Question: Answer: Question: Answer: authority to use additional information sources, including Evaluate Permit Number and MSHA Identification Association: The Clearinghouse staff will continue to develop and improve information that associates permit numbers with MSHA identification numbers. The data is fundamental to matching owners and controllers with violators. Improve Data Entry Standards: Training of regulatory authority staff will continue to assure that all new permit application information is entered into AVS correctly. Correct Data Errors on an On-going Basis: Clearinghouse staff and regulatory authority personnel standard research activities identify data errors or inconsistencies that will continue to be corrected on an on-going basis. Industry "Fingerprint" Reports: Efforts to work directly with industry to improve information contained in AVS for each permit and permit application will continue. The on-going activity encourages each company to correct errors and/or provide missing information. How many FTEs are included in the Fiscal Year 1989 request for the Applicant Violator System clearinghouse? How has OSM determined that this number is adequate? The AVS Clearinghouse will continue to operate with 9 FTEs throughout Fiscal Year 1989. OSMRE believes that no change in the FTE level is necessary because of the use of contractor resources to conduct many of the Clearinghouse functions. The use of contractors better enables the Clearinghouse to manage its staff resources to meet the current and projected workload. There are currently 17 contractor personnel in addition to the permanent OSM staff in the Clearinghouse. How will OSM assess the quality and integrity of the data being input into the system by the State regulatory agencies? All new and revised AVS data are entered into the system by the Question: Answer: Question: Answer: Coal Data Management Information System OSM is also proposing to make a reduction of $1,200,000 in administrative support as a result of revising its level of effort in the area of the Coal Data Management Information System (CDMIS). Explain in detail what activities OSM will be deferring in Fiscal Year 1989 to accomplish this gɔal. The Coal Data Management Information System (CDMIS) is O Decentralized Enforcement and Centralized Accounting (DECA) Subsystem. DECA will automate the inspection and scheduling functions and all attendant activities. O Grants and Reclamation Subsystem. This subsystem will support OSMRE functions involving Title IV and Title V grants for States as well as Federal reclamation activities. This system will keep track of AML fees due, paid and accounted for. Integration of AVS Subsystem. This activity will involve integrating the current permit management process (Applicant Violator System) into CDMIS. Bonds Management Subsystem. This subsystem will manage all bonding activities associated with permits that have been issued. Original CDMIS development plans called for the first two of the subsystems to be implemented in FY-89. The DECA subsystem is currently under development with FY-88 funds and will be implemented in FY-89. The proposed reduction in funding means that the Grants and Reclamation Subsystem will be delayed and not be developed until FY-90. Discuss the cost/benefit analysis that OSM is undertaking on CDMIS and what it will examine. When does OSM estimate that this analysis will be completed? OSMRE staff has completed an initial cost/benefit analysis of The contractor will begin work around the first of April, 1988. Question: Answer: Question: Answer: the ensuing four months. It is expected that the final product will be delivered sometime in mid-summer (July - Aug). How will OSM solve the problem of lack of standardization of After the CDMIS subsystems are all fully developed, the final step will be to integrate State data into the CDMIS data base. This action is targeted for FY-92 and FY-93. To the greatest extent possible, existing automated State data systems will be utilized by uploading certain State data into CDMIS. It does not appear feasible or necessary to load State data Base Adjustments Discuss the base adjustments OSM is making in Fiscal Year 1989. The majority of the base adjustments result in marginal Telecommunications System (FTS). For example, space costs for The net amount of base adjustments in the Regulation and Technology appropriation is $201,000. A net amount of $110,000 is included in the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund appropriation. Question: What impact will these have on the operation of the program? Answer: The proposed base adjustments will not have any negative Question: Answer: Question: Answer: Question: Answer: Question: Answer: Federal Employee Retirement System OSM has re-estimated the cost in Fiscal Year 1988 for the federal contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). What will OSM do with the $1,381,000 which will not be Although the Fiscal Year 1988 enacted appropriation shows a savings of $1,381,000, actual FERS costs to date indicate the savings to be approximately $1,181,000. The $1,181,000 will be used to help offset the January pay raise for which no supplemental appropriation was proposed and rental space costs. $681,000 will be used to cover the pay raise and $500,000 to offset increases in rental space. The $681,000 represents a slight increase over the amount ($623,000) included in the Fiscal Year 1989 budget document due to revised estimates. State Regulatory Program Grants The justification on page 27 states that the regulatory grant estimates which total to $41,910,000 will undergo continued review. When will OSM make a final decision on the Fiscal Year 1989 grants? In accordance with OSMRE procedures, 18 months prior to the How much would OSM expect the adjustments to deviate from the estimates on page 27 of the justification? Based on recent experience, the funds appropriated by Congress generally match the budget estimates, and therefore required adjustments are minimal. What major program changes did OSM consider in Fiscal Year In FY 87 forty State program amendments were acted upon by Question: Answer: Question: Answer: Question: Answer: responded to new requirements to regulate off-site coal An additional 45 proposed State program revisions were in What major program changes does OSM expect to review in Fiscal During FY 88 approximately 25 amendments had been completed by OSMRE anticipates a significant workload associated with What do these program changes involve? Program changes are discussed in the answer to the previous question. State Inspectors On page 25 of the justification OSM has included a chart How many inspectors do each of the state programs require? Each State regulatory authority must maintain sufficient inspectors to carry out the State's inspection and enforcement provisions. Each of the 24 States with approved programs have developed required staffing levels after taking into consideration unique State conditions such as the number, size, and location of surface coal mining and reclamation operations within the State, coupled with the inspection frequency requirements. Based upon those criteria, staffing levels were |