The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act （SMCRA） was enacted in 1977 and was the overriding federal regulation governing mining and reclamation of surface coal mines in the United States of America （USA）. Ma...The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act （SMCRA） was enacted in 1977 and was the overriding federal regulation governing mining and reclamation of surface coal mines in the United States of America （USA）. Many of the newest surface mines in the USA, at that time, were in the western portion of the nation. Wyoming surface coal mines numbered approximately 20 and were located throughout the state in the coal bearing regions, generally in the south/southwestern portion of the state and the northeastern corner. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement （OSMRE） is the federal agency tasked with oversight of the implementation of SMCRA. Individual states developed statewide programs that met or exceeded the requirements of SMCRA and, thus, obtained primacy over coal mine mining and reclamation within their boundaries as long as those regulatory conditions were maintained. OSMRE retained oversight on the Indigenous Nations programs within the USA. Much information has been learned on the reclamation side of SMCRA, its regulations and state programs since its passage. This paper and presentation will present some of the basic changes made in reclamation programs over the last 40 years in the State of Wyoming.展开更多
This paper provides an overview of planning requirements,including regulatory,and implementation approaches for achieving ecologically sound reclamation and restoration of mines upon closure in the USA.Mine closure in...This paper provides an overview of planning requirements,including regulatory,and implementation approaches for achieving ecologically sound reclamation and restoration of mines upon closure in the USA.Mine closure includes mined-out areas,decommissioning of plants and structures,and appropriate monitoring of post-mining land,water,and air resources.Although the discussion provides general guidelines,each mine closure site presents unique challenges.The overall chemical composition of coal and associated strata with mineable coal seams,structural characteristics of the deposit,weather patterns,environmental conditions,processing and scale of mining of the deposit,and public and private infrastructure must be considered.Future land use and water resource requirements are also important considerations.The planning and closure activities must ensure that the resultant site has the appropriate post-mining land and water resources use,and the site does not pose any future environmental and health and safety risks.These requirements suggest that closure activities should be integrated with the mining activity planning process from the start.This paper discusses mine closure issues and describes several practices for a surface coal mine in the Western USA.展开更多
文摘The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act （SMCRA） was enacted in 1977 and was the overriding federal regulation governing mining and reclamation of surface coal mines in the United States of America （USA）. Many of the newest surface mines in the USA, at that time, were in the western portion of the nation. Wyoming surface coal mines numbered approximately 20 and were located throughout the state in the coal bearing regions, generally in the south/southwestern portion of the state and the northeastern corner. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement （OSMRE） is the federal agency tasked with oversight of the implementation of SMCRA. Individual states developed statewide programs that met or exceeded the requirements of SMCRA and, thus, obtained primacy over coal mine mining and reclamation within their boundaries as long as those regulatory conditions were maintained. OSMRE retained oversight on the Indigenous Nations programs within the USA. Much information has been learned on the reclamation side of SMCRA, its regulations and state programs since its passage. This paper and presentation will present some of the basic changes made in reclamation programs over the last 40 years in the State of Wyoming.
文摘This paper provides an overview of planning requirements,including regulatory,and implementation approaches for achieving ecologically sound reclamation and restoration of mines upon closure in the USA.Mine closure includes mined-out areas,decommissioning of plants and structures,and appropriate monitoring of post-mining land,water,and air resources.Although the discussion provides general guidelines,each mine closure site presents unique challenges.The overall chemical composition of coal and associated strata with mineable coal seams,structural characteristics of the deposit,weather patterns,environmental conditions,processing and scale of mining of the deposit,and public and private infrastructure must be considered.Future land use and water resource requirements are also important considerations.The planning and closure activities must ensure that the resultant site has the appropriate post-mining land and water resources use,and the site does not pose any future environmental and health and safety risks.These requirements suggest that closure activities should be integrated with the mining activity planning process from the start.This paper discusses mine closure issues and describes several practices for a surface coal mine in the Western USA.
