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• Contour" of the National Academy of Sciences. That group <br />issued a report subtitled: "Highwall Elimination and Return <br />to Approximate Original Contour as Required in the Surface <br />Mining Control and P,eclamation Act of 1977." (1984). At <br />page 74 is the statement: "To some extent, certain terms <br />of the Act could be interpreted more inclusively than they <br />often are under current practices. For example, the term <br />'approximate original contour' could reasonably be inter- <br />preted to mean a range of land forms...." <br />Congress strained to express itself in the concept of <br />AOC but its own members as well as courts, agencies and <br />scholars have been confounded and confused in attempts to <br />apply this highly ambiguous phrase to functional reality. <br />• The definition of AOC found in the Act at Sec. 701(2) <br /> uses phrases: "... means that surface configuration <br />achieved by ... so that the reclaimed area ... closely <br />resembles the general surface configuration of the land <br />prior to mining ...." (Emphasis added). The words "closely" <br />"resembles," "general," "configuration" are not nearly <br />descriptive of situations amenable to measurements. This <br />is yet another reflection that the AOC concept is not <br />susceptible of firm expression and therefore must be <br />approached in the bm adest of terms and application. <br />The one central there that is a constant in the <br />history of AOC is the concern for postminina land use. <br />That is the performance standard constantly sought. <br /> <br />-7- <br />