The outcome from applying geomorphic reclamation techniques coupled with natural stream design and ecological reclamation greatly improve our chance of more than just restoring the mining-disturbed land but to elevate that land to a sustainable ecosystem.

1. “Sustainable Mining and
Reclamation:
Is this possible?”
Lois Uranowski P.E.
2014 Pennsylvania Abandoned
Mined Reclamation Conference,
June 26-27, 2014

2. Purpose of Today’s Talk
• Basic premise- Ecosystem Reclamation
Approach
• Benefits and costs
• Why do it?

3. Sustainable What?
Jim Burger’s article appeared
in the Fall 2012 ASMR
“Sustainable” based on
premise that resources
currently used without
compromising their availability
to future generations.*
* World Commission on Environment and
Development (Our Common Future,
Brundtland Commission, 1987

4. Sustainable What?
Mining Minerals and Sustainable Development
program = Breaking New Ground found:
“Triple bottom line” meaning a mine may be
economically, ecologically and socially
sustainable

5. Economically
feasible
Ecologically
viable
Socially desirable
Provide profit & benefit
Use resource efficiently
Internalize
environmental & social
cost
Restore ecosystems
& services it provides
Engage neighbors
Respect property, culture,
& safety
Follow spirit & letter of
law
Contribute to communities
Sustainable Solution
Active Mine Scenario
Adapted from Burger, ASMR Newsletter Fall 2012

6. Ecologically
viable
Socially desirable
Restore ecosystems
& services it provides
Engage neighbors
Respect property culture,
& safety
Follow spirit & letter of
law
Contribute to communities
Sustainable Solution
AML Reclamation Scenario
Cost of the
reclamation has to
be considered

7. Ecosystem Restoration Approach

8. Ecosystem Restoration
• Process of returning function and structure
from degraded to original condition
• Function- biomass/carbon accumulation,
hydrologic function, water quality, flood
control, etc.
• Structure- species diversity, habitat, water
quality, etc.

9. 1st prong:
Watershed Consideration

10. Watershed Approach
• Legacy or AML sites incorporate multiple
layers of data (Little Conemaugh) to build a
GIS basis for decisions
• Holistic design to better attain the reclamation
goals (IPADEP Bennett Creek restoration
projects)
• Long term planning, leveraging partnerships
• Multiple funding sources

11. Project designs consider:
• Spoil materials selected and placed to minimize
hydrologic contact (e.g. segregating and placing
weathered spoil material on top, isolate material
with high soluble salts that lead to high TSD in
waterways)
• Stream restored using stream channel design
(rills, riffles, habitat)
Natural Stream software
• Revegetation with native species using woody
debris and litter (seed pods)

12. 2nd Prong:
Geomorphic Reclamation

13. The outcome from applying geomorphic
reclamation techniques coupled with natural
stream design and ecological reclamation
greatly improve our chance of more than just
restoring the mining-disturbed land but to
elevate that land to a sustainable ecosystem.

14. Geomorphic landscape would
• Establish AOC
• Mimics stable, natural slopes
• Cost effective
• Attractive
• Resistance to surface erosion and mass
wasting
Faster ecology regeneration

15. Landforming Objectives
• Constructing artificial landforms that blend in
with the surrounding natural landscape.
• Constructing artificial landforms that are
naturally stable (i.e. stable landforms that
nature would form).
• Rephrasing bullet above: constructing
artificial landforms that are stable in the
long-term and maintenance free.

16. Tailings-disposal fill configurations: (a) “outward”-facing slope of valley fill once
constructed and graded and (b) adjacent natural slope, whose topographical
form would have made an ideal natural analog for the “outward” slope. (from
Schor and Gray, ©2007 John Wiley and Sons, Inc., reprinted with permission of
John Wiley and Sons, Inc.)
(a)(b)

17. North Dakota (McKinley) Mine
July 22, 2009

18. July 23, 2009

19. 3rd Prong
Forest Ecology Restoration

27. Forestry Reclamation Approach
• Provide at least 4 feet of material suitable
for tree roots
• Avoid compaction
• Limit ground cover
• Plant a variety of high quality hardwood
tree species
• Use proper tree planting techniques

28. June 2005. . .

29. July 2007

30. May 1, 2007
July 2007

31. • Since 2005, approximately 85 million trees have
been planted on 125,000 acres in Appalachia.
• However, an estimated 1 million acres of coal
mines in Appalachia have been reclaimed in a
manner not conducive to tree growth.

32. http://arri.osmre.gov/

33. Conclusion
• New reclamation approaches, practices, and
regulations must evolve to reverse the long-
standing cumulative impacts on aquatic,
terrestrial and human capital.
• Open mindedness to change is needed
• Adaptive management is the key.

34. Thank You
luranowski@osmre.gov
412 759 8469