Surface Mining Reclamation Research Articles

Influence of reclamation management practices on microbial biomass carbon and soil organic carbon accumulation in semiarid mined lands of Wyoming

In recent years, interest has been generated in the ability of disturbed soils to accumulate organic carbon (C), thereby sequestering C from the atmosphere as well as improving their edaphic characteristics. Responses and recovery of soil microbial populations and processes, including C cycling, to disturbance caused by surface mining and subsequent reclamation are not well understood. This study was conducted to determine the long-term influence (>10 years) of a number of reclamation management practices on the concentration and amounts of soil organic C (SOC) and microbial biomass C (MBC) in reclaimed soils at five surface coal mines located in semiarid regions of Wyoming. Comparisons were made across a number of commonly used reclamation management practices (grazing, topsoil handling, seed mixes, and mulching) as well as between paired treatments within each management practice (i.e., grazed vs. ungrazed; stockpiled topsoil vs. direct hauled topsoil; grass vs. shrub seed mix; hay crimped mulch vs. stubble mulched). There were no significant differences in SOC concentrations between paired treatments for a given practice but there were some differences between management practices. In the majority of cases, undisturbed, native soils had significantly greater SOC concentrations than reclaimed soils. In contrast, there were significant differences in MBC between paired treatments and between management practices, as well as between management practices and undisturbed soils. Across all mines, half of the mines reclaimed soils had masses of SOC that were similar to, or greater than, undisturbed soil reflecting their ability to accumulate C.

English

There is a surging interest in restoring forests on surface mined lands in the Appalachians. Many lands reclaimed since the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) have dense ground covers and compacted soil materials, in some cases associated with unfavorable soil chemical properties. To address these concerns, three previously reclaimed mined sites were located in Lawrence County, OH; Nicholas County, WV; and Wise County, VA. At each site, Eastern white pine, hybrid poplar, and mixed Appalachian hardwoods were planted at three levels of silvicultural intensity (weed control only, weed control with soil ripping, and weed control with soil ripping and fertilization). Each combination of species and treatment was repeated three times in each of the three states for a total of 9 replications and 81 treatment plots. The OH sites were dominated by compacted siltstone backfill with a thin topsoil cap, the WV sites by shale fragments through the profile and the VA sites by mixed shale and sandstone fragments through the profile with a crushed sandstone cap. Trees were measured in October of 2007 after 4 years of growth. Across all treatments and species, Virginia had a higher survival rate, 70.7%, than West Virginia, 49.4%, and Ohio, 40.3%. West Virginia had a higher biomass index per tree, 5,673 cm 3 (cubic centimeters), than Ohio, 1,446 cm 3 Across all states and treatments, the survival rates of mixed hardwoods, 63.2%, and hybrid poplar, 55.1%, were greater than that of Eastern white pine, 42.1%. Total biomass index per tree for hybrid poplar, 10,024 cm 3 , was greater than that for Eastern white pine, 258 cm 3 , and mixed hardwoods, 138 cm 3 . Survival across all states and species was increased from 44% to 64% with ripping. Ripping plus weed control increased average biomass index from approximately 1,000 cm 3 per tree to 5,000 cm 3 per tree over weed control only. All species achieved their highest biomass values for this study on the West Virginia shale-based spoils and their highest survival rates on the Virginia sandstone-dominated spoils. When restoring forest vegetation to previously reclaimed mine sites with unfavorable soil and vegetation properties, the use of silvicultural treatments (weed control and soil ripping, with or without fertilization) can aid survival and growth.

