Big Sky coal mine - a mine-site study of benefits and costs of reclaiming surface-mined land in the west. Part III

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:6892316

Julian, E L

The benefit-cost ratio of western coal reclamation is examined. Rising prices of imported crude oil have spurred significant expansion of western coal production to increase domestic sources of energy. This in turn has raised concerns about environmental impacts with resultant state laws requiring reclamation of mined land. Standard benefit-cost analysis studies provide insight into the absolute and relative size of benefits and costs of reclaiming surface mined western coal land using a case study of the Big Sky Mine in southeast Montana. This report presents the project's rationale, problems, and objectives. Several analyses of benefits and costs of reclamation are reviewed. The environment at Big Sky Mine is described and the laws and regulations affecting the mine are cited. Procedures and costs of reclamation at the mine are discussed, and the valuation methodologies of outdoor recreation and recreational benefits are examined and estimated. Benefits and costs are compared with respect to both priority and social benefits. The summary, conclusion, and implications of the research are presented.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA). Dept. of Mineral Economics
• OSTI ID: 6892316
• Report Number(s): PB-80-176605
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COAL MINES
COAL MINING
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
LAND RECLAMATION
MINES
MINING
MONTANA
NORTH AMERICA
REGULATIONS
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
SURFACE MINING
USA