Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Ridge, Governor
Department of Environmental Protection, James Seif, Secretary
Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation: Pennsylvania's
Reclamation Program
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Bureau of Abandoned
Mine Reclamation (Bureau) administers the abandoned mine lands (AML)
reclamation program in Pennsylvania.
Each year the Bureau receives more than 800 requests for assistance
with potential abandoned mine problems. Most of these requests are from
private property owners. Each request is investigated to determine the
seriousness of the problem and to determine if the site is eligible
for funding. Only high priority sites can be funded.
Approximately 30% of these requests are eligible for abatement through
reclamation work conducted by the Bureau. Funding for a project is dependent
upon a number of factors, including:
- A determination that the problem is caused by abandoned mine conditions.
- A finding that the abandoned mine land problem is hazardous to people
or the environment. (Federal funds are available to address only high
priority problems affecting health, safety and general welfare.)
- A determination that reclamation is technologically and economically
feasible.
- No one else has continuing reclamation responsibility under state
or federal laws.
Why Is There A Need For Mine Reclamation?
Pennsylvania has been a leading producer of coal since the mid-1800's,
when coal was "king". Coal from Pennsylvania's mines spurred
railroad development, created employment, heated most homes and businesses
and served as a vital material for the state's flourishing steel mills.
Before 1977, when Congress passed the Federal Surface Mining Control
and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), Pennsylvania had produced one-third of
all coal mined in the United States.
Unfortunately, the past underregulated mining of a valuable natural
and economic resource left open pits, coal refuse and spoil piles, acid
mine drainage (AMD), dangerous highwalls, open shafts, erosion, clogged
stream channels, undermined areas with subsidence potential, underground
fires, and dilapidated buildings. These abandoned mine land problems
dot the landscape in 45 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. Many of these
abandoned mines have severely degraded the quality of surrounding land
and water and pose hazards to Pennsylvania's citizens.
Pennsylvania has a legacy of approximately $15 billion in abandoned
mine land problems. The state was left with an estimated 2,500 miles
of streams polluted by acid mine drainage; 250,000 acres of unreclaimed
surface mine land; 100 million cubic feet of burning coal refuse; and
potential subsidence problems for hundreds of thousands of acres.
What Types of Reclamation Projects Are Conducted Within Pennsylvania?
Reclamation projects completed in Pennsylvania include closing and backfilling
mine openings, backfilling open pits, eliminating dangerous highwalls
and extinguishing or stopping the advancement of underground and refuse
bank fires. The state also constructs projects to control subsidence,
treat acid mine drainage, reestablish stream channels, remove dilapidated
buildings and equipment and grade and revegetate abandoned mine sites.
Contracted and In-House Reclamation Projects
For large projects, the Bureau develops preliminary project scopes and
cost estimates, determines property ownership and secures necessary
funding. Design is then initiated and rights of entry are secured from
all affected property owners. The project is then competitively bid
and a construction contract is awarded by DEP to the lowest responsible
bidder. For small projects, the Bureau's in-house construction personnel
and equipment will do the work. This simplifies the entire process and
results in the problem being abated in a more timely manner.
Funding for Mine Reclamation
There are two basic funding sources used for AML reclamation:
- Title IV of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
(SMCRA), a federal grants program available from the U.S. Department
of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
(OSM). Funds are provided to DEP from OSM through Title IV of SMCRA
to reclaim eligible high priority abandoned mines. A problem is eligible
for funding if it resulted from pre-August 3, 1977 mining.
Active coal operators pay a 35-cents-per-ton fee for each ton of surface-mined
coal and 15-cents-per-ton of deep mined coal to pay for the federal
program.
Funding levels for the program each year depend upon the US Department
of the Interior's annual appropriation from Congress. In recent years,
Pennsylvania has received an average of $20 million.
The three major priorities of the SMCRA program on which funds can
be spent are defined as follows:
- Emergencies - An emergency is a situation that occurs suddenly,
is life-threatening and demands immediate attention. Typical emergencies
include subsidence, methane gas leaks and recently ignited mine
refuse fires.
- Priority 1 - Protection of public health, safety and general welfare
and property from extreme danger of adverse effects of coal mining
practices. Extreme danger is defined as a condition that could be
expected to cause substantial physical harm to persons, property
or the environment, and to which persons or improvements on the
property are exposed.
- Priority 2 - The protection of public health, safety and general
welfare from adverse effects of coal mining practices.
Additionally, the department can set aside up to 10% annually from
Title IV allocations for abatement of acid mine drainage problems
resulting from eligible mining operations.
-
Forfeited Reclamation Bonds.
All mining operators are required to obtain permits from the Department
and to post bonds to ensure reclamation of the mine site. If an
operator fails to reclaim a site, the bonds are forfeited and the
Bureau uses the money to reclaim the mined area to its required
standards.
The Benefits of Abandoned Mine Reclamation
Reclamation eliminates hazards to the health, safety and general
welfare of Pennsylvania citizens living and working near these sites.
Many of these abandoned mines are located in or near residential
areas, schools and hospitals and have become dangerous attractions
for children and dumping grounds for garbage.
The environmental benefits realized from AML reclamation are numerous
and significant, including restoring land for future use and improving
water quality. Restoration of the land can result in increased pasture
land and recreational areas. Wildlife habitat also is enhanced.
The economic benefits of reclamation also are very important. It
is estimated that for every million dollars spent for AML construction
contracts, about 27 people are employed directly or indirectly.
In addition, nearly every such contract is with a Pennsylvania company
employing Pennsylvania labor.
What Has Been Done?
The federal AML program under SMCRA is scheduled to expire in 2004. So
far, Pennsylvania has put only a small dent in it's $15 billion AML problem.
With current funding levels from all sources, DEP estimates that it will
take more than 50 years to eliminate just the high-priority AML hazards
in Pennsylvania.
Since 1978, a total of 1,006 reclamation projects involving 21,193 acres
have been undertaken at a cost of $270,323,580. Since 1992, when the Bureau
began documenting environmental enhancements, 88 wetland projects were
constructed involving 125 acres. Also, 811 acres of trees were planted,
268 brush piles, stone piles and windrows were created to improve wildlife
habitat, and a total of 73,742 linear feet of stream channels were enhanced
or recreated by the Bureau.
In addition to the projects undertaken by contractors, there have been
218 in-house construction projects completed by the Anthracite District/Bituminous
District (AD/BD) construction crews. These in-house projects involved
55 acres at a total cost of $527,230.
As of November 12, 1996, the Bureau has reclaimed, restored or eliminated
the following hazards under Title IV of SMCRA at a cost of approximately
$243,000,000:
- 450,715 linear feet of dangerous highwalls
- 28.8 miles of clogged streams
- 42 dangerous impoundments
- 213 portals
- 2,263 acres of subsidence
- 814.7 acres of underground mine fires
- 363 vertical openings
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