Effects of reclamation on land values in Staunton, Illinois

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6570758

Clapper, W. W.; Wilkey, M. L.

Beginning in 1904, a coal preparation plant was operated in conjunction with an underground mine at Staunton, Illinois. Following mine closure (1923), the 13.8 ha (34 ac) site became a public nuisance. Environmental degradation was significant both on the site and in surrounding areas. The steep and deeply eroded slopes of the refuse pile were completely bare of vegetation, and runoff was highly acidic with pH values of 3.6. Nearby streams and the local ground-water system were contaminated. The abandoned site had neither specific land use nor potential economic value. Coupled with the poor aesthetic and environmental condition of the site, this tends to depress the value of adjacent properties. During 1975, a project to reclaim the abandoned mine site was initiated. This paper will examine the land values of the abandoned mine site, the surrounding properties, and lands within the township and county prior to 1975. These values will then be compared with those of the same areas one year after completion of site development work. The property values for the surrounding areas will then be compared with land values near another local abandoned coal refuse pile to determine the economic effects of the reclamation work.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6570758
• Report Number(s): ANL/LRP-CP--1; CONF-7805143--1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
012000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABANDONED SITES
CARBONATE ROCKS
COAL MINING
COAL PREPARATION PLANTS
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
ECONOMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EROSION
FERTILIZERS
GREAT LAKES REGION
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ILLINOIS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LAND RECLAMATION
LIMESTONE
MASS TRANSFER
MINERAL WASTES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
POLLUTION
PROPERTY VALUES
RESERVOIR ROCK
REVEGETATION
ROCKS
RUNOFF
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SOLID WASTES
SPOIL BANKS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
UNDERGROUND MINING
USA
WASTES
WATER
WATER POLLUTION