This is a typical view of the final stage of reclamation under the Surface Mining Law. If you compare this illustration with the view of mining before the Surface Mining Law (page 1), you will see the very dramatic improvement this Law is making. Click on the red numbers for a description of what is happening, or here for an 8 1/2" x 11" higher resolution copy of the illustration that you can print on a laser printer and color.
Key
Area Mining: Final reclamation
under the Surface Mining Law
1. Bulldozers are carrying out grading of the final mine pit. This pit has been partially filled from the overburden stock pile (2) that came form the 'first cut' of the mining operation.
2. Dump trucks bring stockpiled overburden to the 'last cut' of the mining operation.
3. The highwall, which is still just showing will be completely eliminated.
4. The low area (1) at the 'last cut' will remain to form a 2-acre lake for livestock. This sedimentation pond will be incorporated into the lake.
5. A scraper removes stockpiled subsoil for spreading on the backfilled area. All of the subsoil will be used and this area will be completely reclaimed.
6. Subsoil is being spread on the regraded area.
7. A ripper, pulled by a crawler tractor, scarifies the regraded surface to reduce compaction prior to the replacement of topsoil.
8. A scraper removes topsoil from this stockpile for use at area 9.
9. A scraper spreads topsoil that was stored in the stockpile 8.
10. After final grading and topsoiling, this area was planted with a temporary cover crop because it was the wrong season to plant the permanent species. During the next growing season the permanent planting will be completed.
11. Lime and fertilizer are being spread on this area which has being cultivated and seeded.
12. These areas are being managed for grazing and cropland. At this Mid-western mine, if the vegetation meets the approved standards after five years, the reclamation bond will be released and the mine operator will no longer be responsible for this area.
13. and 14. These sedimentation ponds are still required since all reclamation is not complete. The last step in the reclamation process will be to remove the ponds and completely reclaim the land. This will be done when all the land has been reclaimed and the chance of erosion eliminated.
