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SERVING THE STATES INTO THE 21ST CENTURY:
STRATEGIES FOR ACTION
WHAT IS THE INTERSTATE MINING COMPACT COMMISSION?
The Interstate Mining Compact Commission (IMCC) is a multi-state governmental organization representing the natural resource and environmental protection interests of its member states. The Compact was established in April of 1971 following eight years of discussion and developmental action by a group of interested mining states under the auspices of the Southern Governors Conference. The Compact presently consists of 17 member states and 3 associate member states with representation from throughout the country, all of whom have significant interests in the mining of both coal and noncoal minerals.
Participation in the Compact is gained through the enactment of legislation by the states authorizing their entry into the Compact. The states are represented by their respective Governors who serve as Commissioners. The Compact also provides for the establishment of a mining advisory body within each state consisting of representatives from conservation interests, the mining industry, and other public and private interests.
The Compact’s purposes are to advance the protection and restoration of land, water and other resources affected by mining through the encouragement of programs in each of the party states that will achieve comparable results in protecting, conserving and improving the usefulness of natural resources and to assist in achieving and maintaining an efficient, productive and economically viable mining industry.
Among the Compact’s powers are the study of mining operations, processes and techniques; the study of conservation, adaptation, improvement and restoration of land and related resources affected by mining; the gathering and dissemination of information; making recommendations; and cooperating with the federal government and any public or private entities having an interest in any subject within the purview of the Compact.
The Compact acts through several committees that have responsibility for particular subject matter or policy areas including: Environmental Affairs, Mine Safety and Health, Abandoned Mine Lands, Minerals Education, Resolutions and Finance. The Governors are represented on these committees by duly appointed delegates from their respective states.
The IMCC was founded on the premise that the mining industry is one of the most basic and important to the Nation. Our manufacturing activities, transportation systems, and the comfort of our homes depend on the products of mining. At the same time, it is essential that an appropriate balance be struck between the need for minerals and the protection of the environment. We recognize that individual states have the power to establish and maintain programs of land and other resource development, restoration and regulation appropriate to cope with the surface effects of mining. The IMCC would not shift responsibility for such programs. On the other hand, our member states believe a united position in dealing with the federal government affords us a decided advantage. Our commission feels strongly that the collective voice of many is important in our efforts to preserve and advocate states’ rights.
The IMCC provides several meaningful and critical benefits and services that greatly assist the states in their efforts to promote development of their abundant mineral resources while assuring adequate protection of the environment. In particular, the Compact provides opportunities and forums for interstate action and communication on issues of concern to member states. The Compact is actively engaged in a variety of state/federal partnerships and programs under the auspices of such statutes as the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), the Mine Safety and Health Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Clean Air Act. On the coal side, the IMCC deals extensively with the federal Office of Surface Mining (OSM) on such issues as federal oversight of state regulatory programs, state program grants under Titles IV and V of SMCRA, administration of the Applicant Violator System, reauthorization of the Abandoned Mine Land program and other significant OSM rulemakings.
We work extensively with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on such matters as mine placement of coal combustion waste, remining and regulation of mine waste under subtitle D of RCRA.
The IMCC administers the COALEX system, a computerized legal research and informational network available to the states and others through a cooperative agreement with OSM. The Compact also undertakes studies on behalf of the states, as evidenced by our regularly updated report on Non-Coal Mineral Resources Regulation in the U.S.
The Compact also is active in recognizing the accomplishments of the industry that we regulate. Each year, the Compact presents a national reclamation award in both the coal and non-coal categories. We believe such a program highlights the positive work that the industry and the states together are doing in the way of environmental protection.
An IMCC Education Work Group was formed to develop an education initiative for the Compact. The IMCC has published a nationally recognized educational poster regarding mine land reclamation and conducted several teacher training workshops as part of this initiative. IMCC also presents annual Mineral Education Awards in the mineral educator awareness and public outreach categories to recognize the valuable work being accomplished by teachers and others to advance the knowledge of the public concerning the importance of minerals to our society.
Over the years the IMCC has become an organization of national scope serving as the spokesperson for the mining states in Washington, D.C. It strives to effectively represent the interests of the mining states in their dealings with Capitol Hill and the executive agencies in an effort to articulate the concerns and recommendations of the states in their role as primary regulators of mining activities within their borders.
INTRODUCTION
During 1995, as the IMCC reflected upon 25 years of progress and anticipated the next generation of service to the states, the Commission formulated a strategic plan to carry it into the 21st century. Following an examination of the nature, functions and activities of the organization, the Commission identified the critical issues or areas that should be the focus of the IMCC in the future, based on an updated and enhanced vision statement and set of goals. The Commission also found that the basic purposes and functions of the IMCC, as set forth in its governing document (the “Compact”), continue to be sound and effective.
This strategic plan was updated and revised by the Interstate Mining Compact Commission (IMCC) at its annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 2, 2003.
VISION
The Interstate Mining Compact Commission will be an advocate for the member states and will serve the states through information exchange, effective communication, benchmarking initiatives, liaison with the federal government and others, and educational outreach in an effort to assist the states in fulfilling the dual responsibilities of assuring development of their abundant and strategically important natural resources while protecting and improving the environment.
GOALS
- Establish an ongoing mechanism for information exchange and benchmarking to enhance state regulatory program improvement.
- Enhance partnership opportunities for member states through active involvement in national issues surrounding mineral extraction.
- Enhance existing liaison functions with federal government agencies and Capitol Hill to assure that IMCC positions are effectively communicated and that opportunities for joint working relationships are pursued.
- Increase automation capabilities of the Compact to better serve the member states in data and information exchange, including communication among the member states.
