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The Drummond Company,
Inc., operated the Arkadelphia Mine from 1970 until reserves were depleted
in 1995. Some of the best
coal produced in Alabama came from those reserves for 25 years, and some
of the best reclamation in the State of Alabama, and the nation, followed. The high quality of the coal was due to its low sulfur, low
ash, and high BTU content. It
was used primarily in stokers, industrial boilers, and steel-making
furnaces. The company
believes that mining and reclamation operations must be performed in the
most contemporaneous manner practical to minimize environmental impacts on
any property adjacent to the coal mining facilities.
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In the photo, note the
mining operation on the upper right, and vegetation growing on reclaimed
land on the upper left. The
typical mining/reclamation process is: topsoil is removed by scrapers
– followed immediately by drilling operations for blasting of
overburden – followed immediately by overburden removal – followed
immediately by coal extraction – followed immediately by grading of
spoil ridges and direct replacement of topsoil by the scrapers.
Revegetation then follows.
A variety of erosion
control and sediment storage structures were utilized before, during and
after mining operations to reduce soil loss and minimize sediment pond
maintenance and environmental impacts.
Sediment basins were constructed prior to any disturbance to
receive all drainage from the increment.
Small depressions were created throughout the increment during
grading to trap sediment, renew the groundwater system, and provide
water for wildlife. Rock
dams and drains were constructed in drainage ways to trap sediment and
reduce runoff velocities.
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| The company recognized
that a variety of grasses and legumes would provide the best success for
both immediate erosion control and long-term vegetative growth on
reclaimed mine land. Because
serala sericea lespedeza is a legume known for having a deep root
system and considerable longevity, Drummond began developing seed
production sites for sericea
lespedeza to reduce dependence on outside seed sources and assure
the availability of a quality seed source. |
| Seed is transported to
a processing plant where debris is removed and the seed bagged for the
next planting season. Genetically
improved pine tree seedlings were established on the reclaimed highwall.
Emergence from the vegetative cover crop and early growth has
been excellent. It is
expected that the timber crop will be on a 25-year rotation and will be
managed for production of pulp wood, poles and pilings, and small saw
timber. |
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| The Arkadelphia Mine
won the Alabama Surface Mining Commission’s 1999 John J. Cardwell
Memorial Award for reclamation excellence.
The Mine exemplifies innovative, cost-effective mining and
reclamation techniques that have made it an outstanding example of an
environmentally-responsible corporate citizen. |
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