You are on page 1of 2

THE PROBLEMS Since the 1960s, Pennsylvania has been a P3 problem types that only affect the THE

lem types that only affect the THE SOLUTIONS


national leader in establishing mining laws environment, and do not impact human
Why do abandoned coal mine and regulations to ensure reclamation occurs health and safety, include the following:
hazards exist? after active mining is completed. During the Bench, Industrial/Residential Waste Dump, Abandoned Mine Reclamation in
same time, Pennsylvania began an Equipment/Facility, Gob, Highwall, Haul Road,
aggressive cleanup of abandoned mine sites. Mine Opening, Other, Pits, Spoil Area, Slurry, Pennsylvania
Coal mining began in Pennsylvania in the mid-
1700s to support the colonial iron industry. By Slump, Water Problems and Water Supplies.
What types of problems result from The Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation
the 1800s, Pennsylvania coal was fueling the
Where are AML problems located? (BAMR) administers and oversees the
industrial growth of the entire country and was abandoned coal mines?
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program in
the primary fuel source for western
Abandoned surface and deep mines are Pennsylvania. BAMR is responsible for
Pennsylvania’s growing steel industry. Anthracite The federal Office of Surface Mining (OSM)
scattered in the northeastern anthracite and resolving AML problems which have resulted
and bituminous coal production peaked in 1918 under authority of the Surface Mining Control
western bituminous fields. Anthracite coal, or from past coal mining practices in accordance
with a combined production of 276 million tons. and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) (PL 95-87, as
hard coal, is characterized by steeply sloping, with requirements established by the OSM
Coal’s importance continued well into the amended), defined a number of priorities and
sometimes vertical coal seams. Bituminous under authority of the SMCRA.
twentieth century as it provided the energy to corresponding problem types.
fight both World Wars. When the steel industry coal, or soft coal, lies in flat horizontal seams
declined in the late 1940s, coal use was  Priority 1 (P1) - the protection of public making coal extraction easier but the Abandoned Mine Land Funding
redirected into electricity generation. Today, coal health, safety and property from extreme associated environmental and safety
supplies the majority of fuel for electric power danger of adverse effects of coal mining problems are similar to those in the Congress enacted SMCRA on August 3, 1977.
generation in Pennsylvania and the nation. practices; anthracite fields. One of the primary purposes of SMCRA was to
 Priority 2 (P2) - the protection of public promote the reclamation of mined areas
For the first 200 years, coal was mined with little health and safety from adverse effects of Pennsylvania still accounts for one-third of abandoned and left without adequate
thought of environmental consequences and coal mining practices; the country's AML problem. Over $1 billion of reclamation prior to August 3, 1977. These
without formal regulation. When all available coal  Priority 3 (P3) - the restoration of land high-priority health and safety problems areas, in unreclaimed condition, substantially
was extracted from a mine site, operators would and water resources and the environment associated with Pennsylvania’s abandoned degrade the quality of the environment,
move to another area and leave the original mine previously degraded by adverse effects of mine lands are included in the OSM AML prevent or damage the beneficial use of land or
abandoned, failing to return the earth to its coal mining practices including measures Inventory System and are in need of water resources or endanger the health or
previous condition. Over 15 billion tons of coal for the conservation and development of reclamation. Pennsylvania maintains an safety of the public. Title IV of SMCRA
were removed from Pennsylvania’s ground and soil, water (excluding channelization), inventory of abandoned mine land problems, established the AML Trust Fund for the
250,000 acres of mine lands were left woodland, fish and wildlife, recreation revising it as new problems are uncovered. reclamation and restoration of areas affected
abandoned. resources and agricultural productivity. Abandoned mine problem areas have been by past mining. This fund is derived from a
identified in 43 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. reclamation fee on clean coal produced by
Pennsylvania’s abandoned mine lands (AML) P1 and P2 problem types, those that The distribution of known AML problem areas underground and surface coal mining.
memorialize a period of great economic and adversely affect public health and safety, are is shown in the map below. Currently, the reclamation fees are 28 cents
industrial growth in the state and country. as follows: Clogged Stream Lands, Clogged per ton for surface-mined coal and 12 cents
However, these acres scar Pennsylvania’s Streams, Dangerous Highwall, Dangerous per ton for coal mined underground in
landscape with environmental and safety Impoundments, Dangerous Pile and accordance with the requirements set forth in
hazards. The state’s waterways are polluted from Embankment, Dangerous Slides, Gases - the 2006 reauthorization of SMCRA. OSM
mine drainage and many people have suffered Hazardous/Explosive, Hazardous Equipment collects the fees from coal production across
from lives lost and property damaged from & Facilities, Hazardous Water Body, the country and then grants the monies back
unsafe and unstable AMLs. Industrial/Residential Waste, Polluted Water to states and tribes with approved Abandoned
– Agricultural/Industrial, Polluted Water - Mine Reclamation Programs, like Pennsylvania.
Abandoned mine reclamation refers to the Human Consumption, Portals, Subsidence,
process of cleaning up environmental pollutants Surface Burning, Underground Mine Fire and
and safety hazards associated with a site and Vertical Opening.
returning the land to a productive condition.
SMCRA establishes that expenditures of For contracted projects, the project is If you suspect you have an AML problem that
monies from the fund shall reflect the competitively bid and the construction needs to be addressed, please refer to the
established priorities. contract is awarded by DEP to the lowest map of Pennsylvania below and contact the

Pennsylvania’s
responsible bidder. BAMR construction appropriate office.
SMCRA defines lands and waters that are inspection staff provides oversight of the
eligible for reclamation as: contracts.
Lands and waters which were mined for coal or
which were affected by such mining, waste For smaller projects, the BAMR’s in-house Abandoned
Coal Mine
banks, coal processing or other coal mining construction personnel and equipment will
process and abandoned or left in an inadequate generally complete the work. This simplifies
the entire process and speeds up the time
Hazards
reclamation status prior to August 3, 1977, and
for which there is no continuing reclamation period from investigation to construction.
responsibility under state or federal laws.

What is the procedure for getting AML BEFORE CONSTRUCTION


problems reclaimed?

The following steps are the primary components


in the AML reclamation process and involve a For counties shaded in blue contact:
variety of BAMR staff, depending upon the
complexity of the project: Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation PROBLEMS
Ebensburg District Office


Problem Identification
Property Owner Support
286 Industrial Park Road
Ebensburg, PA 15931-0149
AND
Reclamation Plan Development
SOLUTIONS

 Environmental Assessment
Phone: 814-472-1800
 Authorization
 Design
 Construction AFTER CONSTRUCTION
For counties shaded in green contact:
BAMR reclamation projects, with respect to COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Environmental Protection
SMCRA priorities, focus on eliminating health and Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation
safety P1 and P2 problems. P3 problems are
Wilkes-Barre District Office
sometimes included if they are incidental to the
Two Public Square, 5th Floor
reclamation of higher priority problems. Where
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701-1915
possible, efforts are made to restore AML sites,
to near pre-mining conditions.
Phone: 570-826-2371
BUREAU OF ABANDONED MINE
Who performs the AML reclamation?
RECLAMATION
For more information, visit the DEP
In general, AML reclamation projects managed website at: www.dep.state.pa.us. Look for
by BAMR are constructed by either private Abandoned Mine Reclamation under the
contractors or BAMR’s in-house construction Mining category.
personnel.

5420-BO-DEP4489 6/2015

You might also like