currently administers these programs.