TECHNICAL SUPPORT DIVISION
State and Federal Programs Group (SFPG)

The Group has several primary functions; including processing State program amendments, policy issues related to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) and other State and Federal laws; decisions on informal reviews of Ten Day Notice (TDN) and citizen complaint appeals; and Information Technology (IT) systems for the Appalachian Regional Office (ARO) and the Appalachian Region (AR).

t   State Program Amendment Processing

To assure that approved State regulatory programs laws and regulation remain no less effective than the requirements of the SMCRA.  This is accomplished by reviewing every proposed amendment, informal and formal submissions, to the States' regulatory programs, requesting and considering public comments on all such changes, and writing decisional documents for publication in the Federal Register;

t   Policy and Programmatic Issues

Provide policy and programmatic support to the Regional Director on national and regional issues that affect the implementation of Federal and State regulatory programs.  Included are coordinating with the national Historic Preservation Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act and the approved State laws and regulations under the State's approved regulatory programs.

t   TDN and Citizen Complaint Appeals

In processing the reviews, SFPG must first gather all relevant information from the Field Office.  SFPG then analyzes the information to determine if the Field Office decision complies with SMCRA, the federal regulations, the approved state program, applicable OSM Directives, and previous court decisions.  SFPG then prepares a summary of the case, briefs the Regional Director, and prepares a draft resolution of the request for the Regional Director's signature.  The Regional Director may affirm, reverse, or modify the Field Office decision.
The contact for SFRP services is:

Jim Taitt
Chief, State Federal Program Group
Three Parkway Center
 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15220
(412) 937-2106

E-mail: jimtaitt@osmre.gov

 
Bottom banner graphic (left) SFPG focuses on State Program Amendments and IT Security for the ARCC! Bottom banner graphic (right)

Contact Information:
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
U.S. Department of the Interior
Appalachian Regional Office
3 Parkway Center
Pittsburgh, PA  15220
Phone: (412) 937-2804

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03/06/2007

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