Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

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The official page of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE)

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is a bureau within the United States Department of the Interior responsible for protecting society and the environment from the adverse effects of surface coal mining operations. For the official source of information about the OSMRE, ple

ase visit our website at: https://www.osmre.gov/. This page is not intended to be used to report Abandoned Mine Land emergencies or lodge Citizen Complaints. To report an emergency, please contact your nearest state or tribal regulatory agency (https://www.osmre.gov/contact-us/map). To lodge a Citizen’s Complaint, please contact the local OSMRE staff (https://www.osmre.gov/contact-us/map) for your state or send an email to OSMRE's Citizen Request staff. Note that information, including personally identifiable information, that you voluntarily submit to or publish on an OSMRE page on a third party site may be treated as public information and archived accordingly in order to abide with applicable laws. If you choose to engage with the OSMRE through a blog or comment feature on a third-party social media website or application, the OSMRE reserves the right to moderate, remove or reject (not post) comments that contain:
Social Security Numbers, home or business addresses, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, or other personally identifiable information (PII);

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Information that promotes or opposes any political party, person campaigning for elected office, or any ballot proposition;

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Any claims, demands, informal or formal complaints, or any other form of legal and/or administrative notices or processes;

Duplicate posts; or Embedded links to external websites or applications. The OSMRE does not discriminate against any views, but reserves the right to remove or reject (not post) comments that do not adhere to these standards. In addition, the views expressed by members of the public on official pages maintained by the OSMRE on third-party social media websites and applications do not reflect the official views of the OSMRE or the U.S. government nor does the OSMRE guarantee the accuracy of such information posted by members of the public on those websites.

What was once an abandoned coal mine is now a place where communities gather, kids play, and local economies grow.Throug...
06/12/2026

What was once an abandoned coal mine is now a place where communities gather, kids play, and local economies grow.

Through OSMRE's Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program, the Wellston Recreation Complex in Jackson County, Ohio, was reclaimed and transformed into a full recreation complex featuring soccer fields, paved trails, and parking. Now serving roughly 16,600 users annually, making an estimated $827,000 in local economic activity.

In Shelby County, Alabama, the Hillsboro Sports Park is bringing that same vision to 50 acres of reclaimed mine land, with full-size and youth soccer fields serving a community of 127,000 people.

This is what reclamation looks like. America's land, restored. Go, Team USA!

Most coal seam fires start inside active or abandoned coal mines, and they can burn for decades. OSMRE's AML Design Work...
06/10/2026

Most coal seam fires start inside active or abandoned coal mines, and they can burn for decades.

OSMRE's AML Design Workshop in Grand Junction, Colorado trained state and federal professionals to tackle active fires like South Canyon and Harvey Gap, building the expertise needed to protect nearby communities and reduce wildfire danger.

Learn more: https://www.osmre.gov/programs/mine-fires

06/10/2026

“I’m proud we got to do that — and people didn’t get laid off. We got to do something better.”

A powerful reflection from Kyle Colby, General Manager at Navajo Transitional Energy Company, on the dedication and resilience of the Cordero Rojo Mine team in Wyoming.

Lanny Erdos, OSMRE Director and Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management alongside Kate MacGregor, Deputy Secre...
06/09/2026

Lanny Erdos, OSMRE Director and Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management alongside Kate MacGregor, Deputy Secretary of the Interior recognized Navajo Transitional Energy Company Cordero Rojo Mine as the recipient of both the 2025 Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation National and Good Neighbor Award at the 70th Annual Wyoming Mining Association Convention in Gillette, Wyoming.

“These efforts reflect not only technical excellence, but also leadership and a genuine commitment to workforce investment and the surrounding community — demonstrating the backbone of American Energy Dominance.”- Lanny E. Erdos.

When facing historically low coal production, NTEC chose to maintain its workforce and redirect employees toward reclamation, bringing local ingenuity and a wide range of perspectives to the restoration process.

Meet the workforce behind this award-winning reclamation effort: https://ow.ly/9BTp50Z90iY

OSMRE has recognized Navajo Transitional Energy Company LLC with two 2025 national honors — the Excellence in Surface Co...
06/08/2026

OSMRE has recognized Navajo Transitional Energy Company LLC with two 2025 national honors — the Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Award and the Good Neighbor Award. These awards highlight reclamation projects that deliver outstanding results and exceed the requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

At the Cordero Rojo Mine, NTEC reclaimed five major areas in 2024, regrading 1,145 acres, applying topsoil on 1,114 acres, and permanently seeding 528 acres. Their work connected previously separate parcels into large, continuous reclaimed landscapes — four of them over 1,000 acres.

