Post mining land use
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Photo Library: Post mining land use |
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For many years the Office of Surface Mining coordinated an activity that resulted in the use of trees grown on reclaimed coal mine land being used for the National Christmas Pageant of Peace tree-lighting ceremony in Washington, D.C. The trees in this photo are being grown on reclaimed mine land in Maryland and are some that were dug and used at the ceremony. Christmas tree farms can frequently be found on reclaimed mine land in many areas of the country. Enlarged Photo (66 KB file)
Crop production at this Amish farm in southern Indiana was only interrupted for one growing season during the active coal mining. The mining operation when right up to the barnyard and today, following mine reclamation, it is difficult to distinguish where the mining occurred. To achieve this reclamation the mine operator carefully removed the topsoil. After the coal was removed the land was reclaimed and the topsoil spread to the same depth it was before mining began. Farming is one of the most common post-mining land uses in the mid-west. Enlarged Photo (65 KB file)
Although not a common post-mining land use, housing and other developed uses are found on reclaimed mine
sites that are close to urban centers. This development of custom houses is on a reclaimed mountaintop removal mining operation just outside of Pikeville, Kentucky. Here the reclaimed rolling land was subdivided, utilities and roads installed, and the lots sold to potential homeowners. This is an excellent example of the coal resource being removed and the long-term use of the land benefiting from the mine reclamation. It would not have been feasible to develop these housing sites on this land if the mining and reclamation had not occurred, Enlarged Photo (61 KB file)
This productive pasture land in Central Ohio was once a coal mine. After mining was completed the land was reclaimed and restored to long-term productive use. This is a dramatic difference from the post-mining landscape before the law was passed in 1977, and a scene where is it is difficult to identify the reclaimed site from the natural landscape. Enlarged Photo (65 KB file)
Traditionally, the reclamation of the final pit at large area mines leaves end-cut lakes. However, at this reclaimed mine near Bastrop, Texas the operator reclaimed the last cut to its approximate original contour, benefiting the landowner with increased pasture land.Enlarged Photo (30 KB file)
Little league baseball field
At this West Virginia reclaimed coal mine the post-mining land use includes a baseball field used by the local children. This part of the mine site had direct access from a county road and was developed by the mine operator during the land reclamation. Other parts of the reclaimed land (seen in the background) have been planted with trees and provide a park-like setting for the ball field. Enlarged Photo (31 KB file)
Interstate Highway
Traditional pasture land
This reclaimed Kentucky coal mine is difficult to distinguish from the surrounding countryside. During mining special care prevented any off-site impacts, and by working closely with the landowners, the ponds and other features became an integral part of the long-term agricultural postmining land use. This is mining and reclamation as envisioned by the architects of the Surface Mining Law, and it's an outstanding model for all active mine operations in the country.
Enlarged Photo (51KB file)
This unusual post-mining land use is located on a reclaimed mine site in Alabama. Today, with thousands of drivers passing the reclaimed coal mine it is impossible to distinguish the mined and reclaimed area from the natural landscape. Off the highway right-of-way natural forest trees have been reestablished and principal use of the land is a wildlife habitat.
Enlarged Photo (25 KB file)
A very common postmining land use on reclaimed mine land is hay and pasture. At this Ohio mine site the land use was hay and pasture before mining began. The landowner only lost production of his land for three years during the mining and reclamation. Today with reclamation complete the pasture is productive once again.
Enlarged Photo (30 KB file)
Sound mining and reclamation practices result in zero impacts to the land
Located near the headwaters of Raccoon Creek, a tributary to the South Fork of the Rockcastle River -- one of the last "wild"rivers remaining in Kentucky --this mining operation removed about 90,000 tons of coal, reclaimed the site, and improved the long-term land use potential. All the land in this photo was mined and reclaimed except the small area around the buildings. Both the field in the foreground and the hillside in the distance were planted with a diverse seed mixture and are in hay/pasture production. Prior to mining this land was unmanaged forest and substandard pasture. Enlarged Photo (39 KB file)
Successful mining and reclamation by a small mine operator
The mining and reclamation at this site was completed by a small (18 employees), family-owned coal company. Because the company produces less than 300,000 tons of coal per year it was eligible under the Surface Mining Law for Small Operator Assistance Program (S.O.A.P) funding. The Surface Mining Law authorizes up to $10 million annually of the fees collected for the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to be used to help qualified small mine operators obtain technical data needed for permit applications.
