UNDERGROUND MINE MAP (UGMM) Initiative

Underground mine maps provide vital information for engineers, scientists, community and transportation planners, developers, and regulators for making decisions on land use development, property purchase, and environmental protection.  In October, 2003 a benchmarking forum was held to identify the then current activities related to underground mine maps.  As a result of the workshop, OSM developed its UGMM Initiative.  During 2005 a second benchmarking workshop was hosted by OSM and the Interstate Mining Compact Commission (IMCC).  These meetings have resulted in a partnership to further the preservation, archiving, and distribution of underground mine maps between OSM, IMCC, and in turn, coal mining state agencies.  This partnership works together as the UGMM Steering Committee and is coordinated through the IMCC.  The UGMM Steering Committee has worked together on cooperative agreements, development of consistencies with regard to the preservation, archiving, and distribution of mine maps, and to provide technology transfer amongst the states with abandoned/active coal mines.

Currently, various stakeholders either own or have access to libraries of hard copy mine maps totaling in the hundreds of thousands.  The goal of the UGMM Initiative is to develop a set of best practices for preserving, archiving, and distributing mine maps, as well as seeing this process to fruition.  A part of this effort is the identification of practices for geo-referencing and manipulation of electronic maps using standard geospatial tools.  These best practices will allow OSM and the States to identify resource needs and develop a set of voluntary standards for addressing the need for underground mine maps in a cost effective manner.  OSM and the States are also looking at options for funding projects and long-term approaches to ensure that maps are available to a broad array of customers.

The UGMM Initiative is supported through annual cooperative efforts between OSM and various state agencies in order to maximize the available Applied Science funding, where OSM solicits proposals from our state and federal partners and administers awards.

The products of the awards are transferred in digital format to the National Mine Map Repository located in Pittsburgh, PA, and made available to the public.

NEW – Request for FY08 Proposals: Due January 2nd, 2008.

Download Face Page and Budget Page

PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS

2003 Louisville, KY
2005 Pittsburgh, PA

CONTACT

Joshua Rockwell, Mining Engineer, Division of Regulatory Support
Office of Surface Mining Reclamatin and Enforcement
Phone: 202-208-2633
Email: jrockwell@osmre.gov

FAQs

• What is the goal of the UGMM Initiative?
  The goal of the UGMM Initiative is to develop a set of best practices for preserving, archiving, and distributing mine maps, as well as seeing this process to fruition.
  
  
• What is the primary focus for UGMM Initiative project funding?
  Preference will be given to those projects that concentrate on underground, abandoned coal mines.
  
  
• Who is eligible to submit applications for a cooperative agreement for underground mine map projects?
  Recipients must be from an official US State or Indian Tribal agency or US. Territory within whose borders underground mining has occurred. Applicants may have partners contributing access to maps, funding, and/or in-kind services.
  
  
• When does the request to submit applications take place?
  Currently, the solicitation to submit applications is distributed during October.
  
  
• Current partners working on the UGMM Initiative:
  The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
  The Interstate Mining Compact Commission
  State Offices for Miner’s Health and Safety
  State Offices for Abandoned Mine Lands
  State Geological Surveys