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Mountaintop Mining

Mountaintop Mining. A Perspective from David Hartos, Physical Scientist U.S. Department of Interior - Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 9 th Annual Wetlands & Watershed Workshop October 25, 2007. Disclaimer.

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Mountaintop Mining

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  1. Mountaintop Mining A Perspective from David Hartos, Physical Scientist U.S. Department of Interior - Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 9th Annual Wetlands & Watershed Workshop October 25, 2007

  2. Disclaimer The views expressed are those of the presenter and do not necessarily represent to the views of the Department of Interior or the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

  3. Public Law 95-87 • Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 • Provides for the cooperation between the Secretary of Interior and the States with the respect to the regulation of surface coal mining operation and the acquisition and reclamation of abandoned mines, and for other purposes • Referred to by it acronym “SMCRA”, which is sound like “smack-ra” • Because of the diversity in terrain, climate, biologic, chemical, and other physical condition, encourages the States to take primary role in developing, authorizing, issuing, and enforcing regulations for surface coal mining reclamation operations subject to this act.

  4. U.S. Department of InteriorOffice of Surface Mining and Enforcement

  5. OSM’s Mission To carry out the requirements of SMCRA in cooperation with States and Tribes. OBJECTIVES • Protect citizens • Protect the environment • Restore active mines • Reclaim abandoned coal mines

  6. Federal Surface Mining Program • SMCRA codified @ 30 U.S.C. 1201-1328 • SMCRA Federal regulations @ 30 CFR Part 700 – End. • Policy directives atwww.osmre.gov/directiv.htm

  7. Distribution of Coal Resources in the lower 48 States

  8. Production Facts • In 2004, coal was mined within 26 states and tribal lands. • The top ten producing states and tribes in 2004: • Wyoming 396.5 million tons • West Virginia 148.0 million tons • Kentucky 114.2 million tons • Pennsylvania 66.0 million tons • Texas 45.9 million tons • Montana 40.0 million tons • Colorado 39.9 million tons • Indiana 35.1 million tons • Illinois 31.9 million tons • Virginia 31.4 million tons • Source: Table 1 of the U.S. DOE - Energy Information Administration / Annual Coal Report, DOE/EIA-0584 (2004)

  9. Primacy States are encouraged to regulate coal mining but must demonstrate that they have State laws, regulations, policies and organizational structure to carryout the provisions of SMCRA • Of the 26 coal producing states and tribal lands, 24 have primacy & only two states --Tennessee and Washington – have federally administered SMCRA programs. • OSM also administers the SMCRA program for: • Arizona Hopi • Arizona Navajo • Montana Crow • New Mexico Navajo

  10. Regulatory Goals in a Nutshell • Collection of adequate baseline information • Good planning – mine operation and reclamation designs that minimize environmental impacts and protect citizens • Perform well – complying with the terms of program requirements and in accord with the approved permit

  11. Mountaintop removal coal mine in southern WVPhoto by Vivian Stockman • Mountaintop removal coal mine in southern WV • Photo by Vivian Stockman

  12. Mountaintop removal coal mine in southern WV Photo by Vivian Stockman

  13. Mine Reclamation • Ultimate goal – reclamation of mined land • SMCRA encourages the enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat • SMCRA encourages reclaiming the land to a higher and better land use.

  14. Indiana, Vigo Coal Company, Discovery #1

  15. Montana, Western Energy Company, Rosebud Mine

  16. Alabama, Drummond Coal Company, Mill Creek Mine

  17. Kentucky, Saarcar Coal, Inc. & Rifle Coal Company

  18. North Dakota, Bellaire Corporation, Indian Head Mine

  19. Texas, TXU Mining, previously Texas Utilities Mining Company, Big Brown Mine

  20. Texas, TXU Mining, previously Texas Utilities Mining Company, Monticello Mine

  21. Ohio, R & F Coal Company

  22. Indiana, Black Beauty Coal Company

  23. North Dakota, The Coteau Properties Company, Freedom Mine

  24. Pennsylvania

  25. Maryland, tree farms, Buffalo Coal Company

  26. Kentucky, Stone Mining Company, Grants Branch Impoundment

  27. Peabody – Gibraltor Mine - Kentucky

  28. Some Notable Current Initiatives • As we learn, we are striving to do better

  29. Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative • Introduced in the fall of 1994. • The mission of the Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative is to facilitate and coordinate citizen groups, university researchers, the coal industry, corporations, the environmental community, and local, state, and federal government agencies that are involved in cleaning up streams polluted by acid drainage. • OSM and EPA Region III signed a statement of mutual intent on February 9, 1995.

  30. Interesting Facts • In 2005, OSM provided 11 states with $3.2 million • Since 1994 when the supplemental state grants began, OSM has provided $47 million for 158 projects, 119 have been completed and outside funding grew to over $23 million on the projects • In 1999, OSM began the Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program as part of the Clean Streams Program and has awarded 141 cooperative agreements and amendments at cost of $12,468,665.

  31. More Interesting Facts Watershed Internship Program • The Office of Surface Mining and the Environmental Protection Agency initiated the Summer Watershed Internship program in 1999, and in 2005, funded 22 interns in eight states. • Since the program began, 168 interns have been placed in ten states all of them working directly for watershed groups on acid mine drainage issues.

  32. More Interesting Facts OSM / VISTA Watershed Team • OSM and the AmeriCorps VISTA program partnered to create the OSM/VISTA Team. • There are more than 30 full-time OSM/VISTA Volunteers serving as Watershed Development Coordinators in 7 Appalachian coal states. • This was not done alone: other agency funds and other agency personnel play critical roles in virtually every one of these partnership efforts, efforts that bring state and federal partners together in support of local projects assisted by OSM/VISTAs to make a difference.

  33. Ohio, Majesty Mine Complex, Monday Creek Restoration Project Before After

  34. ARRI advocates using a technique known as the Forestry Reclamation Approach, or FRA, to plant trees on reclaimed coal mined lands. GOALS • Plant more high-value hardwood trees on reclaimed coal mined lands in Appalachia; • Increase the survival rates and growth rates of planted trees; • Expedite the establishment of forest habitat through natural succession

  35. Can you identify which of the trees were grown on a reclaimed mine?

  36. The inventory provides vital statistics on about 300 Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) treatment projects in West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania. It is available online at http://amd.osmre.gov/passtreat/. • AMD Treat 4.0 AMDTreat helps government agencies and citizens select the most cost effective method to treat streams damaged by acid mine drainage (AMD).

  37. Technology Transfer • Great ideas need to be shared

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