TIPS Background

History

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) was created under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), Public Law 95-87, to administer programs for controlling the impacts of surface coal mining operations. Among the numerous responsibilities of OSM are assisting the States in developing and implementing programs for surface coal mining and reclamation operations to achieve the purposes of the Act.

On October 1, 1987, OSM began distributing computer hardware and software to the States, Indian tribes, and OSM offices in the coal-producing states to meet technical and programmatic needs in developing decision-making processes enabling objective decisions based on competent and scientifically sound data. OSM created the Technical Information Processing System (TIPS) Technical Task Force on February 26, 1988 and delegated authority to TIPS to meet this nationally important agency objective. On July 22, 1991, OSM issued Directive INF-12 to provide guidance for TIPS.

Today, TIPS is the Technical Innovation and Professional Services component of OSM. TIPS provides specialized hardware, scientific software, customized software training, and technical assistance to its user community. TIPS helps strengthen the capabilities of States, Tribes, and OSM staff to enforce SMCRA through quality technical expertise and assistance, scientific information, and training. TIPS supports and enhances the technical skills that States, Tribes, and OSM offices need to operate their regulatory and reclamation programs to effectively implement the Surface Mining Act.

TIPS provides direct technical assistance to address specific mining and reclamation problems, maintaining automated systems and databases used by others in making decisions under SMCRA, and transferring technical capability to others through training, consultations, forums, and conferences to help them develop the skills needed for solving problems on their own. The success of TIPS helps OSM fulfill its mission to ensure that coal mines are operated in a manner that protects citizens and the environment during mining, assure that the land is restored to beneficial use following mining, and mitigate the effects of past mining by aggressively pursuing reclamation of abandoned coal mine lands.

TIPS has a true partnership with its customers. The TIPS Steering Committee was established in 1987 to guide the efforts and is composed of members from state, tribal, and OSM offices. State and tribal representatives are appointed by the Interstate Mining Compact Commission and the Western Interstate Energy Board. With a Steering Committee composed of TIPS customer representatives, TIPS is able to directly address the concerns and needs of its customers. Each year the Committee meets to discuss the accomplishments of TIPS and decide where to direct future efforts. OSM’s Western Regional Director serves as the Committee Chairman and reports the Committee’s recommendations to OSM’s Core Leadership Team.

Supporting the Goals of the Office of Surface Mining

OSM continues to expand the use of Technical Innovation and Professional Services in the technical decision-making processes related to SMCRA. TIPS supports OSM’s restoration and protection goals, the Department of the Interior’s goals, and the President’s Management Agenda.

TIPS mission is to provide practical, advanced tools and techniques to improve the efficiency and effectiveness in implementation of SMCRA.

TIPS provides state, tribal, and OSM personnel with a comprehensive set of analytical tools to aid in technical decision-making processes related to the Surface Mining Act. TIPS services provide the technical tools to complete regulatory and reclamation tasks faster and more accurately with fewer personnel. These tools specifically allow for electronic sharing of data, between industry, agencies, and the public through applications used at the user’s desktop and even in the field. TIPS supplements this with a comprehensive training program in core software use specifically developed for mining-related applications.

Environmental Protection

The TIPS suite of scientific, geospatial, and engineering core software aids the technical decision-making associated with conducting the review of mining permits. This includes performing cumulative hydrologic impact assessments using a watershed approach, quantifying potential effects of coal mining, preventing acid mine drainage, quantifying subsidence impacts, and measuring revegetation success. TIPS provides the tools for developing a scientific basis for environmental assessments and environmental impact statements.

Environmental Restoration

TIPS provides state, tribal, and federal regulators with the scientific and engineering tools to aid in the reconnaissance, design, and construction necessary to correct the problems caused by past mining. With TIPS tools, engineers and scientists assess the suitability of soil and water quality, design stable post-mining slopes and drainages, design mitigation of hazardous openings, and develop accurate cost estimates for site construction. TIPS tools streamline the contracting process for mitigation by delivering accurate data and costs directly to the construction contractor. TIPS development of mobile computing technology allows much of this information to be delivered on site.

Conclusion

The TIPS National Team is composed of staff from the three Office of Surface Mining Regions; the Western Region (WR) in Denver, Colorado; the Mid-Continent Region (MCR), in Alton, Illinois; and the Appalachian Region (AR) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These abbreviations are used throughout the TIPS web page to identify the OSM staff offices.