Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Mission – The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement was established in 1977 to carry out the requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act in cooperation with States and Indian Tribes. The OSM’s primary objectives are to ensure that coal mining activities are conducted in a manner that protects citizens and the environment during mining, ensure that the land is restored to beneficial use following mining, and mitigate the effects of past mining by aggressively pursuing reclamation of abandoned coal mines.