This is how the Office of Surface Mining will handle information we learn about you when visiting our Web site. The information we receive depends upon what you do when visiting our site.

If you read or download information, such as brochures, reports, or press releases:

We collect and store only the following information about you: the name of the domain from which you access the Internet (for example, aol.com, if you are connecting from an America Online account, or princeton.edu if you are connecting from Princeton University's domain); the date and time you access the pages; and the Internet address of the Web site from which you linked directly to our site. We do not store any personal identifiers. This information is not stored in any particular fashion, but is part of a systems log file.

For site management, information is collected for statistical purposes. This government computer system uses software programs to create summary statistics, which are used for such purposes as assessing what information is of most and least interest, determining technical design specifications, and identifying system performance or problem areas. We use the information we collect to measure the number of visitors to the different sections of our site, and to help us make our pages more useful to visitors. This information is only used internally, does not contain personal identifiers, and will only be used for internal management purposes.

If you identify yourself by sending an E-mail message or filling out a form:

You also may decide to send us personally-identifying information, for example, in an electronic mail message containing a complaint, requesting printed materials be mailed to you, or completing a Citizen Request for Inspection of an Active Coal Mine form. We use personally-identifying information from customers only to accomplish the requested activity. Any information that we collect via a questionnaire or form may be subject to disclosure; but, will be handled in accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act to ensure the greatest protection of personal privacy in the face of any required disclosure.

We want to be very clear: We will not obtain personally-identifying information about you when you visit our site, unless you choose to provide such information to us. Except as might be required by law, we do not share any information we receive with any other program, organization, or outside parties.

If you have any questions or comments about the Office of Surface Mining Privacy Policy presented here please contact Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Officer at getinfo@osmre.gov