Remining to Reclaim Abandoned Mined Lands: Virginia's Initiative

Abstract

Abandoned Mined Lands (AML) are lands that were mined prior to implementation of the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) in 1977, but were inadequately reclaimed. Re-mining of AML is being conducted on a routine basis by coal-mining operations in eastern states such as Virginia. Re-mining is a potentially important means of reclaiming AML. However, under current policies, re-mining operations often fail to permit and reclaim priority I, 2, and 3 AML, especially those areas which present the most severe enviromnental problems. This paper describes policy issues which affect the potential for AML reclamation by re-mining operations in mountainous mining areas, such as Virginia; efforts underway in Virginia which seek to resolve those issues; and progress achieved to date under that initiative.

Linking Research and Regulatory Policy to Enable Advances in Reclamation Practice

“…In 1994, Virginia Tech's Powell River Project produced a video presentation to enhance public awareness of the AML reclamation problem, with Virginia DMLR cooperation (Zipper and Slemp, 1994), which was circulated to other state agencies and within OSM. In 1996, DMLR established a second task force to address remining issues that included participation by the mining industry, natural resource agencies, and community interests (Zipper and Lambert, 1998). This task force proposed a number of policy changes, for the purpose of enhancing opportunities for AML 872 reclamation by active mining operations.…”

“….106] as a major constraint to active Title V operations on AML (Zipper and Lambert, 1998). As a result, Virginia DMLR and the remining task force began looking for innovative ways to reclaim AML while allowing an operator flexibility in spoil handling practices.…”