Spoil handling and reclamation costs at a contour surface mine in steep slope Appalachian topography

Conference · Mon Dec 09 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5394436

Zipper, C E; Hall, A T; Daniels, W L

Accurate overburden handling cost estimation methods are essential to effective pre-mining planning for post-mining landforms and land uses. With the aim of developing such methods, the authors have been monitoring costs at a contour surface mine in Wise County, Virginia since January 1, 1984. Early in the monitoring period, the land was being returned to its Approximate Original Contour (AOC) in a manner common to the Appalachian region since implementation of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). More recently, mining has been conducted under an experimental variance from the AOC provisions of SMCRA which allowed a near-level bench to be constructed across the upper surface of two mined points and an intervening filled hollow. All mining operations are being recorded by location. The cost of spoil movement is calculated for each block of coal mined between January 1, 1984, and August 1, 1985. Per cubic yard spoil handling and reclamation costs are compared by mining block. The average cost of spoil handling was $1.90 per bank cubic yard; however, these costs varied widely between blocks. The reasons for those variations included the landscape positions of the mining blocks and spoil handling practices. The average reclamation cost was $0.08 per bank cubic yard of spoil placed in the near level bench on the mined point to $0.20 for spoil placed in the hollow fill. 2 references, 4 figures.

• Research Organization: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ., Blacksburg
• OSTI ID: 5394436
• Report Number(s): CONF-851213-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
510500* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
APPALACHIA
COAL MINING
COST
COST ESTIMATION
DESIGN
FEDERAL REGION III
LAND RECLAMATION
LAND USE
LAWS
MATERIALS HANDLING
MINING
MINING LAWS
NORTH AMERICA
OPTIMIZATION
OVERBURDEN
SLOPE STABILITY
STABILITY
SURFACE MINING
SURFACE MINING ACTS
TOPOGRAPHY
USA
VIRGINIA