Reclamation Has Many Pluses By GEORGE H. RYAN, Lieutenant Governor Chairman, Illinois Abandoned Mined Lands Reclamation Council

As chairman of the Abandoned Mined Lands Reclamation Council, I am pleased to have a role in an important program in Illinois: reclaiming the sites of once-active coal mining. These reclamation efforts afford economic benefits and recreational opportunities all throughout Illinois.

Certainly the Council's first priority is to eliminate the mining-related safety hazards and environmental problems, but there's another benefit as well. We are also finding that by undertaking reclamation projects on a cooperative basis, there are better reclamation results and enhanced post-reclamation land use — often at a reduced cost.

I use the term "cooperative basis" to mean an arrangement of working in tandem with state and local government agencies or private organizations — one which has enabled the Council to undertake several innovative projects. At the Consolidated Coal Company #8 mine in rural Williamson County, for example, a large, acidic refuse pile was affecting adjacent land and a nearby drainage-way. The standard reclamation procedure would have been to bury the refuse on-site. In this case, however, the material was hauled to a local active mine which needed fill material for its operation. Through this cooperative effort, the Council was able to afford total elimination of pollutants from the site, thereby insuring the future integrity of the project.

A similar approach was taken at the nearby Peabody Coal Company Will Scarlet Mine. The Reclamation Council agreed to haul municipal sewage sludge from surrounding communities to provide organic matter and much-needed nutrients to the 500 acres of acidic, sterile spoil banks at the site. (Spoil consists of the soil and rock overburden which is excavated to expose the coal seam during a surface mine operation.) Peabody then used its own equipment and staff to incorporate the sludge into the acid mine spoils, thus helping beneficial plants to grow. Not only did this approach accelerate the reclamation process, it benefited the municipalities by helping dispose of the sludge.

In some cases, public parks have been developed on reclaimed mine sites — a big plus in a state like ours where recreational space is at a premium. These sites provide excellent locations for camping, picnic areas, hunting, fishing, boating and hiking. Less sensitive areas may be suitable for ball diamonds, soccer fields and tennis courts as well.

Consider, too, the Mount Olive and Staunton Coal Company #2 mine in northern Madison County. This 100-acre site recently became a recreational facility when the landowner, Mobil Mineral Resources, Inc., donated it to an area Boy Scout organization. For the most part, standard reclamation techniques were applied in this project. The Council did, however, excavate a small, poor quality pond to provide cover soil for the refuse. The newly constructed lake is much larger and can now support aquatic life.

The Council also recently undertook reclamation of a portion of the Midland Coal Company Mecco Mine in Knox County. Again, typical reclamation methods were used to eliminate environmental problems being produced by the mine. The 134-acre site is part of a much larger tract of land managed by the Illinois Department of Conservation (DOC) and is expected to serve as a major wildlife conservation area. Consequently, the reclamation design incorporated suggestions by DOC to help meet that objective.

Similarly, the Council has reclaimed a large mine site within the Banner Marsh area which is being developed by the DOC as a state fish and wildlife complex. The wetland habitat is expected to attract many wildlife species and will provide excellent opportunities for hunting, fishing and other recreational activities.

We at the Council welcome the opportunity to work with other state agencies and local communities to maximize the public benefit from reclaimed mines. By doing so, we can eliminate a chronic source of pollution to our land and water, while simultaneously restoring the land to productive use. Illinois is indeed able to enjoy many benefits from reclamation of its abandoned mines. •

Page 8 / Illinois Municipal Review / May 1989