Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
The Lexington Field Office (LFO) is the OSMRE office responsible for coordinating between OSMRE and state regulatory authorities, citizens, the coal industry and environmental concerns in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. State coal regulatory and abandoned mine land programs are monitored to ensure that surface coal mining operations and the surface effects of underground coal mining and the reclamation of abandoned mine lands are conducted in an environmentally sound manner.
National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs (NAAMLP)
Title IV of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) established the national Abandoned Mine Land (AML) reclamation program under the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), U.S. Department of the Interior. The program was developed to reclaim land and water resources adversely affected by past coal mining and left abandoned or inadequately restored. SMCRA levied fees on active coal mining to pay the reclamation costs. Collected fees are deposited in the AML Fund. Once the national program had been established, Congress authorized states and tribes to implement their own programs. The programs are funded through grants from OSMRE, which receives funding from the AML Fund through the regular congressional budget and appropriations process.
NAAMLP Newsletters and Information
Federal AML Inventory System
The Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System (e-AMLIS) is a computer system used to store, manage, and report on the Office of Surface Mining's Inventory of Abandoned Mine Land Problems. This includes both problems in need of reclamation and those that have been reclaimed.
Abandoned Mine Lands Portal
The AML Portal is a partnership that spans federal, state and local efforts, dedicated to raising awareness about abandoned mine lands. Abandoned mines generally include a range of mining impacts or features that may pose a threat to water quality, public safety, and/or the environment. For many abandoned mines, no financially viable responsible parties exist. AML programs work to eliminate or reduce the dangers to public health, safety, and the environment as a result of impacts related to abandoned mine lands.
Stay Out-Stay Alive
"Stay Out–Stay Alive" is a national public awareness campaign aimed at warning children and adults about the dangers of exploring and playing on active and abandoned mine sites. Every year, dozens of people are injured or killed in recreational accidents on mine property. MSHA launched "Stay Out–Stay Alive" in 1999 to educate the public about the existing hazards. The campaign is a partnership of more than 70 federal and state agencies, private organizations, businesses and individuals.
CEDAR Inc. - Coal Education Development and Resource
CEDAR, a not-for-profit corporation, was formed in July 1993 as a partnership between the coal industry, business community and academia. The organization was formed through the joint efforts of the North Carolina Coal Institute (NCCI-The Coal Institute) and Coal Operators and Associates of Pikeville, Ky., for the purpose of improving the image of the coal industry.