Responsibilities

The Program Assistance Division (PAD) employs staff with varying backgrounds responsible for managing the Appalachian Region’s (AR) service-oriented work units to support the overall Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) mission. This Division provides the AR, OSMRE, and its stakeholders with a wide variety of technical and program support services including:

• Acquisition and preparation for archive of mine maps of surface and underground coal, metal and non-metal mines from throughout the United States
• Grants Administration within the Appalachian Region for a wide variety of grants including; Regulatory, Abandoned Mine Land (AML), Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program, and other grant award types
• Participate in development of OSMRE guidance, policy and rule making efforts related to the Applicant Violator System (AVS)
• Administrative Support Services for the Appalachian Regional Office

Branch and Offices within PAD

• Applicant Violator System Office (AVSO)

  • The Applicant/Violator System Office (AVSO) contributes to OSMRE’s mission by providing user and technical support to AVS operation and regulatory support to OSMRE in matters where the use of AVS affects permitting, permit eligibility, application and permit information, and the regulatory actions pertinent to these subject areas. The AVS Office continues to support State efforts in alternative enforcement actions, bankruptcy cases, and providing investigation assistance. High quality customer service is the goal of our every endeavor.
    
    

    Applicant/Violator System (AVS)

    What is the AVS? The Applicant Violator System (AVS) is an automated information system owned and operated by OSMRE. Information on applicants, permittees, operators, application and permit records, as well as unabated or uncorrected environmental violations of SMCRA are maintained in this nationwide database for OSMRE’s Federal and State programs. Read More >

• Technology Services Branch (TSB)

  Appalachian Region Grants Administration

  National Mine Map Repository, Archival & Customer Services

  • The Technology Services Branch (TSB) provides a dichotomy of services which includes the operation of the National Mine Map Repository (NMMR) and the provision of Grants Administration throughout the Appalachian Region. Read More >