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IV. OSM'S Position on AOC Compliance Also Overreaches its Oversight Role <br />and Its Own Directive on Evaluating the "General Configuration" and <br />"Drainage" Elements of AOC Compliance. <br />In Section B, OSM argues that no authority requires it to defer to the DMG's <br />judgment on whether Kerr violated the AOC standazd. Once again, OSM ignores its <br />oversight role and the appropriate standazd for judging the DMG's AOC permitting <br />decision in OSM Directive INE-26. Exh. G-l2. Kerr explained that this Directive <br />established that the issue for OSM is not whether it disagrees with the DMG, but whether <br />the DMG's AOC permitting decision "was reasonable and not an abuse of discretion." <br />Exh. G-l2 at 3; Kerr's Proposed Decision at 17-18. OSM disregarded the limits on its <br />role, and instead took enforcement action overriding the DMG as if OSM was the <br />regulatory authority. <br />OSM also argues that AOC requires replicating the pre-mining ridge in Pit I, <br />OSM's Proposed Decision at 11-12, without regazd for its own Directive. Kerr analyzed <br />the evidence in relation to the criteria of INE-26 and demonstrated that the present <br />configuration of Pit 1 complies with the AOC criteria in that Directive. Ken's Opening <br />Brief at 16-22. Particulazly, Kerr showed that the general terrain is "compazable" to the <br />pre-mining terrain adjacent to Pit 1, and in the immediate and surrounding azeas, and will <br />support the post-mining land use. Kerr also showed that there is positive, unobstructed <br />drainage through the Pit 1 area. ~., at 18-22. <br />OSM rejects the relevance of these factors because of its narrow view that the <br />ridge must be restored as it was. Indeed, OSM does not even acknowledge that Directive <br />1NE-26 has any relevance to its oversight evaluation of AOC compliance in this case. <br />Two recent decisions by Administrative Law Judges Torbett and Rampton highlight the <br />error in OSM's narrow view. Consolidation Coal Co. v. OSM, Docket No. CH 94-6-R <br />~o3eaf, iavv. 9 <br />