AR Newsroom

Information on the Notice of Availability of Programmatic Environmental Assessment is available on the OSMRE Projects page.

State News Releases:

• Ohio Program to Receive National Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Award
• Kentucky Program Wins Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Award for Third Year in a Row

ARRI Mined Land Reforestation Conference

The 10th Annual ARRI Mined Land Reforestation Conference was held in Knoxville, TN August 2-3, 2016. The theme was “Perspectives on the FRA.”

For more information visit the ARRI Website.

For registration, updates, and more information on the program, visit the Conference Website.

OSMRE Solicits Comments for Proposed 2016 Oversight Performance Agreements

OSMRE solicited comments from citizens, environmental groups, industry and other interested parties regarding our Proposed Oversight Performance Agreements, which can be found in the Reg-8 Oversight Database (ODocs). Commenting period runs May 1-15, 2016.

For more information and/or to provide feedback, visit the OSMRE Website.

OSMRE Solicits Comments for the Development of the 2016 Oversight Performance Agreements

OSMRE solicited comments, recommendations, or suggestions for topics from citizens, environmental groups, and industry to include in our 2017 current Annual or Bi-Annual Performance Agreement. Commenting period runs March 1-30, 2016.

For more information and/or to provide feedback, visit the OSMRE Website.

Treatment Systems at the Flight 93 Memorial

OSMRE held the technology transfer event, Enhanced Solids Fe Removal and Passive Removal of Manganese at Circumneutral pH at the Flight 93 Memorial on August 27th, 2015 to discuss the treatment being performed at the memorial.

2015 Watershed of the Year; 20 Additional Groups Recognized for Their Achievements

Watershed volunteers gathered at Hawks Nest State Park on Saturday, June 6 to be recognized for their work to improve West Virginia’s streams and rivers. During the 17th annual Watershed Celebration Day, volunteers had an opportunity to visit Morris Creek Watershed where they learned how the local watershed group is restoring Morris Creek and engaging in other innovative projects, including: treating acid mine drainage, stabilizing stream banks, creating energy using a hydro-generator, making Google maps, planting trees, and partnering with universities for educational programs.

Learn more about AR Watersheds - Read the Full Media Release

Planting at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden

36 volunteers, including staff from the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s Appalachian Regional Office, gathered at the site of the Pittsburgh Botanical Garden to plant trees on a former coal mine that will be part of the Garden. The site is being remined with some of the proceeds from the sale of the coal going towards expanding the Garden’s grounds. Approximately 1800 trees consisting of mixed hardwoods and conifers were planted. The site was well prepared for tree planting using the Forestry Reclamation Approach.

Read the Full Article.

OSMRE Solicits Comments for Proposed 2016 Oversight Performance Agreements

OSMRE solicited comments from citizens, environmental groups, industry and other interested parties regarding our Proposed Oversight Performance Agreements, which can be found in the Reg-8 Oversight Database (ODocs). Commenting period was May 1-15, 2015.

For more information or to provide feedback, visit the ODocs Website.

Registration for the 2015 ASMR ARRI Joint National Conference

The 32nd National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation and the 9th Annual ARRI Reforestation Conference was held June 7 to 11, 2015 at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Lexington Kentucky.

The full meeting agenda, registration, and hotel information are available now.

OSMRE Solicits Comments for the Development of the 2016 Oversight Performance Agreements

OSMRE solicited comments, recommendations, or suggestions for topics from citizens, environmental groups, and industry to include in our 2016 current Annual or Bi-Annual Performance Agreement. Commenting period was March 1-30, 2015.

For more information or to provide feedback, visit the ODocs Website.

SME's Environmental Division Outstanding Paper Award

SME awarded Peter Michael and his co-authors the Environmental Division Outstanding Paper Award for the technical paper titled "Preventing Coal Waste Impoundment Breakthroughs into Underground Mines: How well are we doing?"

The award was announced at the Environmental Division luncheon, Tuesday February 17th, at the 2015 Annual SME Conference. The authors along with Peter are Stefanie Self, Mike Richmond, Mike Shapaka, and John Mack.

Read the award-winning technical paper

OSMRE Releases Studies of Mine Pools Near the North Branch of the Potomac River and Monongahela River

OSMRE completed two mine-pool studies that characterized large, complex underground systems in West Virginia and Maryland, assessed the risk of polluted discharges, and recommended management, monitoring, and water treatment strategies. Both reports are available to the public.

Learn More about the Studies - OSMRE News Release

Secretary Jewell, Director Pizarchik to Celebrate Official Public Opening of Pittsburgh Botanic Garden

Pittsburgh had been the last Major Metropolitan Area without a Botanic Garden. On Friday, August 1, 2014, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) Joseph Pizarchik will take part in the grand opening ceremony of the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, a preservation and public education and recreation project, as part of Interior’s commitment to water restoration and connecting youth to the great outdoors.

