OSM-BLM Merger
Background
On October 26, 2011, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced plans to fold the federal Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) into the massive Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Citizens Coal Council (CCC), along with many national and grassroots groups and individuals across the country, have been vocal against this potential merger which would essentially bury the OSMRE. The following is a list of documents and information pertaining to the merger:
- The original Secretarial Order (#3315) announcing the merger of the OSMRE into the BLM (issued October 26, 2011) [html] [pdf]
- Video of Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing pertaining to Secretarial Order 3315 (November 17, 2011) [video] [hearing information]
- Written testimony of Patrick McGinley on behalf of coalfield citizens (submitted at Nov. 17 hearing)
- Written testimony of DarAnne Dunning on behalf of coalfield citizens (submitted at Nov. 17 hearing)
- Secretarial Order 3316, update to Secretarial Order 3315, briefly expanding on goal to seek stakeholder input by holding meetings (issued November 28, 2011) [html] [doc]
- From the Department of Interior website: .pdf document version of the very short presentation that Interior is showing at every OSM-BLM stakeholder meeting
Department of Interior Press Releases Re: OSM-BLM Merger
- 10/26/2011- Interior to Examine Integration of Interior’s Mining Regulation and Mine Reclamation Programs [html]
- 11/28/2011- Secretary Salazar Extends the Time for Gathering Input on Realignment of Certain BLM and OSM Functions [html]
- 1/6/2012- Office of Surface Mining, Bureau of Land Management Schedule Meetings with Stakeholders on Proposed Consolidation [html] (Note: please see updated list of dates/locations of stakeholder meetings below!)
- 1/13/2012- Lexington, KY added to list of stakeholder meetings [pdf]
Documents and information from Citizens Coal Council
- Click here for the OSMRE Watch 1/17/2012 press release [pdf]
- Click here for the OSMRE Watch 1/17/2012 action alert [pdf]
- Archived Press Releases/Action Alerts
- October 31, 2011 Press Release- Salazar plans to bury half-alive Office of Surface Mining [html]
- November 14, 2011 Action Alert- Keep Office of Surface Mining Alive! [html]
- Important documents
***Most recent news***
Testimony from January 31st stakeholder meeting in Washington, D.C.
- Kentucky Resources Council’s Tom Fitzgerald’s testimony [doc]
- Attorney Ed Grandis’s testimony [doc]
- National Wildlife Federation’s Jim Lyon’s testimony [doc]
Archived news: Stakeholder meetings
The merger has been delayed, pending input from stakeholders across the country. The following is a list of stakeholder meeting dates, times and locations across the country. We strongly encourage you to attend one of these meetings to let the Department of the Interior know that burying the OSM in the BLM is unacceptable! (click here for a printer-friendly version of this list, along with a brief overview of the meeting format)
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012, St. Louis, Missouri
Location: Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel
9801 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012, Washington, Pennsylvania
Location: Pennsylvania National Guard Armory
125 Goodridge Lane
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 19, 2012, Charleston, West Virginia
Location: West Virginia National Guard Armory
1703 Coonskin Drive
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday, January 20, 2012, Knoxville, Tennessee
Location: Pellissippi State College Auditorium
10915 Hardin Valley Road
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Monday, January 23, 2012, Billings, Montana
Location: BLM Montana State Office
5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, MT
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012, Denver, Colorado
Location: BLM Colorado State Office
2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, CO
Time: 1 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012, Flagstaff, Arizona
Location: Highlands Fire District
2838 Kona Trail
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 26, 2012, Window Rock, Arizona
Location: Navajo Nation Museum
Arizona Highway 264 & Post Office Loop Rd
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Monday, January 30, 2012, Washington, D.C.
Location: South Interior Building Auditorium
1951 Constitution Avenue, NW
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
January 31, 2012, Lexington, Kentucky
Location: Hilton Suites Lexington Green Hotel
245 Lexington Green Circle
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
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Meeting Format
After introductory remarks by OSM and BLM representatives, there will be a brief PowerPoint presentation on the four areas proposed to be consolidated: Administrative Functions; Environmental Restoration of Abandoned Mine Lands; Fee Collections; and Regulation, Inspection and Enforcement and State Program Oversight. The rest of the meeting will be devoted to stakeholders providing comments, asking questions about the consolidation, etc. Please note that the purpose of these meetings is to solicit input from stakeholders; the representatives from OSM and BLM will not be expected to provide detailed answers at these meetings.
Secretary Salazar has directed the Directors of OSM and BLM and other Interior officials to report by February 15, 2012 on the consultations with the bureaus’ employees, Congressional committees, and interested parties, such as tribes, state regulatory officials, industry, and representatives of communities affected by coal mining. For stakeholders who are unable to attend the meetings in person, Interior has set up a website to accept comments from the public.
For more information or to submit comments, visit: http://www.doi.gov/bureaus/blmosm/consolidation.cfm
***The DOI will ONLY be accepting written comments through their website***
