Regional priorities for abandoned mine reclamation in the Blacklick Creek Watershed, Pennsylvania

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · J. Environ. Manage.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5723371

Ferguson, B K

The US Bureau of Mines developed a novel framework for setting the priorities for abandoned mine reclamation in the 420 square mile Blacklick Creek Watershed in Pennsylvania. Planning for abandoned mine reclamation is fundamentally different from other types of regional planning, in that it directs reclamation to places where degradation is worst and conflicts greatest, rather than laying out land uses in harmony with favorable land suitability. The framework sought to establish reclamation priorities by comparing the supply of sites to be reclaimed (the degrees of old mines' land and water degradation) with the demand for reclamation to be done (the human values represented by the region's demography, land use and other non-mining characteristics). The locations, priorities, and phasing of land and water reclamation objectives shown on the maps should guide any reclamation effort, no matter what reclamation technology is applied to achieve the objectives. Over the years in which reclamation projects are to be performed in the watershed, the plan can define and coordinate the projects in a manner that can result in large reclamation benefits from the application of limited available funds. Developing technologies for recovering some of the costs of reclamation could improve the likelihood of implementation. 9 references, 3 figures, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Georgia, Athens
• OSTI ID: 5723371
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Manage.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Manage.; (United States) Vol. 19:3; ISSN JEVMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
510600 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Regulations-- (-1989)
520600 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Regulations -- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABANDONED SITES
COAL MINES
COOPERATION
DEMOGRAPHY
LAND RECLAMATION
LAND USE
MINES
PLANNING
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
PUBLIC POLICY
REGIONAL COOPERATION
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT
WATERSHEDS