OSM announced the withdrawal of proposed amendments to Arkansas' regulatory program and abandoned mine land reclamation plan under SMCRA due to inconsistencies with federal rules.

DOI approved an amendment to the Pennsylvania regulatory program under SMCRA that further defines the implementation process for the reclamation of alternative bonding system "Legacy Sites," and clearly identifies the current list of Legacy Sites.

OSM proposed to approve revisions to Alabama’s abandoned mine land reclamation plan to reflect changes in the federal regulations.

DOI is soliciting comments on Virginia's proposed amendments to its permitting procedures under the SMCRA.

DOI is soliciting public comments on North Dakota's proposed amendments to its surface coal mining and reclamation operations under the SMCRA.

OSM announced receipt of a roposed amendment to the Pennsylvania program under the SMCRA that seeks to revise its program to further define the implementation process for the reclamation of alternative bonding system "Legacy Sites," and to clearly identify the current list of Legacy Sites, as well as sites that may qualify in the future as Legacy Sites.

OSM issued its "stream protection rule," which revises numerous SMCRA regulations to better protect water supplies, surface water and groundwater quality, streams, fish, wildlife, and related environmental values from the adverse impacts of surface coal mining operations and to provide mine operators with a regulatory framework to avoid water pollution and the long-term costs associated with water treatment.

OSM approved an amendment to Alabama’s regulatory program under SMCRA regarding the award of appropriate costs and expenses, including attorney fees.

OSM granted a petition for rulemaking requesting that it revise current regulations to better ensure that self-bonded companies provide sufficient information to guarantee that reclamation obligations are adequately met and that the self-bonded entity is financially solvent; although OSM does not intend to propose the specific rule changes requested in the petition, it will initiate rulemaking on the issue.

OSM proposed to approve an amendment to Kansas' Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Plan that encompasses 2008 changes to SMCRA.