Mine reclamation is the process of changing land that has been mined so it can be helpful for nature or useful for people. Even though this process happens after mining is finished, planning for reclamation may begin before a mine is approved or started. Mine reclamation creates landscapes that can help restore natural areas or provide resources for industry and communities. In the United States, mine reclamation is a common part of modern mining practices. This process helps reduce harm to the environment caused by mining.

Many old mine sites were not reclaimed. Most mines from the past did not follow strict rules. Mine reclamation as a practice began in the early 1900s. In some cases, it is not possible to return the land to its original condition. Usually, the best that can be done is to make sure mine waste is stable and does not cause harm.

Reclamation processes

After surface coal mining is complete, the land must be restored. Mine operators are required to reshape the land to closely match its original shape or prepare it for a different, approved use, such as a park, farm, or building area. Exceptions may be made if a community or landowner needs flat or gently sloped land. Possible approved uses include areas for businesses, homes, recreation, farming, or public buildings.

In open-pit mines, rock is used to fill the mined area. A layer of soil saved before mining is placed over the rock. Then, a layer of topsoil is added on top. Finally, plants are reintroduced, and the land is allowed to develop into a healthy ecosystem over time.

Reforestation is a common method for restoring mined land. In some cases, forests may naturally grow back, but most often, planned restoration methods are used. Over the past ten years, a new method called the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) has been encouraged by state agencies and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) to help restore mined land for forests. This method was developed through research by the Powell River Project, which studies coal mining and land restoration in Appalachia.

The FRA provides steps to help forests grow successfully on mined land. These steps are:

• Prepare a deep layer of soil (at least four feet) using topsoil, weathered sandstone, or the best available material to help trees grow.
• Loosely shape the soil layer to ensure it is not packed tightly, allowing roots to grow easily.
• Plant groundcover plants that work well with tree growth.
• Plant two types of trees: fast-growing trees that help stabilize the soil and support wildlife, followed by trees that can be used for timber or other purposes.
• Use proper techniques when planting trees to ensure they grow healthily.

United States

Before 1977, there were no national laws in the United States that controlled how coal was mined on the surface. While some states with coal mining activity had created their own rules, these rules were different in each state, and enforcement was not always consistent. After World War II, many states passed stricter rules, but they often did not have enough money to properly enforce them. Rules for restoring land after mining were generally less strict than they are today. For example, in 1965, Colorado started a program where mine operators were expected to restore mined land on their own without government help.

The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) is the main federal law that controls how coal mining affects the environment in the United States. This law created rules for permits for existing and new coal mines and established a fund to pay for restoring land from old, abandoned mines. SMCRA helps protect the environment from the effects of surface coal mining while also allowing the country to use coal as a necessary energy source. It ensures that coal mining is done in a way that protects the environment and that land is restored properly during and after mining. Most states now have the main responsibility for regulating surface coal mining within their borders, while the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) oversees these efforts.

Under SMCRA, before receiving a mining permit, companies must submit a detailed plan for restoring land after mining is finished. This plan must include information such as how the land was used before mining started, how the land will be used after restoration, a timeline for the restoration process, and steps to follow environmental laws about air and water quality. In addition to submitting this plan, companies must also provide a performance bond. This bond guarantees that money will be available to complete land restoration if the company goes out of business or cannot finish the work. The bond amount must match the cost of the restoration plan. The bond is only returned to the company after a state or federal agency confirms that the land has been successfully restored, which may take more than 10 years after the work is completed.

Money to restore old, abandoned mines comes from a tax on coal production. Companies must pay $0.12 per ton for coal mined underground and $0.28 per ton for coal mined on the surface. The money collected from this tax goes into the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, which was created by SMCRA. A portion of the fund is given to states with approved restoration programs for their projects, while the rest is used by the federal government through OSMRE to restore abandoned mines in states without active programs. As of December 15, 2011, OSMRE had spent more than $7.2 billion to restore over 295,000 acres of hazardous, high-priority abandoned mine sites and other abandoned mine lands since 1977.

Germany

In 2015, the Research Institute of Post-Mining (FZN) was created at the Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA) in Bochum, Germany. This was done because coal mining in Germany ended in 2018. The FZN is the first institute of its kind in the world. It looks at all parts of the effects of mining and combines knowledge to help plan the time after mining ends. This includes technical, economic, and environmental issues. Experts in mining, geology, geotechnical engineering, hydrogeology, electrical and information technology, and mining surveying work together across different fields in areas like the Ruhr, the Saar, and Ibbenbüren.

The FZN creates monitoring processes both at the surface and underground. It also develops scientific ideas for managing water in old mining areas in a way that lasts for the future. The institute works closely with mining companies, old companies, government agencies, water boards, regional authorities, industrial firms, and universities. It also runs a project to collect and store knowledge about mining and post-mining in a database.

Every two years, the FZN, along with the Arnsberg local council, holds a conference called “NACHBergbauzeit in NRW” (POST-mining era in NRW).

At the THGA, the FZN currently offers the only Master's degree program in the world focused on Geotechnical Engineering and Post-Mining. The program combines science and engineering and covers topics like rock mechanics, economic geology, hydrology, surveying, and legal issues.