Consolidation of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

This is a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to receive testimony on the Secretary of the Interior's Order No. 3315. It is an order to consolidate and establish the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement within the Bureau of Land Management. The order was signed by Secretary Salazar on the 26th of October. I hope we can all learn more about the purposes and likely effects of this reorganization from the witnesses today. I've heard concerns expressed regarding this reorganization. Some believe that consolidating the Office of Surface Mining within the BLM could serve to diminish its role and mission. Others have expressed concern that the reorganization injects uncertainty as to how the program will be administered.