What is COALEX?

COALEX is an automated legal research report database maintained by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE).  Different types of reports were issued:​

• State Inquiry Reports are prepared in response to specific requests from state attorneys and regulatory personnel.
• Comparison Reports address a topic of general interest, usually a regulatory issue, and make a side-by-side comparison of primacy state regulations, highlighting significant differences.

• Significant Issue Reports consist of in-depth reports on topics of general interest, including legislative and regulatory history and case law.​

The COALEX Search Service was an informational research service which was provided by the Interstate Mining Compact Commission (IMCC) under a grant from OSMRE for many years.  The search service has since been discontinued, however past completed reports are available at request. 

See the COALEX Topic List

What Type of Information is Available?

The COALEX library consists of numerous types of documents pertaining to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA).  Specifically, the following types of information are available through the COALEX library:

• Legislative history of SMCRA
• OSMRE regulations (current and superseded)
• State surface mining statutes and regulations from initial program approval through 1995
• Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) and Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) decisions
• OSMRE policy directives (current and superseded)

Additional information available through the LEXIS computer system includes:​

• State and Federal court decisions
• Federal Register notices for all agencies
• Selected state statutes, administrative codes, and administrative decisions

By utilizing these files, specific information pertaining to various topics of interest can be researched. 

What is the "COALEX Topic List"?

The "COALEX Topic List" is an index of all COALEX research reports completed, and can be found here. Reports are listed and identified chronologically by number.  The reports are available to be downloaded from the Office of Surface Mining's website www.osmre.gov.

​If particular attachments are required, contact the IMCC offices. Many attachments to the reports are quite voluminous and therefore are not included online.