For instance, in Fiscal Year 2008, OSMRE expected to spend $5.9 million to fund regulatory programs in non-primacy States (Tennessee and Washington),$1.5 million for OSM to regulate Federal Lands and $2.4 million for regulatory programs on Indian Lands. Plus $4.8 million for program development and maintenance to ensure that regulatory standards adequately reflect changes in technologies and program needs.

The OSMRE regulatory program in Tennessee has a staff of 34.

OSMRE has not reported its amount of revenue recovery (that I could find).

ST. LOUIS (November 12, 2009) – Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) and Great Northern Properties Limited Partnership (GNP) announced today that they have signed a coal lease comprising all of GNP’s coal resources in the Otter Creek Tracts located in southeastern Montana. The coal lease will give Arch the right to mine approximately 9,600 acres of GNP-owned minerals that encompass approximately 731 million tons of high-quality, low-cost sub-bituminous coal reserves. (more)
http://investor.archcoal.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=424012

November 14, 2009
The state controls more than a half-billion tons of coal beneath 9,500 acres of land near Ashland. Adjacent parcels of privately owned coal were leased last week to the nation’s second largest coal mining company, Arch Coal Inc. of St. Louis. The move stepped up pressure on the five-member land board, made up of the state’s top five elected officials and chaired by Gov. Brian Schweitzer. (more)
http://wvgazette.com/ap/ApTopStories/200911140285

November 14, 2009
Murray said Redbird West has not shipped a pound of coal since Nov. 5 as a result of the destruction of the American economy and job markets. “Further, our customer for OhioAmerican Energy has cut their coal order from 1.9 million tons in 2009 to only 1 million tons next year. Without a market for our product, we simply cannot employ these very good people and have to lay them off. It’s a terrible situation,” Murray said. (more)
http://www.news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/530928.html
(Note: Murray was likely mining coal owned by AEP; Also, the AEP Cardinal Power Plant burns western coal too.)

Richard would say: “there’s lots more readily mineable coal in the ground all over the world than is needed at any given moment, and usually a surplus of capital, people, and machines to dig it up. The almost unlimited supply and the relatively inelastic demand for coal means that coal production companies that can keep/reduce costs below competitors are going to win out — creating a constant and powerful pressure to limit the costs associated with social “rules” about mining — costs for miners’ benefits, water treatment, spoil placement, whatever.”

Richard contrasted the coal production business with businesses like the chemical industry, with large fixed capital plant costs, which he said really did want certainty and fixed rules, and then could live with them, even if they were very strict and costly. “Coal, in contrast,” Richard said, “will ALWAYS be pushing against the rules.”

Deul is apparently not an economist, but his examples may fit with Richard’s theory. What do people think?

Coal and its Role in Shaping U.S. Energy Policy
by Maurice Deul, Consultant
,Formerly with the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Mines, University of Pittsburgh

Coal will be the essential fuel for the fifty to one hundred years during which the USA will transition from a hydrocarbon-fueled economy to a nuclear-fueled economy. Our speaker has extensive experience in the coal industry and will be addressing the future of coal.

See his abstract for more details of the presentation.
http://www.pittsburghgeologicalsociety.org/abstract/oct212009.doc

November 12, 2009
HOUSTON – (Business Wire) Construction of the final 195 miles of Rockies Express-East is complete and service began today on the final portion of the pipeline from the Lebanon Hub in Warren County, Ohio, to Clarington in Monroe County, Ohio.

—

Rockies Express Pipeline (REX)is a proposed 1,679-mile natural gas pipeline system from Rio Blanco County, Colorado, to Monroe County, Ohio.

The Rockies Express Pipeline System is a significant investment in the U.S. energy infrastructure and will help meet the nation’s need for energy. At 1,679 miles, this project is one of the largest natural gas pipelines constructed in North America – and one of the most significant in the last 25 years. There is growing demand for safe, clean-burning natural gas in the United States. Additional pipeline capacity will be needed to deliver natural gas to end users.

http://www.rexpipeline.com
Map:
http://www.rexpipeline.com/docs/rex_project_map_basic_route.pdf

—
http://www.rexpipeline.com/docs/rex_east_6_2_08.pdf
(Excerpt)
HOUSTON, June 2, 2008 – Rockies Express Pipeline LLC., today announced the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved construction of Rockies Express-East (REX-East), which comprises 638 miles of 42-inch diameter pipeline that will extend from Audrain County, Mo., to Clarington, Ohio. Construction is expected to begin this summer.

Subject to receipt of regulatory approvals, REX-East is expected to begin interim service to the Lebanon Hub in Warren County, Ohio, by Dec. 31, 2008, and be fully operational in the summer
of 2009.