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CED-81-145 1 (1981-08-05)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabcgs0001 and id is 1 raw text is: UNITED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20548 COMMUNITY ANO ECONOMIC CVI..OPMDN4T DIVISION B-203769 AUGUST 5, 1981 The Honorable James G. Watt Il~IIlIli The Secretary of the Interior 116052 Dear Mr. Secretary: Subject: Comments on Interior's Surface Mining Regulations (CED-81-145) The General Accounting Office has been reviewing the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), Department of the Interior, regulations implementing the Surface Mining Con- trol and Reclamation Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-87). We initi- ated this review to follow-up on our September 21, 1979, report entitled Issues Surrounding the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (CED-79-83) and because of congressional, State, industry, and public interest and controversy in controlling and reclaiming coal surface mined areas. OSM is in the process of making major revisions to its regu- lations and we, therefore, do not plan further work at this time. However, during our regulatory analysis of seven regulations and discussions with various officials, we identified issues which we are suggesting OSM consider while revising its regulations. --In 1978 OSM promulgated detailed design standards regulat- ing the use of explosives to free the overburden from coal seams. According to many sources, studies on blasting's effects do not support OSM's proposed final regulations. In view of these studies OSM needs to review its support for its revised blasting regulations. Also, a legisla- tive change may be needed to clarify the act's blast damage provision, which does not allow eny building struc- ture damage off the mine permit area. Some damage may be inevitable from blasting and overly stringent regulations could be excessively costly. (See pp. 6 and 7.) , --Before the act, some coal lands previously mined were degrading the environment because States did not require adequate financial protection when coal operators failed to complete reclamation work. The act and OSM's regula- tions changed this by requiring coal mine operators to (140003)

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