English

The Enos Gob Pile, located in Pike County, Indiana, is a 250-acre refuse disposal area emplaced prior to the August 3, 1977 enactment of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). Two passive treatment systems totaling approximately 64-acres were constructed in 2005 by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Reclamation (IDOR) to treat AMD discharging from the refuse disposal area. IDOR, with the assistance of the OSM, Mid-Continent Regional Office (OSM-MCR) designed the passive treatment system at the site that includes: 1) addition of alkaline water (alkalinity = 242 mg/L) from adjacent pre-SMCRA mine impoundments, 2) construction of two vertical flow ponds (VFP) for additional alkalinity enhancement, and 3) excavation of a series of oxidation ponds and aerobic wetlands for metal precipitation. The system was designed to handle a large amount of acidic runoff during storm events (1.5 to 2.0 CFS). Underlying and surrounding the refuse pile is mine spoil with a generally favorable neutralization potential. As a result of that neutralization the water entering each VFP is relatively low in iron (19.2 mg/L) and total acidity (92 mg/L). However, the designers were required to consider the impact of a significant amount of Al (5.2 mg/L) on the life expectancy of the VFP. Post-construction evaluations are being assisted by the Indiana Geological Survey (IGS). These studies indicate nearly complete Fe removal by the system (total iron = 0.25 mg/L) and a net alkaline discharge (alkalinity exceeds acidity by about 65 mg/L). Although no specific structures were incorporated in the design for Mn removal, Mn is also being removed by the wetland system (3.7 mg/L in the VFP inlet, 0.23 mg/L at the system outlet). Improvements in metal removal occurred when aquatic vegetation developed. Additional studies will evaluate the reduction in system efficiency during winter months and a comparison of the alkalinity generated by the two parallel VFPs one with dolomitic limestone and one with high-calcium limestone, as an alkalinity source. Additional

English

Brownfield reclamation in some ways is similar to surface mine reclamation. The similarities are that in both cases there is a large area of once productive ground that was severely impacted as part of a no-longer active resource extraction or augmentation industry. The differences include possible toxic soils or substrate and generally a lack of nearby quality soil for the brownfields given their typically urban settings. In contrast, reclamation is now part of a surface mining permit, soils are stockpiled to be replaced after mining, or topsoil substitutes are located and approved to serve as a final cover at a mine site. Brownfields, however, are usually located in urban areas where topsoils are difficult to obtain and transport. We conducted a large field demonstration project involving a brownfield in Chicago that was reclaimed with dredged spoils from the Illinois River. Disposal of dredged spoil often presents a problem in and of itself, and utilization as a topsoil substitute presents several advantages. In the case of the Peoria River sediments, the chemical and physical attributes are generally favorable as a topsoil substitute. These sediments tend to be fine textured, Silty Clay Loams and Silty Clays with about 3-5% organic matter content. Metal content is typically elevated above reference soils, but is generally not a problem. This paper presents our experience with this reclamation approach.

Preemptive Federalism or Regulatory Dismantlement? The Bush Administration's Implementation of the Federal Coal Mining Reclamation Program

This article examines the implementation of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) under the administration of President George W. Bush. It addresses a problem that is both conceptual and practical: how does a chief executive deal with policies that are at odds with each other? While the original purpose of SMCRA was to reclaim lands adversely affected by coal mining operations, I suggest that implementation efforts since 2001 have placed greater emphasis upon coal production than upon the maintenance of reclamation standards. This has been achieved by combining the factors often found within policy implementation approaches with the discretionary use of executive authority. The net result is that the president's preferred policy position, i.e., the development of domestic energy resources, has been enhanced despite some cost to countervailing policy goals, i.e., the conservation of water quality and wildlife in Appalachia.

Nitrogen Mineralization and Microbial Activity in Oil Sands Reclaimed Boreal Forest Soils

Organic materials including a peat-mineral mix (PM), a forest floor-mineral mix (L/S), and a combination of the two (L/PM) were used to cap mineral soil materials at surface mine reclamation sites in the Athabasca oil sands region of northeastern Alberta, Canada. The objective of this study was to test whether LFH provided an advantage over peat by stimulating microbial activity and providing more available nitrogen for plant growth. Net nitrification, ammonification, and N mineralization rates were estimated from field incubations using buried bags. In situ gross nitrification and ammonification rates were determined using the 15N isotope pool dilution technique, and microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN) were measured by the chloroform fumigation-extraction method. All reclaimed sites had lower MBC and MBN, and lower net ammonification and net mineralization rates than a natural forest site (NLFH) used as a control, but the reclamation treatment using LFH material by itself had higher gross and net nitrification rates. A positive correlation between in situ moisture content, dissolved organic N, MBC, and MBN was observed, which led us to conduct a moisture manipulation experiment in the laboratory. With the exception of the MBN for the L/S treatment, none of the reclamation treatments ever reached the levels of the natural site during this experiment. However, materials from reclamation treatments that incorporated LFH showed higher respiration rates, MBC, and MBN than the PM treatment, indicating that the addition of LFH as an organic amendment may stimulate microbial activity as compared to the use of peat alone.

