Grants and Oversight Team Mid-Continent Regional Coordinating Center Annual Evaluation Summary Report for the Regulatory and Abandoned Mine Land Programs Administered by the Department of Health and Evaluation Surface Mining Section of Kansas for Evaluation Year 2001.

摘要

The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) created the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) in the Department of the Interior. SMCRA provides authority to OSM to oversee the regulation 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 IDSC and the effectiveness of the Kansas program in meeting the applicable purposes of SMCRA as specified in Section 102. This report covers the period of October 1, 2000, to September 30, 2001. The primary focus of the OSM oversight policy for EY 2001 is an on-the-ground results-oriented strategy that evaluates the end result of State programs in ensuring that areas on the mine site are protected from impacts during mining and that areas on the mine site are contemporaneously and successfully reclaimed after mining activities are completed. The policy emphasizes a shared commitment between OSM and the State to ensure the success of SMCRA through the development and implementation of a performance agreement. Also, the policy encourages public participation as part of the oversight strategy. Besides the primary focus of evaluating end results, the oversight guidance makes clear OSM's responsibility to conduct inspections to monitor the State=s effectiveness in ensuring compliance with SMCRA's environmental protection. To further the idea that oversight is a continuous and ongoing process, this annual report is structured to report on the progress of OSM and Kansas in conducting evaluations and completing oversight activities and on their accomplishments at the end of the evaluation period.