LAND CAPABILITY CLASSIFICATION

Abstract

Coal mining regulations require the reclamation plan to contain a detailed description of the proposed use of the land within the permit area. The affected areas must also be restored to a condition that is capable of supporting the uses which they were capable of supporting before mining, or to higher or better uses. The Land Capability Classification System proposed for classifying reclaimed minelands is based on the degree of limitation of the land. This classification system has been in use by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service (now Natural Resources Conservation Service) for about 50 years. The grouping of soils is on the basis of their capability to produce common cultivated crops and pasture plants without deterioration over a long period of time. The change in land capability of the postmine lands can be evaluated by comparing premine and postmine surveys. The Land Capability Classification System proposed for minelands is compatible with existing Natural Resource Conservation Service programs.