In 1977 the Office of Surface Mining(OSM) was created to police coal extraction within the United States and to enforce the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMRCA). Under the auspices of OSM, citizens are empowered to enforce reclamation of surface mines, as well as deep mines, that have damaged surface features.

The government, industry, or a combination of both is required to pay all expenses, including legal fees, when citizens bring successful administrative or judicial complaints for noncompliance under the SMRCA. The reclamation of abandoned mines is funded by a tax on coal. To fund the reclamation of new mines OSC requires performance bonds that must cover the cost of reclamation should the operator not complete the process.

The majority of mining states have been granted "primacy" by OSM, which means that the individual states are authorized to handle reclamation...