English

Providing a common set of technology tools to regulators and reclamation specialists in the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) is helping to streamline the mandates of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). The Technical Innovation and Professional Services (TIPS) Team consists of 32 people in four OSM offices. In cooperation with State and Tribal regulatory and reclamation agencies, as well as OSM offices nationwide, TIPS provides the latest off-the-shelf scientific and engineering software and hardware tools to federal, state, and tribal experts. These are the same tools used commonly by the mining industry. With the industry regulators and reclamation specialists at the state, tribal, and federal level using the same tools, exchange of information is facilitated and the regulatory and reclamation processes are expedited. This has become an extraordinarily efficient way to carry out the reclamation and regulatory mandates of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. TIPS began in 1987 as a team of nine persons serving 28 customer locations in 24 states. Today the Team provides scientific and engineering modeling software, hardware, and full training classes to 700 customers in 96 office locations at 24 states, three tribes, and 15 federal offices. This team of innovators holds costs low through shared licensing of the software via the Internet and centralized federal procurement contracts. TIPS also provides full software support and training classes at no cost to its customers. These are specially tailored courses, customized specifically around mining applications of the software. Customers value this training so much that they volunteer as instructors. Over half of all TIPS instructors today come from the customer base. The innovators of TIPS have fostered electronic exchange of data between federal, state, and tribal agencies for 20 years. Their hard work has brought mining reclamation and regulation to increasing levels of efficiency. The most recent two years have brought significant department cooperation and subsequent progress for TIPS, and they continue to pursue new technology and the tools to promote better and more efficient enforcement of the Surface Mining Act. Additional

English

A particular geotechnical design and construction challenge faces the coal industry. It is shared by state and federal regulatory personnel responsible for approval of excess spoil or valley fills in steep-sloped Appalachia. Competing regulatory requirements under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) encourage the construction of smaller valley fills (so that stream impacts are minimized), while also assuring long-term stability. To satisfy both CWA and SMCRA requirements, mining companies may opt to site valley fills further upstream on steeper foundation slopes. Three recent investigations documented the potentially destabilizing effect of steeper foundations on mass stability: A 2002 study by the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) found that, among the relatively small number of fill failures in a 23 year period, a disproportionate number had foundations in excess of 20 percent slope. The results of a more recent OSM investigation of a 2004 fill failure in Kentucky seemed to confirm the negative effect of a steep foundation. Finally, a 2006 joint study between the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources and OSM emphasized the influence of weak, soil-like materials on fills placed on steep natural slopes. This paper reviews long-standing issues pertaining to proper design and construction measures with respect to valley fills, especially durable rock fills, and discusses how they will become more critical as spoil minimization is practiced. Stabilizing countermeasures available within the existing State and Federal regulatory framework are also discussed.

