Abandoned Mine Land
The Division's Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Program implements Title IV of the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). It is the intent of the AML program to reclaim and restore land and water resources and to protect the public from the adverse effects of pre-law (August 3, 1977) mining practices. This program is fully funded by the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) through a production tax levied on active coal mining operations in Texas.
Reclamation of abandoned surface mines usually consists of the following: earthwork (highwall reduction and spoil recontouring) burial or treatment of unsuitable spoil (usually acidic or naturally occurring radioactive spoil) and installation of erosion and water control structures and revegetation. Dangerous abandoned underground mine openings are usually closed by one of the following methods: backfilling, capping (concrete or metal grating) or metal gating.
As of February 2018, the Texas Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program has reclaimed 2,768 acres of abandoned surface mines and closed 426 dangerous abandoned underground mine openings at a construction cost of approximately $47M.
