This is the true success of SMCRA. About 29.5 billion tons of coal have been mined while SMCRA has been in place. Most of that, about 90 percent, was used to generate electrical power. During this same time, the coal mining industry has successfully reclaimed more than 2 million acres (2,238,560) of mined lands.
What does the SMCRA do?
The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) balances the need to protect the environment from the adverse effects of surface coal mining with the Nation’s need for coal as an essential energy source.
Why is the Smcra of 1977 so important?
The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) is the primary federal law that regulates the environmental effects of coal mining in the United States . SMCRA created two programs: one for regulating active coal mines and a second for reclaiming abandoned mine lands.
Why is reclamation so important?
Reclamation is a mining activity that is intended to produce land and water conditions that meet human needs . ... In order for mined landscapes to support human needs, it is also essential that reclamation processes restore environmental quality.
What is reclamation in mining and why is it important?
Reclamation is the combined process by which adverse environmental effects of surface mining are minimized and mined lands are returned to a beneficial end use . End uses may be open space, wildlife habitat, agriculture, or residential and commercial development.
Why must a mining company reclaim a mine?
It ensures that coal mining operations are conducted in an environmentally responsible manner and that the land is adequately reclaimed during and following the mining process.
Where are people mining?
Mining occurs in many places around the world, including the U.S. In South America , mining is particularly active in the Amazonia region, Guyana, Suriname, and other South American countries. In Central Africa, mining devastated a National Park called Kahuzi-Biega in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Why are abandoned mines a problem?
Abandoned mines can cause several health problems and environmental hazards threats such as the accumulation of hazards and explosive gases resulting from the lack of circulating air in galleries, or unsafe structures that can cause unstable conditions in that area resulting in several accidents.
What is the General Mining Law of 1872 and what did it do?
The General Mining Act of 1872 allows individuals to stake claims and obtain exclusive rights to the hardrock mineral deposits that belong to the United States .
Is subsurface mining better for the environment?
Subsurface mines produce large amounts of environmentally hazardous acid mine drainage . ... The groundwater from the mines is more acidic than surface waters and disrupts ecosystems by changing the pH conditions of soil and water sources.
Is reclamation good or bad?
Reclaimed lands are also to blame for the rise of the water level on the bay which causes massive flooding and storm surges. They badly affect not just the lives of the residents but also may shut down local economic activities particularly those in low-lying cities.
What does reclamation mean in English?
: the act or process of reclaiming : such as. a : reformation, rehabilitation. b : restoration to use : recovery.
How is reclamation done?
Land reclamation is the process of creating new land from the sea . The simplest method of land reclamation involves simply filling the area with large amounts of heavy rock and/or cement, then filling with clay and soil until the desired height is reached. ... Artificial islands are an example of land reclamation.
What happens to mines when we are done with them?
Eventually, once the most accessible and valuable materials have been extracted, the mine is closed, and the site must be restored back to its original state . This includes covering up mine entrances, replanting grass and trees, and testing surrounding water, soil, and air for contaminants.
How does reclamation affect the environment?
Reclamation usually leads to the decline of biological diversity , the decrease of natural wetlands, and the extinct of habitats for animals and plants. For migratory species, the living environment of marine plants and marine animals has been seriously affected.
What is reclamation plan?
Reclamation of land is carried out by landscaping or site preparation , soil. amelioration and re-vegetation. A Mining Plan includes the reclamation plan specifying. the details of various reclamation activities. It is worthwhile to take up the reclamation.
