Laserfiche WebLink
1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />INTRODUCTION <br />During the last decade, emphasis on developing domestic energy sources has <br />focused attention on the vast deposits of low- sulfur coal found in the Northern <br />Great Plains (NGP). Much of this coal occurs in thick beds lying near the sur- <br />face and is extracted using surface mining techniques. Concurrent with acceler- <br />ated development of these coal resources is concern for the environment. Approx- <br />imately 1,100 acres in the NGP were affected by mining in 1981, and restoration <br />of these lands to an acceptable post- mining land use is the goal of'reclamation <br />efforts. However, one is often hampered in such efforts because of a lack of <br />knowledge concerning the post- mining ecosystem created during reclamation. <br />One of the most important and costly aspects of reclamation is the salvaging <br />and eventual return of soil to recontoured spoilt surfaces. The estimated cost <br />to salvage and return one acre -foot of soil was $3,000 in 1981. From an ecologi- <br />cal, economic, and energy use standpoint, it behooves us to know how much soil is <br />necessary to meet post- mining land -use requirements. <br />In 1976, the U.S. Bureau of Mines began funding a study to investigate soil - <br />depth requirements to reclaim surface mine areas in the NGP. The objectives of <br />this research effort can be summarized as follows: <br />Existing reclamation practices (Objective 1) constituted Phase I of this <br />research effort; field work was completed in 1976, and a report and manuscript <br />were completed in 1977. The Phase II portion of the study encompassing Objec- <br />tives 2 and 3 is the subject of this report. Phase II Research was initiated in <br />1977, and field work under this contract was completed in 1981. <br />i <br />2 <br />3 <br />COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES RESEARCH INSTITUTE <br />1. To determine existing reclamation practices and to measure reclama- <br />tion success for surface coal mines in the NGP. <br />1 <br />2. To determine the optimum soil -depth requirement for grass produc- <br />tion following surface mining in the NGP. <br />3. To determine plant uptake of nutrients and trace elements in <br />reclamation situations. <br />As used in this report, soil is defined as that portion of the A, B, and C soil <br />horizons which has chemical and physical properties conducive to plant estab- <br />lishment and growth and which is suitable for reclamation use according to <br />state regulations. <br />As used in this report, spoil is a geologic material extending from the base of <br />the salvaged soil to the coal seam (also called overburden) and /or that geo- <br />logic material existing between two coal seams (also called interburden) that <br />is a waste product during surface mining. <br />Barth, R.C. 1977. Reclamation practices in the Northern Great Plains coal <br />province. Mining Congress Journal, May. p. 60 -64. Barth, R.C., T.E. <br />Louderback, and S.R. Olsen. 1977. Topsoil depth requirements for surfaced <br />mined areas. Colorado School of Mines Research Institute. Golden. 129 p. <br />