Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Annual Evaluation Report for October 2002-June 2003 on the Hopi Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program

摘要

This annual evaluation report is produced by the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) in fulfillment of its Statutory responsibility (under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, (SMCRA)) to annually assess the accomplishments of the Hopi Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation Program (Hopi AML Program). The annual report consists of OSMs oversight findings based on field inspections and meetings with the Hopi Abandoned Mine Land Program during the 9-month evaluation period beginning October 1, 2002 and ending June 30, 2003. This evaluation period is 9-months duration rather than the usual 12-months,in order to accommodate OSMs desire to move to an annual oversight schedule that will end in June rather than September. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) has responsibility under SMCRA for approving State and Tribal Abandoned Mine Land Programs, to carry out the goals of Title IV of SMCRA. The primary goal of Abandoned Mine Land Programs, is to mitigate the effects of past coal mining, by reclaiming abandoned mines. The primary emphasis is placed on correcting the most serious problems endangering public health, safety, general welfare, and property.