English

Digital geospatial data describing past, present, and proposed coal mining operations can provide significant benefits to government agencies, business interests, and the public when planning land use activities in coal- bearing areas of the nation. In September 2005, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) established the National Coal Mining Geospatial Committee (NCMGC) to promote the use of geospatial technology for implementing the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The NCMGC is supported by OSM's Technical Innovation and Professional Services (TIPS) program and operates as a partnership between OSM and the states authorized to implement SMCRA. Committee members represent the geospatial technology interests of the states, tribes, and OSM offices. SMCRA organizations with representation in the NCMGC include the Interstate Mining Compact Commission (IMCC), National Association of Abandoned Mine Lands Programs (NAAMLP), and the Western Interstate Energy Board (WIEB). In June 2006, the NCMGC hosted the first National Meeting of SMCRA Geospatial Data Stewards in Denver, CO. These stewards are designated by each state/tribe regulatory and/or AML program to represent their geospatial technology interests and provide national coordination. Meeting accomplishments included identifying local needs for advancing use of geospatial data; identifying goals within organizations to obtain and use geospatial data; and identifying NCMGC activities at a national level to advance the use of geospatial technology within SMCRA organizations. The stewards approved development of the first two national coal mining data layers: coal surface mining boundaries and coal underground mining boundaries. The NCMGC formed a Coal Mining Spatial Data Standards ASTM Task Group to establish voluntary standards for these two layers. The NCMGC also created a Coal Mining Spatial Data Infrastructure Team to prototype methodology to collect selected coal mining datasets contributed by each participating state/tribe. These data will be assembled into national datasets for use in SMCRA business processes and distribution to the nation. Automation, reuse, and dissemination of coal mining geospatial data will bring multiple benefits to government, the coal mining industry, other business interests, academia, and the public. These benefits will include improved regulation of active coal mining operations, more successful reclamation of abandoned mine lands, and better public policy at local, state, and national levels.

English

Since the enactment of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) thousands of grassland habitats have been created in eastern North America. In western Pennsylvania over 50 species of birds including, eleven species that are either listed as threatened, endangered or as special concern, have been observed using grasslands and wetlands on reclaimed mines. In addition to these bird species, the endangered Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) has been observed foraging on grasslands on two mine sites in western Pennsylvania. Although the development of wildlife habitats can be incorporated into the reclamation of mine lands, the specific habitats for threatened and endangered species are generally not a defined objective of the reclamation of mine lands. Because threatened and endangered species nest and forage on grasslands and wetlands on mine lands, they should be given consideration during the reclamation of mine lands.

English

Acid mine drainage (AMD), which is a by-product of many abandoned surface and under ground coal mines, is detrimental to the environment. The toxic runoff has destroyed thousands of miles of streams and adjacent areas. Though programs are in place to attempt to ameliorate the AMD concerns, AMD continues to pose a potential problem in many areas, despite regulations, improved prediction, and prevention techniques. On March 31, 1997, Kathrine L. Henry, Acting Director of OSM, issued a memorandum “A Message Concerning Acid Mine Drainage”, stating, “The prevention of future acid and toxic discharges from coal mining operations into surface and ground waters and the remediation of mining-related pollutional discharges are high priorities of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM). To advance these priorities, OSM previously established the Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative (ACSI), with a primary focus on eliminating acid and toxic mine drainage from abandoned mines, and the Acid Drainage Technology Initiative, which concentrates on the prevention and remediation of AMD from modern coal mining.” In response to the Acting Director’s concerns, OSM established an AMD Policy Team and after extensive input from all affected parties developed policy goals, objectives and strategies to protect the hydrologic balance in coal mining areas from the effects of AMD. Two and a half years later, during 1999, OSM initiated the Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program (WCAP) as part of the Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative. The purpose of this program was to develop partnerships and assist local not-for-profit organizations in funding for the remediation of small local AMD concerns. This program expanded rapidly in several eastern states, as strong and very proactive local watershed groups and other environmentally conscious organizations looked for ways to assist in cleaning up the environment --especially as it affected the water of the area and its potential effects on their economy and living environment. Implementation of the WCAP in Iowa, Kansas and Illinois is in its infancy. Amelioration of the AMD concerns was recently completed on their first projects. Future success will depend on funding and expansion of the program through education and public involvement. _______________________ 1 Paper was presented at the 2007 National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Gillette, WY, 30 Years of SMCRA and Beyond June 2-7, 2007. R.I. Barnhisel (Ed.) Published by ASMR, 3134 Montavesta Rd., Lexington, KY 40502. 2 John W. Coleman, Senior AML and Regulatory Program Specialists, Office of Surface Mining, Alton, Il, 62002 Proceedings America Society of Mining and Reclamation, 2007 pp 155-164 DOI: 10.21000/JASMR07010155

