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The Oklahoma Partnership Approach to Reclamation of Abandoned
Mine Land
The Oklahoma Partnership agreement was the first such "formal
effort" in the nation to share personnel resources to accomplish abandoned
mine land reclamation. Because of the success of the project, the Partnership
was awarded the 1999 Office of Surface Mining Regional Abandoned Mine Land
Reclamation Award. This joint effort demonstrated how effectively reclamation
can occur in a timely manner through cooperation and sharing of personnel
resources between USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and State
Abandoned Mine Land Programs. Several states have seen the advantages of this
effort and have implemented similar partnerships.
The reclamation projects included designs being prepared by one agency,
construction contracted by another agency, and construction inspection and
technical support being provided by locally available technical personnel
regardless of agency affiliation. This joint project involved reclamation of 36
acres of abandoned mine land on five separate properties in Rogers County,
Oklahoma.
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The Izett/Izett site was on the east side of a heavily traveled, paved county
road. A highwall. paralleled the road with a water-filled pit below and was
hazardous to vehicles as well as local residents. Approximately 600 feet of
highwall was eliminated and approximately 8 acres were reclaimed. The following
photograph is a close-up view of a portion of the highwall above the
water-filled pit prior to reclamation.
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The Izett/Payne site was immediately west with a highwall and water-filled
pit on the edge of the same heavily traveled road as the Izett/Izett site.
Reclamation activities on this site covered approximately 5 acres. Vegetation
was planted on the Izett and Payne sites immediately after the final tillage
operation and a good cover of tall fescue was obtained even before final
inspection. This view is looking southwest after reclamation toward a large pond
now used for fishing.
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The Izett/McCollough and Izett/Dowty sites were located in opposite sides of
a very steep, graveled county road that is the sole access to several rural
residences. In this photo, a school bus is coming down the very steep road
between these sites.
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The McCollough part had a water-filled pit with a 40-foot highwall adjacent
to the south side of the road. The Dowty part had a deep pit with a 40-foot
highwall adjacent to the north side of the road. Reclamation of these sites
moved the hazard approximately 100 feet each way from the road. Approximately
2.5 acres were reclaimed at these sites. Reclamation has been completed and the
site sprigged to bermudagrass. The vehicle in this photograph is in the
approximate location as the school bus in the previous picture.
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The Hendrix project straddled a tributary to Little Dog Creek which
eventually drains into Lake Claremore, the primary water supply to the Claremore
area. The Hendrix site was the last site in the watershed identified as
producing acid mine drainage. The other two sites had been reclaimed some years
earlier. This photograph shows the drainage prior to reclamation.
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The Hendrix site was mined prior to present day reclamation standards. After
the mining, approximately 2,000 feet of highwall with water-filled pits below
were left. The spoils were covered with topsoil and vegetation; however, severe
erosion occurred resulting in bare spoil piles that produced acid mine drainage.
The bare spoils were treated with lime and revegetated on the south side of the
creek. On the north side, the water-filled pit was treated with hydrated lime to
neutralize the water. Shown here is the pit being treated with a hydro-seeder.
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Upon neutralization, the water was discharged. After the pit was dewatered,
it was filled with the spoils. As soon as the lime treatment and tillage were
completed, vegetation was planted and the site was fenced. Livestock will be
introduced when vegetative cover is adequate for grazing. Nearly 30 acres were
reclaimed at the Hendrix project.
The Partnership demonstrated that a very aggressive time schedule could be
met by combining projects that were planned and designed by two agencies into
one procedure. Total cost of the reclamation was well below the original
estimate and was completed ahead of schedule. The positive impacts were less
administrative overhead, reduced construction costs, less technical support
costs, and timely construction. Three hazardous highwalls and a source of acid
mine drainage into the municipal water supply were eliminated.
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