Application of a watershed computer model to assess reclaimed landform stability in support of reclamation liability release

Conference · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995

OSTI ID:98680

Peterson, M R; Zevenbergen, L W ^[1]; Cochran, J ^[2]

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1. Peabody Western Coal Company, Flagstaff, AZ (United States)
2. RCE/Ayres Associates, Fort Collins, CO (United States)

The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) instituted specific requirements for surface coal mine reclamation that included reclamation bonding and tied release of liability to achieving acceptable reclamation standards. Generally, such reclamation standards include successfully revegetating the site, achieving the approved postmine land use and minimizing disturbances to the prevailing hydrologic balance. For western surface coal mines the period of liability continues for a minimum of 10 years commencing with the last year of augmented seeding, fertilizing, irrigation or other work. This paper describes the methods and procedures conducted to evaluate the runoff and sediment yield response from approximately 2,700 acres of reclaimed lands at Peabody Western Coal Company`s (PWCC) Black Mesa Mine located near Kayenta, Arizona. These analyses were conducted in support of an application for liability release submitted to the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) for reclaimed interim land parcels within the 2,700 acres evaluated.

• OSTI ID: 98680
• Report Number(s): CONF-9506226--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COAL MINING
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
HYDROLOGY
LAND RECLAMATION
LIABILITIES
RAIN
REVEGETATION
RUNOFF
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE MINING
WATERSHEDS