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Before mining there were 88 acres of abandoned mine lands
with 8,000 feet of highwalls and accompanying spoil piles and mine pits.
Today, there is no visible difference between this reclaimed land and that
of the virgin mine areas.
55,000 tons of coal combustion ash was used as a soil
amendment resulting in vigorous vegetation in one growing season. When
mining began, this site had significantly acidic water discharges from the
abandoned mines. As mining progressed through areas where these discharges
originated, the flows improved in quality, and then dried up. This
exemplifies mining and reclamation as envisioned by the architects of the
Surface Mining Law.
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The
Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation & Enforcement presented the 25th
Anniversary National Excellence in Surface Coal Mine Reclamation
Award to RFI Energy, Inc.’s Mine No. 208 for its reclamation and
revegetation program. The coal mine is located in Perry Township,
Pennsylvania. The OSM awards program began in 1986 to publicly recognize
outstanding active coal mine reclamation and to highlight and show
recognition for exemplary reclamation techniques.