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COALEX Information
WHAT IS COALEX?
COALEX is an automated legal research data base maintained by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) on the Mead Data Central LEXIS computer system. The Coalex data base is listed under "Surface Mining Materials" in the Environment Library.
The COALEX Search Service is an informational research service provided by the Interstate Mining Compact Commission (IMCC) under a grant from OSMRE.
THE COALEX SEARCH SERVICE
The IMCC has provided the COALEX Search Service to the states since 1984. To date, over 300 reports, dealing with various topics, have been compiled. Four different types of reports are issued:
- State Inquiry Reports are prepared in response to specific requests from state attorneys and regulatory personnel.
- Comparison Reports address a topic of general interest, usually a regulatory issue, and make a side-by-side comparison of primacy state regulations, highlighting significant differences.
- Significant Issue Reports consist of in-depth reports on topics of general interest, including legislative and regulatory history and case law.
WHAT TYPE OF INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE?
The COALEX library consists of numerous types of documents pertaining to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). Specifically, the following types of information are available through the COALEX library:
- Legislative history of SMCRA
- OSMRE regulations (current and superseded)
- State surface mining statutes and regulations from initial program approval through 1995
- Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) and Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) decisions
- OSMRE policy directives (current and superseded)
Additionally, the COALEX Search Service has full access to all information available through the LEXIS computer system. These files include:
- State and Federal court decisions
- Federal Register notices for all agencies
- Selected state statutes, administrative codes and administrative decisions
By utilizing these files, specific information pertaining to various topics of interest can be researched.
HOW TO REQUEST A COALEX SEARCH
The IMCC COALEX Search Service provides legal research and support services, free of charge, to all states, whether or not they are member states of the IMCC. Thus, all state personnel may access COALEX by contacting the IMCC office and requesting a COALEX Search. While the preferable method of requesting information is in writing, you may also request information by calling the IMCC office.
When you request a search, it is helpful for you to provide as much detail and information as possible regarding your topic request and any specific situation it pertains to. It is not necessary that you research the topic, but any specific information you can provide will help the COALEX researcher to narrow the search and provide you with the most applicable and relevant information. Also, please provide a date by which the information is needed, and every effort will be made to meet that deadline. Due to time and staffing considerations, we are not able to accommodate requests for new research from persons or organizations other than the states, though completed reports are available to any interested parties.
WHAT IS THE "TOPIC SUMMARY LIST"?
The following "Topic Summary List" is an index of all COALEX research reports completed to date. Reports are listed and identified chronologically by number. The reports are available to be downloaded from the Office of Surface Mining's website www.osmre.gov. If particular attachments are required, contact Joyce Scall, COALEX researcher directly at Ph: 202.686.9138. Many attachments to the reports are quite voluminous and therefore are not included online. The reports are available free of charge. Some of the regulatory material is also available on the OSMRE website.
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