Office of Surface Mining
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| Established: |
August 3, 1977 |
| Director: |
Brent Wahlquist(Acting) |
| Budget: |
$300 million (2004) |
| Employees: |
600 (2004) |
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The Office of Surface Mining (OSM) is a branch of the United States Department of the Interior. It is the federal agency entrusted with the implementation and enforcement of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The OSM has about 600 employees, who work in either the national office in Washington, DC or of the many regional and field offices. As of June 2008, the OSM is directed by Brent Wahlquist.1
OSM Regional Structure Map
OSM has two main functions:
- Regulating Active Mines
- Restoring Lands Damaged by Surface Mining and Abandoned Mines
Regulating Active Mines
The Office of Surface Mining is responsible for the enforcement of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, this includes setting regulatory guidelines. The actual regulation of mines is primarily done on a state level and tribal level, but the OSM is charged with inspection of the state programs to meet the standard of quality. The OSM regularly inspects state programs to make sure they are meeting the required standards; if they do not meet the required standards the OSM can take over. For example, when in the fiscal year of 2003 Missouri was unable to meet the federal requirements due to a lack of funding, the OSM stepped in to assume partial control of the state program.
OSM employee inspecting a mine
The OSM took control of the following in Missouri:
- Training, examination, and certification of Blasters
- Areas unsuitable for mining
- Small Operator Assistance
The OSM continued to run the above parts of Missouri's Mining program until Missouri improved its program, which took place on Feb. 1, 2006. Missouri now receives federal funding, 2
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