Coal mining geospatial data for the nation

Abstract

Digital geospatial data describing past, present, and proposed coal mining operations can provide significant benefits to government agencies, business interests, and the public when planning land use activities in coal-bearing areas of the nation. In September 2005, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) established the National Coal Mining Geospatial Committee (NCMGC) to promote the use of geospatial technology for implementing the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The NCMGC is supported by OSM's Technical Innovation and Professional Services (TIPS) program and operates as a partnership between OSM and the states authorized to implement SMCRA. Committee members represent the geospatial technology interests of the states, tribes, and OSM offices. SMCRA organizations with representation in the NCMGC include the Interstate Mining Compact Commission (IMCC), National Association of Abandoned Mine Lands Programs (NAAMLP), and the Western Interstate Energy Board (WIEB). In June 2006, the NCMGC hosted the first National Meeting of SMCRA Geospatial Data Stewards in Denver, CO. These stewards are designated by each state/tribe regulatory and/or AML program to represent their geospatial technology interests and provide national coordination. Meeting accomplishments included identifying local needs for advancing use of geospatial data; identifying goals within organizations to obtain and use geospatial data; and identifying NCMGC activities at a national level to advance the use of geospatial technology within SMCRA organizations. The stewards approved development of the first two national coal mining data layers: coal surface mining boundaries and coal underground mining boundaries. The NCMGC formed a Coal Mining Spatial Data Standards ASTM Task Group to establish voluntary standards for these two layers. The NCMGC also created a Coal Mining Spatial Data Infrastructure Team to prototype methodology to collect selected coal mining datasets contributed by each participating state/tribe. These data will be assembled into national datasets for use in SMCRA business processes and distribution to the nation. Automation, reuse, and dissemination of coal mining geospatial data will bring multiple benefits to government, the coal mining industry, other business interests, academia, and the public. These benefits will include improved regulation of active coal mining operations, more successful reclamation of abandoned mine lands, and better public policy at local, state, and national levels.