WHO ARE WE?
The Applicant/Violator System (AVS) Office is a unit within the Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center. OSM’s mission is to carry out the requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) in cooperation with States and Tribes. Our primary objectives are to:
- ensure the coal mines are operated in a manner that protects citizens and the environment during mining; - ensure the land is restored to beneficial use following mining; - mitigate the effects of past mining by aggressively pursuing reclamation of abandoned coal mines.
The AVS Office contributes to OSM’s mission by providing data to assist regulatory authorities in implementing section 510(c) of SMCRA. One of the underlying principles of SMCRA is that those who benefit from mining are responsible for returning the land and water to productive use as mining is completed. Section 510(c) of SMCRA prohibits the issuance of new permits to applicants who own or control operations with outstanding violations until those violations are corrected or in the process of being corrected to the satisfaction of the agency with jurisdiction over the violation.
WHAT IS THE APPLICANT/VIOLATOR SYSTEM (AVS)?
The AVS is an automated information system of applicant, permittee, operator, violation and related data maintained by States and OSM. Federal and State regulatory authorities who make permit eligibility decisions required by section 510(c) of SMCRA use this information. By checking the AVS during the review of permit applications, regulatory authorities can determine whether an applicant has outstanding violations. AVS must also be checked prior to awarding Abandoned Mine Land (AML) reclamation contracts.
WHO ARE OUR CUSTOMERS?
- State and Federal regulatory authorities responsible for issuing coal mining permits - State and Federal AML program specialists responsible for awarding reclamation contracts - Coal companies interested in verifying their AVS records - Coal industry representatives interested in obtaining information from the AVS to assist in preparing permit applications - Environmental groups interested in monitoring coal company compliance - Citizens interested in obtaining ownership or control and violation information - Federal agencies use AVS information to help them carry out their missions: (these include the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration and the Bureau of Land Management). WHAT SERVICES DO WE OFFER OUR CUSTOMERS?
AVS Training – Do you need training on how to use the AVS? In addition to providing training on basic system use, we can tailor classes to meet the needs of inspectors, attorneys, coal industry representatives, environmental groups, citizens, State and Federal permitting and enforcement officials, or any other specialized field. For more information on the availability of training classes, please contact Debbie Feheley at dfeheley@osmre.gov or by calling 800.643.9748.
Investigative Assistance – Do you need investigative help to address a unique ownership or control situation? Do you need guidance on interpreting ownership and control regulations? In addition, we can assist with providing guidance to those wishing to challenge a listing or finding in the AVS and provide information on where to direct a challenge. For more information on how our AVS investigation specialists can help, contact Debbie Feheley at dfeheley@osmre.gov or by calling 800.643.9748.
Permit Eligibility under section 510(c) of SMCRA – We can assist you with performing an eligibility check for you or your company and assist you with analyzing the results. For more information, contact Amy Willoughby at awilloughby@osmre.gov or by calling 800.643.9748.
Ad hoc reports – Would a specialized report assist you with a specific project? We can produce various reports from existing AVS data. For more information on available reports, contact Chuck DeVinney at cdevinney@osmre.gov or by calling 800.643.9748.
HOW DO I ACCESS THE
AVS?
On July 17, 2007, the redesigned AVS was brought online. To access the new AVS, all that is needed is an Internet connected computer running Internet Explorer 6.x or greater. The address of the redesigned system is https://avss.osmre.gov
For more information on our program and services, please contact Debbie Feheley,
Chief at dfeheley@osmre.gov or by calling 800.643.9748. We are located at 2679
Regency Road, Lexington, KY 40503. Office hours are Monday-Friday between 8:00am
– 4:30pm Eastern Standard Time. Our fax number is 859.260.8418.