English

The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) is a broad- based citizen/industry/government program working to encourage the planting of productive trees on active and abandoned coal mine lands. Using a combination of private and governmental resources, the program facilitates and coordinates citizen groups, university researchers, the coal industry, corporations, the environmental community, and local, state, and federal government agencies that have an interest in creating productive forestland on reclaimed mined lands. Forestry research conducted by various academic institutions has confirmed that highly productive forestland can be created on reclaimed mine land by using a Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA). The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) and the Appalachian region states have determined that this technology can be implemented under the current state and federal regulations. Tree planting is documented throughout Appalachia in the regulatory programs in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Although trees are being planted, the reclamation plans generally do not reflect the current technology. The mission of ARRI is to promote and encourage the use of the FRA technology in reclamation of both active and abandoned coal mine sites. Part of our effort is to provide FRA training and to explain the multiple benefits of creating productive forestland. These multiple benefits include restoration of clean water and air resources, carbon sequestration, soil conservation, wildlife and endangered species habitat, recreational opportunities, and timber production.

A Procedure for NEPA Assessment of Selenium Hazards Associated With Mining

This paper gives step-by-step instructions for assessing aquatic selenium hazards associated with mining. The procedure was developed to provide the U.S. Forest Service with a proactive capability for determining the risk of selenium pollution when it reviews mine permit applications in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The procedural framework is constructed in a decision-tree format in order to guide users through the various steps, provide a logical sequence for completing individual tasks, and identify key decision points. There are five major components designed to gather information on operational parameters of the proposed mine as well as key aspects of the physical, chemical, and biological environment surrounding it--geological assessment, mine operation assessment, hydrological assessment, biological assessment, and hazard assessment. Validation tests conducted at three mines where selenium pollution has occurred confirmed that the procedure will accurately predict ecological risks. In each case, it correctly identified and quantified selenium hazard, and indicated the steps needed to reduce this hazard to an acceptable level. By utilizing the procedure, NEPA workers can be confident in their ability to understand the risk of aquatic selenium pollution and take appropriate action. Although the procedure was developed for the Forest Service it should also be useful to other federal land management agencies that conduct NEPA assessments, as well as regulatory agencies responsible for issuing coal mining permits under the authority of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) and associated Section 401 water quality certification under the Clean Water Act. Mining companies will also benefit from the application of this procedure because priority selenium sources can be identified in relation to specific mine operating parameters. The procedure will reveal the point(s) at which there is a need to modify operating conditions to meet environmental quality goals. By recognizing concerns early in the NEPA process, it may be possible for a mining company to match operational parameters with environmental requirements, thereby increasing the likelihood that the permit application will be approved.

English

The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-87) authorized the Secretary of the Interior to implement a regulatory program to reduce the environmental impacts of coal mining operations. The Secretary of Interior administers this program through the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) with assistance from state and other federal agencies as specified in the law. All functions and responsibilities assigned to USDA by Public Law 95-87 were delegated by the Secretary of Agriculture to the Chief of USDA-NRCS, except those that relate to the National Forest Service System Lands and to the USDA-Agriculture Research Service. This paper briefly presents how the Land Capability Classification System can be used in the development of rules, regulations, and guidelines for evaluating the quality of soil reclamation after surface mining for coal. The Land Capability Classification System can provide for compliance with Public Law 95-87. The land capability of the reclaimed soils can be compared to the capability of the pre- mined soils for producing crops.