NTEC also partnered with the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources to test coal char as a soil amendment, exploring its potential to support long‑term soil health on reclaimed lands.

Read the full news release: https://www.osmre.gov/news/office-surface-mining-reclamation-and-enforcement-recognizes-coal-operator-2025-excellence

Alt text: Picture of people holding an award in Cordero Rojo Mine
Kate MacGregor, Deputy Secretary of the Interior; Steve Williams, NTEC; Vern Lund, NTEC; Gretchen Anderson, NTEC; Bryan Walther, NTEC; Derek Ho**er, NTEC; Kyle Rogers, NTEC; Kyle Colby, NTEC; Cody Davis, NTEC; Jackie King, State Director for Sen. Cynthia Lummis; Ally Garner, Field Representative for Sen. Cynthia Lummis; Lanny Erdos, OSMRE Director and Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.

Just Announced- OSMRE recognizes Navajo Transitional Energy Company LLC as the recipient of not one but two 2025 awards:...
06/05/2026

Just Announced- OSMRE recognizes Navajo Transitional Energy Company LLC as the recipient of not one but two 2025 awards: The Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation National and the Good Neighbor Award. These awards recognize companies whose reclamation projects demonstrate exemplary results and go beyond the requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 in returning a site to productive use after mining.

Cordero Rojo completed reclamation across five major areas in 2024 using a whole-workforce approach. Their team regraded 1,145 acres of backfill, laid topsoil across 1,114 acres, and permanently seeded 528 acres. Separate reclamation parcels were connected into larger contiguous areas, four of which exceed 1,000 acres each.

Cordero Rojo also partnered with the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources to test coal char as a soil amendment, studying its potential to improve soil health and support plant growth on reclaimed land. Monitoring the test plots will continue to determine if coal char is a viable alternate use for coal.

Read the news release: https://www.osmre.gov/news/office-surface-mining-reclamation-and-enforcement-recognizes-coal-operator-2025-excellence

🧪How do you monitor water quality? Students in Wi******er, Kentucky, found out firsthand through interactive experiments...
06/04/2026

🧪How do you monitor water quality? Students in Wi******er, Kentucky, found out firsthand through interactive experiments. AML Program Specialist Christopher Toney brought acid mine drainage and coal reclamation education to their S.T.E.A.M. summer camp.

📚Students learned about acid mine drainage and water quality, and they got to participate in a hands-on pH testing experiment using common liquids to understand the real-world impact of mine drainage on water.

The visit also recognized America's 250th Anniversary, reflecting on the nation's history and the legacy we are building for future generations.

As part of the Great American Expedition event, OSMRE staff joined the City of Wellston, Ohio,  today for the groundbrea...
06/03/2026

As part of the Great American Expedition event, OSMRE staff joined the City of Wellston, Ohio, today for the groundbreaking of a new RV park on reclaimed mine land, the city's second major investment through the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program.

Supported by $1,849,400 in AMLER funding through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the project will develop the site adjacent to the Wellston Recreation Sports Complex into a regional outdoor destination projected to draw more than 5,000 overnight visits per year.

OSMRE issued an Authorization to Proceed in January 2026, enabling construction to start development. Future phases include cabins, a kayak launch, a pedestrian bridge, a pool, and expanded RV capacity.

⏳ Time is running out! Nominate standout reclamation projects before the deadline! Nominations for the Excellence in Sur...
05/27/2026

⏳ Time is running out! Nominate standout reclamation projects before the deadline! Nominations for the Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Awards are due Friday, May 29.

📌 Eligible for nomination:
✅ Surface coal mining & reclamation under a Title V
permit (1978–present)
✅ Government-funded reclamation under Enhanced
AML regulations
✅ AML projects integrated with active Title V mining
🚫 Not eligible: AML projects done entirely separate
from Title V operations

Learn more about the details: https://www.osmre.gov/programs/regulating-active-coal-mines/excellence-in-surface-coal-mining-reclamation-awards

🏆Now are accepting nominations for the 2026 Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards! These awards, presented in partnersh...
05/27/2026

🏆Now are accepting nominations for the 2026 Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards! These awards, presented in partnership with the National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs, recognize outstanding state and tribal efforts to reclaim abandoned coal mines.

➡️Nominations must be received by May 29.
➡️Submit nominations or questions about the awards by emailing [email protected]

For more information about the awards, eligibility, and the nomination process and requirements, visit AML Reclamation Awards at: https://www.osmre.gov/programs/abandoned-mine-land-awards-program

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1849 C Street NW
Washington D.C., DC
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