Mineral Information Institute - Reclamation Successes

National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association Environmental Eagle Award

Operated by Vulcan Materials Company, the Casey Quarry in Illinois was awarded the National Stone Sand and Gravel Association’s 2004 Silver Environmental Eagle Award. The Environmental Eagle Award was created in 1992 to provide national recognition for aggregate-producing companies actively contributing to the maintenance of the environment in and around their operations, as evidenced by a corporate commitment to the full use of environmental controls and systems.

Surrounded by a large farming community, the Casey Quarry sits in what was once natural prairie land that was lost when the area was transformed for agriculture. Vulcan restored a sizeable portion of the land to its natural state through a process it calls “concurrent mining.” The method allows the company to conduct multiple activities simultaneously, such as using stripping and mining activities to create wildlife habitats in inactive areas.

At the Casey Quarry, Vulcan built a lake and surrounding prairie land totaling almost 40 acres adjacent to a naturally occurring wildlife corridor, which provides food, shelter and nesting areas for a variety of birds, fish, deer, fox and other small creatures. Since 1983, the lake has been stocked with indigenous fish species and the reclaimed area has been returned to a self-sustaining, natural habitat.

Fox typical of those found on the reclaimed site

In addition to reclamation efforts, Vulcan regularly engages in a variety of civic and environmental initiatives, such as dedicating 8,708 acres to participate in the Wildlife Habitat Council, which fosters environmental stewardship to increase the amount of quality wildlife habitat.

The site was also awarded the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Mines & Minerals, Mined Land Reclamation Award for 2002 in the non-coal category.

Vulcan Materials has reclaimed this site in a manner that incorporated existing features to develop an exceptional wildlife area. Grading involved developing varied topographic features which promoted vegetative diversity and subsequent wildlife immigration. This site is now home to prairie grasses, native hardwoods, wetland species and a lake with abundant wildlife.

The reclaimed area consists of prairie uplands, wooded lowlands, a lake and transitional areas between these features. Reclamation methodology involved the direct replacement of stripped overburden where possible. As an area was depleted of the limestone resource, overburden above the next mining area was deposited in "spent" areas, thereby quickly reclaiming the mining field and minimizing handling costs. This site is graded to fit into the surrounding landscape, providing varied cover, food sources, and water needed for wildlife.

RECLAMATION SUCCESS

Casey Quarry