Read More about this Event

OSMRE Issues Review of West Virginia Water Supply Projects

The report contained an oversight review of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Abandoned Mine Lands and Reclamation (OAMLR) Waterline Project evaluation process.

Read More

Two OSMRE AR Employees win Bronze and Gold Excellence in Government Awards

The Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board (FEB) held the 2014 Excellence in Government Awards Program at the Westin Convention Center Hotel in Pittsburgh on May 23, 2014.  The Pittsburgh FEB Awards Committee selected two Appalachian Regional staff, from among numerous qualified candidates in the Pittsburgh region, to receive awards.  

Jay Hawkins received a Gold Award as an Outstanding Professional Employee. Bonita Uniatowski received a Bronze Award as an Outstanding Administrative Employee.

Longtime OSMRE Employees Honored with Interior Department’s Distinguished Service Awards

On May 8, 2014, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell honored two veteran OSMRE employees with one of the Department’s most coveted and prestigious awards. At a ceremony in Washington, DC, Joseph L. Blackburn and Michael K. Robinson each received a Distinguished Service Award, the highest honorary recognition for Interior employees.

Read More

OSMRE Solicits Comments for Proposed 2015 Oversight Performance Agreements

OSMRE solicited comments from citizens, environmental groups, industry and other interested parties regarding our Proposed Oversight Performance Agreements, which can be found in the Reg-8 Oversight Database (ODocs). Commenting period was May 1-15, 2014.

For more information or to provide feedback, visit one of the following OSMRE AR state pages: Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia

Register for the 2014 ARRI Conference

On August 5 and August 6, 2014, ARRI will host its 8th Annual Conference at the Compton Science Center, Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland. The event will include a field trip on Tuesday, August 5th and presentations and awards on Wednesday, August 6th.

Learn More and Register!

Plant a Tree at Flight 93

On Friday, April 25, the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) and Appalachian Region staff volunteered at the 2014 ‘Plant a Tree at Flight 93’ event in Somerset County, PA. The National Park Service anticipated participation from nearly 400 volunteers and up to 20 agency/professional forestry experts to assist with planting 20,400 seedlings, reforesting more than 30 acres of ground.

Read More about this Event

Groups planted trees on Bell County reclaimed surface mine site

As part of the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, groups from across Kentucky planted hundreds of trees on Good Friday on a reclaimed mine site in Bell County for Arbor Day.

The Appalachian Region Launches New Website

Like the OSMRE national site, the Appalachian Region has redesigned its website. Learn more about the new website's features and enhancements.

Call for Papers/Presentations for ARRI 2014 Conference

Proposals were due April 4th, 2014. This year conference focuses on mine land reforestation for water quality enhancement and will be held on August 5 & 6, 2014 at Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland.

Read the Announcement

Coal Companies and Subsidiaries to Spend Estimated $200 Million on Treatment and System-wide Upgrades to Reduce Water Pollution

$27.5 Million Civil Penalty is Largest in History Under Section 402 of the Clean Water Act

Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. (Alpha), one of the nation’s largest coal companies, Alpha Appalachian Holdings (formerly Massey Energy), and 66 subsidiaries have agreed to spend an estimated $200 million to install and operate wastewater treatment systems and to implement comprehensive, system-wide upgrades to reduce discharges of pollution from coal mines in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, the Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.

Read News Release

New Forest Reclamation Advisories Available

The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative's (ARRI) Science Team published two new Forest Reclamation Advisories:

Forest Reclamation Advisory (FRA) No. 10:
Reforestation to Enhance Appalachian Mined Lands as Habitat for Terrestrial Wildlife

Forest Reclamation Advisory No. 11: Establishing Native Trees on Legacy Surface Mines

View All Published FRAs

National Fish Habitat Partnership Launches Partner Video Series

The National Fish Habitat Partnership released its first video in a series highlighting the work of the National Fish Habitat Partnerships across the country. The first video highlighted restoration efforts on Aaron Run, a tributary of the Savage River in Western Maryland.
Read News Release - Watch Video

OSMRE Reintroduces the TROMPE

The passive aeration technology (TROMPE) was developed under an Applied Science grant from the OSMRE's Technology Transfer Program and installed at the North Fork Passive Treatment System with the support of the Montour Run Watershed Association.
Read News Story - Watch Video

AMDTreat 5.0.2 Plus NOW AVAILABLE!

AMDTreat 5.0.2 Plus corrected minor convergence issues identified during case study tests performed by the developers. Learn More >

OSMRE Publishes Applied Science Final Report Fact Sheets

As part of OSMRE's Technology Development and Transfer function, published Fact Sheets inform interested parties about results from completed Applied Science Projects funded by OSMRE. Learn More >

NMMR's State of the Art Equipment

OSMRE's National Mine Map Repository (NMMR) routinely utilizes state of the art equipment to accomplish their mission of protecting and preserving mine maps for future generations. Read More >

Reforestation in Appalachia and the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA)

The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) continually advocates the use of the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) to reclaim coal mined lands. Read More >