Scope:
According to a compilation of individual states’ data, it has been estimated that over 8.4 billion acres of land nationwide have been disturbed by strip mining practices, including at least 1.2 million by mountaintop removal mining in Central Appalachia. This data is reported on a yearly basis to the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), which is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). Designed primarily to manage the environmental effects of coal mining through pre-mining regulations and post-mining reclamation programs, SMCRA also deals with “abandoned lands,” which the Bureau of Mines defines as past mining sites that have not been reclaimed. Title IV of this act established the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program, aimed at reclaiming these lands. The effectiveness of SMCRA has been subject to criticism from various environmental groups, who claim that state and federal agencies fail to adequately enforce the act. Abandoned mined land reclamation remains a contentious issue, with environmental, economic, and legal ramifications.
This pathfinder serves as an aid for the researcher looking to find more information on abandoned mined lands reclamation, particularly in Appalachia, as well as the legislation and agencies that govern it.
Introductory Text:
A brief recent introduction to the subject can be found in:
Medley, Landon, and Annetta Watson. “Mined Land Reclamation.” The Encyclopedia of Appalachia. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2006. P.p. 132-133. ASU APP COLL F106 .E53 2006
A more thorough, albeit slightly dated introduction can be found in:
Johnson, Wilton, and George C. Miller. Abandoned Coal-Mined Lands: Nature, Extent and Cost of Reclamation. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1979. ASU APP COLL TD 195.C58 J64 1979
Library of Congress Subject Headings:
Highly Relevant:
Abandoned mined lands reclamation
Abandoned Mine Lands Program (U.S.)
United States. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
United States. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Also Relevant:
Reclamation of land—Appalachian region
More General:
Abandoned coal mines
Abandoned coal mines—Environmental aspects
Abandoned coal mines—Government policy—United States
Related:
Strip mining
Strip mining—Appalachian region
Strip mining—Environmental aspects—United States
Strip mining—Environmental aspects—Appalachian Region
Strip mining—Environmental aspects—Appalachian Region, Southern
Mountaintop removal mining—Appalachian region
Mountaintop removal mining—Environmental aspects—Appalachian region
Mountaintop removal mining—Environmental aspects—Appalachian region, Southern
Coal mines and mining—Appalachian Region
Environmental degradation—Appalachian region
Library of Congress Call Numbers:
TD 195.C58
TD 272
TN 195.M5
TN 291
S 627.R47
Books:
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. Pub. L. 95-87. 91 Stat. 445-532. 3 Aug. 1977. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Congress. See: ASU APP COLL KF1806 1993
Guides, Encyclopedias, and Dictionaries:
Rowe, James E. Coal Surface Mining: Impacts of Reclamation. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1979. ASU APP COLL TD195.C58 C62
The Strip Mine Handbook. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Policy Institute, 1978. ASU APP COLL HD6247.M615
Bibliographies:
Caldwell, Nellie B. An Annotated Bibliography of the Surface-Mined Area Restoration Research Project. Berea, KY: Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, 1977. ASU APP COLL Z7911.C29
Reclamation of Coal-Mined Land: A Bibliography with Abstracts. Washington, D.C.: National Coal Association, 1975. ASU APP COLL Z6738.C6 R43
Abstracts and Indices:
JSTOR – http://0-www.jstor.org.wncln.wncln.org
Environment Complete – http://www.library.appstate.edu/find/databases/environment-complete
GreenFILE – http://www.library.appstate.edu/find/databases/greenfile
ScienceDirect – http://0-www.sciencedirect.com.wncln.wncln.org
Applied Science and Technology Full Text – http://www.library.appstate.edu/find/databases/applied-science-and-technology-full-text
Journals:
Appalachian Journal. Boone, NC: Appalachian State University, 1972-Present. ASU APP COLL F216.2 .A66
International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment (formerly International Journal of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 1994-2005). Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema, 2006-. Quarterly. WNCLN Online access.
Mountain Life & Work. Berea, KY: Berea College, 1925-1989. ASU APP COLL GR103 .M5
Newsletter. National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs. V. 1-, Spring 2004-, Semiannual. Available online from http://naamlp.net/publications.htm
Teutsch, Christopher D. Soil, Plant, and Animal Interactions on Reclaimed Mine-Land Pastures in Southeastern Kentucky. PhD dissertation, Lexington: University of Kentucky, 2000. ASU APP COLL MIC MicF 889
Websites:
Abandoned Mined Lands Portal. US Bureau of Land Management, et al. Available from http://www.abandonedmines.gov
The Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement. US Department of the Interior. Available from http://www.osmre.gov
National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs. Available from http://naamlp.net
I Love Mountains. Appalachian Voices. Available from http://www.ilovemountains.org
Audio and Video Sources:
The Ravaged Earth. Prod. Jon Boynton. Films Incorporated, 2007. Videocassette. ASU APP COLL VIDEO VC 558
Other Sources:
Teutsch, Christopher D. Soil, Plant, and Animal Interactions on Reclaimed Mine-Land Pastures in Southeastern Kentucky. PhD dissertation, Lexington: University of Kentucky, 2000. ASU APP COLL MIC MicF 889
Compiled by:
Rachel Simon,
December 6, 2012.
Subject: