Annual Evaluation Report for the Regulatory and Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Programs Administered by the State of Texas for Evaluation Year 2008 (July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008)

摘要

The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 created the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement in the Department of the Interior. SMCRA provides authority to OSM to oversee the implementation of and provide Federal funding for State regulatory programs that have been approved by OSM as meeting the minimum standards specified by SMCRA. This report contains summary information regarding the Texas program and the effectiveness of the Texas program in meeting the applicable purposes of SMCRA as specified in Section 102. The evaluation period covered by this report is July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008. The primary focus of OSMs oversight policy is an on-the-ground results-oriented strategy that evaluates the end result of State program implementation, i.e., the success of the State programs in ensuring that areas off the minesite are protected from impacts during mining, and that areas on the minesite are contemporaneously and successfully reclaimed after mining activities are completed. The policy emphasizes a shared commitment between OSM and the States to ensure the success of SMCRA through the development and implementation of a performance agreement. Also, public participation is encouraged as part of the oversight strategy. Besides the primary focus of evaluating end results, the oversight guidance makes clear OSMs responsibility to conduct inspections to monitor the States effectiveness in ensuring compliance with SMCRAs environmental protection standards.