- Improve interaction and working relationships with other, non-member states and their constituencies.
- Develop a more effective liaison and communication with member state Governors’ offices and other state government organizations
STRATEGIES FOR ACTION
Services for the States:
IMCC will explore the potential for increasing automation capabilities to better serve the member states in the area of data and information exchange, thereby allowing expanded interaction with and among the member states. Among the potential automation innovations are expanded networking among state databases, use of electronic bulletin boards, and the continued development of a national database that contains information on state regulatory programs for both coal and noncoal minerals as well as statistical information on mineral development. Other information could include unique or innovative approaches to regulation at the state level (benchmarking); successful experimental reclamation or other environmental protection practices; special studies; and other general program or policy information that might be helpful or of interest to the states.
Communication with the States:
IMCC will continue its role of transmitting information to the member states concerning regulatory and legislative developments before federal agencies and on Capitol Hill. In this regard, IMCC will focus on both electronic communications as well as printed materials and publications in an effort to update and provide information to the member states and to allow opportunities for input on policy development. In addition to the spring annual meeting and the fall business meeting, IMCC will hold other meetings or conference calls of Standing Committees as necessary to assure effective communication and to develop IMCC positions on issues of concern to the states. The member states will work with the Executive Director to enhance communications with and involvement of their respective Governors’ offices in an effort to increase awareness of the role of IMCC and the importance of mineral resource issues to the states.
Publications and Studies:
IMCC will continue to publish its quarterly newsletter (The Compact) addressing current issues and providing a forum for the states to share information about their own programs and activities. IMCC will also publish an annual report, as required by its by-laws, addressing positions and recommendations adopted by the Compact and providing an overview of the actions and activities of the Compact and its standing committees. IMCC will occasionally publish an e-news alert containing updates on legislative and regulatory matters of interest to the states. In terms of special studies, IMCC will continue to pursue opportunities that allow the states to compile and report information regarding minerals availability and development as well as natural resource and environmental protection associated with mineral development (including state regulatory programs). This will include an emphasis on minerals data, especially with respect to minerals availability, development and use and the reporting mechanism associated therewith. Where appropriate, IMCC will apply for federal grant moneys that might be available to assist with the cost of performing and publishing these studies.
Symposia and Conferences:
IMCC staff and, where appropriate state government officials representing IMCC, will participate in seminars and conferences that provide an opportunity to discuss the types of issues in which IMCC is involved and to share information about the Compact and about state initiatives in the area of natural resource development and protection. IMCC will specifically focus on opportunities to speak at state-sponsored or state-attended gatherings. IMCC will also investigate and expand upon opportunities to sponsor symposia and conferences that will advance the purposes of the Compact in terms of information exchange, technology transfer, policy development and education. In particular, IMCC will focus on benchmarking initiatives that allow member states to enhance and improve their regulatory programs. Where appropriate, IMCC will apply for federal grant moneys that might be available to assist with the cost of sponsoring these symposia and conferences.
Liaison with Federal Government Agencies:
Given the significant benefits that come from our ability to speak as one voice in our dealing with federal agencies on issues that impact the states, it is important for the Commission to continue in its role as liaison with the federal government and to seek the development or enhancement of partnerships with federal agencies. Among the federal agencies that IMCC will interact with are the Office of Surface Mining and other Interior Department agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the Department of Energy and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. IMCC will pursue both substantive issues of common concern and interest as well as opportunities for federal funding of IMCC-sponsored state/federal initiatives.
Liaison with Capitol Hill:
IMCC staff and its member states will continue to provide information, recommendations and position statements upon request to members of Congress and their staff. In this regard, IMCC will interact with its member states’ Washington offices (if available) in an effort to familiarize them with our issues and positions. IMCC staff will be aware of changes to lobbying laws that may apply to state government contacts with Capitol Hill.
Educational Outreach:
IMCC will pursue its on-going initiative to advance a proactive outreach program to address issues surrounding mineral development and environmental protection – especially in the local community. This will be accomplished through the use of teacher conferences and workshops sponsored by the member states with IMCC serving in an advisory role, through development of teacher aides (posters) and curriculum guides, and through written media such as The Compact newsletter.
Coordination with other Organizations:
In accordance with the provisions of the Compact, IMCC will continue to work with other organizations on issues of mutual concern or interest. IMCC will foster closer working relationships with other state government organizations – especially those that share common interests or issues, such as the National Governors Association, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC), the Environmental Council of the States, the National Association of State Mine Inspection Agencies, the American Association of State Geologists (AASG), the Association of State and Territorial Waste Management Officials and the Association of State and Territorial Water Pollution Control Administrators. As time and resources permit, IMCC will continue to work with other state government organizations that require assistance with federal government liaison or administrative functions. IMCC will also continue to welcome the participation of other state organizations as co-sponsors or cooperators in IMCC-sponsored conferences, symposia and initiatives. IMCC will explore initiating a peer review study to benchmark IMCC as an organization against other similar state government organizations (such as IOGCC or the Ground Water Protection Council) in an attempt to discover areas where the Compact might benefit from enhancing its own organizational effectiveness.
Membership:
IMCC will seek to improve interaction and working relationships with other, non-member states so as to encourage membership in the Compact, thereby helping to make the institution stronger and more effective as a spokesperson and advocate for all mineral-producing states. IMCC will invite non-member states to participate in IMCC’s annual meeting and other conferences and symposia and will share information regarding Compact activities and positions. IMCC will also take advantage of its working relationships with other state government organizations, such as AASG, to heighten its exposure to and potential relationship with other non-member states.
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