Science in Practice Portal

In 1979, the Department of the Interior (DOI) established a program v/hereby coal and other mineral reserves owned by
the Federal Government could be offered for development and commercial production through competitive lease. In spite of multiple Federal agency ownership, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was assigned lead agency responsibility to ensure that such leasing and subsequent development was conducted in an environmentally acceptable manner. In eastern Kentucky, most of the federally owned minerals were identified on lands which underlie surface property managed primarily by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Daniel Boone National Forest. In addition, scattered U.S. Army Corps of Engineer project areas were also included. While surface coal mining on National Forests has been prohibited by law east and north of the 100th meridian, underground mining and associated activities have been and continue to be
permitted.