Alabama and Mississippi Regulatory Programs

OSM is announcing its decision on initial enforcement of underground coal mine subsidence control and water replacement requirements in Alabama and Mississippi. Amendments to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) and the implementing Federal regulations require that underground coal mining operations conducted after October 24, 1992: Promptly repair or compensate for subsidence-caused material damaged to noncommercial buildings and to occupied dwellings and related structures and promptly replace drinking, domestic, and residential water supplies that have been adversely affected by underground coal mining. After consultation with Alabama and Mississippi and consideration of public comments, OSM has decided that initial enforcement in Alabama will be accomplished through State and OSM enforcement and that initial enforcement is not reasonably likely to be required in Mississippi and therefore implementation in that State will be accomplished through the State program amendment process.