English

The goal of returning diverse life to lands surface-mined for coal has followed the passage of the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) into State mining reclamation acts and regulations promulgated therefrom. Expectations for the level of plant species diversity that should exist on lands revegetated under SMCRA has taken the form of a variety of performance standards that reflect the prevailing attitude that species diversity is an attribute that can be “made to happen.” Over 25 years of monitoring data from revegetated lands suggest that species diversity is not “made to happen” but rather “allowed to happen.” For sites with at least moderately favorable soils and climate, a recurring conclusion based on long-term monitoring data is that grasses (typically abundantly represented in revegetation seed mixes) are highly competitive in post-mining conditions. SMCRA and similar state requirements for unbroken post-mining surface configuration covered by substantial depths of agriculturally suitable soil have provided the ideal environment for the widespreading and dense root systems that grasses possess. As a result, the occurrence of non-grass plant species has typically been limited. It is posited that the longterm status of plant species diversity will be related to occasional interruptions of the overwhelming ecological dominance that grasses most often presently hold. As a consequence, the accretion of plant species richness at any particular location will be slow and to some degree unpredictable. Given, thus, that species diversity after 10 years or even 20 years may still be competitively suppressed, quantitative approaches are set forth for “looking into the future” to evaluate the availability of the less-competitive plant species to respond to eventual opportunities that would allow them to proliferate in the revegetated plant communities. Central to these approaches is the need to avoid direct matching of species’ abundance between reclaimed and reference areas. Instead, alternatives in the form of species presence, life-form similarity, and scale-corrected species density evaluations are described. Ecological reasoning underlying the approaches is examined. ___________________ 1 Paper was presented at the 2006 Billings Land Reclamation Symposium, June 4-8, 2006, Billings MT and jointly published by BLRS and ASMR, R.I. Barnhisel (ed.) 3134 Montavesta Rd., Lexington, KY 40502. 2 David L. Buckner, Ph.D. Senior Plant Ecologist, ESCO Associates Inc., P.O. Box 18775, Boulder, CO 80308 (303 499 4277) e-mail: escassoc@mindspring.com Proceedings America Society of Mining and Reclamation, 2006 pp 143DOI: 10.21000/JASMR06010143

English

The Sugar Creek Watershed is located north of Huntsville in northcentral Missouri. Water quality in Sugar Creek has been affected by acid mine drainage (AMD) generated by underground mining and coal refuse disposal before the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 and has been listed on Missouri’s 303d list as an impaired stream. To support the state of Missouri’s development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) assessment and remediation efforts, the Office of Surface Mining (OSM), Mid-Continent Region in cooperation with the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS), Missouri Water Science Center Kansas City Office has completed a technical evaluation and economic and logistical feasibility study for the AMD affected waterway. Utilizing a water-quality assessment completed in 2005 by the USGS, the OSM study proposes the construction of passive treatment facilities for three major AMD sources identified by the USGS in the watershed. Site-specific remediation costs are determined for each site using OSM’s Technical Innovation and Professional Services software AMDTreat. The proposed treatment systems utilize state-of-the-art passive treatment technology, including anaerobic bioreactors and vertical flow wetlands. Treatment of the discharges from two of the AMD sources add alkaline effluent from public waste-water treatment facilities for neutralizing acidity, dilution of the AMD, and addition of nutrients into the proposed wetland treatment systems. This study will be used to develop costs and a plan for the remediation of the Sugar Creek discharges and can serve as a guide in TMDL assessments in Missouri and other coal mining areas. Additional

English

Kentucky -31 (KY-31) tall fescue (Festuca arundinacae) produces an effective ground cover and can be a valuable forage crop; however, it has been shown to be a detriment to wildlife populations through habitat colonization (elimination of bare ground, suppression of other valuable plants, and the toxic nature of seeds and vegetative matter to wildlife species). Because of its ability to effectively control erosion and produce high forage yields, KY-31 has been a commonly used grass species for surface mine reclamation. The objective of this study is to assess the suitability of approximately 54.1 hectares of reclaimed wildlife habitat inadvertently seeded with KY-31 fescue at Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI), Prairie Hill Mine in northern Missouri. Land type assessment models were used to score wildlife habitat suitability. Models were structured to rate quality factors based on vegetative communities, spatial distribution, and favorable environmental conditions to wildlife species. Data collection was accomplished with real time mobile mapping GPS devices using ArcPad software and analyzed with ArcGIS desktop. Through the use of spatial technologies, wildlife models produced a score under optimal conditions as well as applied a rating to both KY-31 seeded wildlife habitat and wildlife areas proposed by AECI for mitigation. Rating points for wildlife habitat seeded with KY-31 and areas proposed for mitigation were totaled and compared to the derived target value. Initially, wildlife sites seeded with KY-31 fescue scored below the target values. However, when the fescue areas were totaled with the wildlife mitigation tracts the habitat suitability exceeded the target values generated by the assessment models. This study demonstrates the site specific effects of KY-31 in differing wildlife habitat land types and provides field assessment techniques to measure suitability. Through the use of adapted wildlife habitat rating models and new technologies such as mobile computing and GIS, the effects of KY-31 can be quantified, allowing appropriate mitigation to offset resource losses.

