Black
Mesa Reclamation
Black
Mesa Reclamation
"Management of Coal Mining on Indian Lands"
2001 Memorandum of Understanding OSM-BIA-BLM (PDF File)
Indian Lands Program
OSM is the Regulatory Authority for coal mining operations that occur on Indian lands in the Western United States. As such, OSM WRCC is responsible for the review and decisions on all applications to conduct mining operations and, if a mining permit is issued, OSM is responsible for inspection of the mines to ensure that the public and the environment is protected, and ultimately OSM is responsible for ensuring that mining operations are fully reclaimed before the lands are returned to the tribes.
The Indian Lands Program in the Western Region currently includes seven active operations and three inactive operations in reclamation on the Navajo, Hopi, Crow and Ute Mountain Ute reservations, in Arizona, New Mexico, Montana and Colorado. These coal operations encompass about 118,000 acres or roughly 185 square miles of surface area and include some of the largest coal mines in the country.
Activities for the Indian Lands program are carried out by the Albuquerque and Casper Field Offices and the Program Support Division in Denver.
Program activities include:
providing direct technical assistance to the Tribes to support their participation in SMCRA * related activities
managing permitting activities including review of new applications, permit issuance, and related actions such as permit renewals, revisions, transfers, permit orders, and mid- term reviews
conducting a minimum of four complete and eight partial inspections a year on each active mine
issuance of enforcement actions such as notices of violations, as necessary
notification, coordination and consultation with citizens, agencies and tribes
responding to citizen’s complaints and concerns
reviewing legal and financial information submitted by coal companies for permit clearance and bond determinations
administration of enforcement procedures including financial penalties for violations
conducting National Environmental Policy compliance on permitting decisions
ensuring compliance with cultural resource protection laws and regulations
Indian Tribes with current or potential coal mining activities on their lands include:
Crow Tribe
Hopi Tribe
Navajo Nation
Northern Cheyenne Tribe
Southern Ute Tribe
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
Other Federal agencies involved with coal mining on Indian lands include:
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Land Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Environmental Protection Agency
Army Corps of Engineers
Further information and assistance regarding the Indian Lands program may be obtained by contacting the Albuquerque or Casper Field Offices or the Program Support Division in Denver. Materials, including guidance, regarding permitting are available elsewhere on this page or from the Program Support Division.
Examples include a permit format and outline , bonding guidance and procedures for release of bonds, and termination of jurisdiction.
*SMCRA - Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
| U. S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement | |
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10/31/02