Stand Characteristics and Productivity Potential of Indiana Surface Mines Reclaimed Under SMCRA

Abstract The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) addresses a wide range of environmental concerns. However, its impacts on forest stand development and productive potential have only recently been investigated. We surveyed the vegetation and forest productivity on 22 surfacemine sites throughout the coal-bearing region of Indiana that were reclaimed to forest cover under the provisions of SMCRA 7–14 years prior to sampling. Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) were the most widely occurring tree species.Tall fescue and goldenrod were the most widely occurring nonarborescent species. Median site index (base age 50 for black oak) was 30 ft. Although satisfying forest cover stocking requirements for bond release, these reclaimed surface mines almost always displayed a level of productivity farbelow those of native forests typical of this region. Reclamation techniques differing from those used on these study sites are needed to restore forest productivity to surface-mined lands while still complying with SMCRA.

Establishing Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis on Mined Lands: Science and Economics

In 1977, the USA Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act mandated that reclaimed plant communities must be as productive or more productive than the premined plant community and must possess diversity representative of the premine community and serve the same land uses. In much of the Northern Great Plains this meant that reclaimed mined lands must support postmined land uses for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. In 1996, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality enacted regulations governing the reestablishment of woody shrubs on mined lands. The regulation required that an average density of one shrub m−2 be reestablished on at least 20% of the disturbed land area and that the shrub composition must include dominant premine species. In Wyoming, and much of the Northern Great Plains, that meant that Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis (Beetle and Young) (Wyoming big sagebrush) had to be reestablished on mined lands. Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis had proven difficult to reestablish on mined lands because of poor quality seed, seed dormancy and a poor understanding of the seedbed ecology of this species. Research in the last two decades has produced significant knowledge in the area of direct-seed establishment of Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis on mined lands. Our research has shown that reducing grass seeding rates will reduce competition and result in larger sagebrush plants that are more likely to survive and provide greater structural diversity to the plant community. Economic analyses demonstrated that big sagebrush can be established at a cost of $0.01–0.05 per seedling using direct seeding methods compared to transplanting nursery grown seedlings, estimated to cost $0.72–$1.65 per seedling (depending on size) to grow and from $1.30–$2.40 to plant (flat land to 2:1 slopes). An adequate level of precipitation will be necessary to ensure successful establishment of this species no matter what method of propagation is selected and direct seeding gives greater opportunity for success because of the demonstrated longevity of the seed to germinate 3–5 years after the initial seeding.

English

Surface mined lands in the Appalachian coal producing region reclaimed after the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) have been found to have dense ground covers, compacted soil materials, and unfavorable soil chemical properties. To address these concerns three study sites, which had been reclaimed post-SMCRA, were located in Lawrence County, Ohio, Nicholas County, West Virginia, and Wise County, Virginia. At each site, three species assemblages were planted across a gradient of three levels of silvicultural intensity intended to alleviate the previously mentioned problems associated with post-SMCRA mined land. Response to treatment was variable by site with the site in Virginia having the best survival and greatest growth of the three sites. Hardwood species survived better at all sites than white pine or hybrid poplar. Hardwood survival across treatments was 80 and 85% for sites in Virginia and West Virginia respectively, while only 50% in Ohio. Hybrid poplar height and diameter growth were superior to other species with the height growth of this species reaching 126.6cm in the most intensive treatment at the site in Virginia. Hybrid poplar biomass increased from 15.7g to 104.5g from the least intensive to the most intensive silvicultural treatment for the site in Nicholas County, West Virginia. Hybrid poplar's excellent response to silvicultural treatment and adequate survival, especially at the site in Virginia, may give this species an advantage over the others tested in this experiment for reverting post-SMCRA reclaimed mined lands supporting grasses back to forests.