May 10 2010
Regrets? Maybe just Reclamation?
Ok, so it is the night before. As a teacher, am I anxious? Naw, I think we’ve really done a great job with covering the AP syllabus. If I had to think of one topic we just did not get to spend much time on, it might be reclamation. This is a Chapter 12 topic, so we never had a test on it (I asked you to read that chapter-did you?). Anyone remember this term?
Definition: The process by which lands disturbed as a result of mining activity are reclaimed back to a beneficial land use. Reclamation activity includes the removal of buildings, equipment, machinery and other physical remnants of mining, closure of tailing impoundments, leach pads and other mine features, and contouring, covering and revegetation of waste rock piles and other disturbed areas. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 requires mining companies to restore most surface-mined land so it can be used for the same purpose before it was mined.
*Since your text (Chapter 12) has very little to say about reclamation, maybe investigate these resources and make notes on reclamation methods:
1. Bureau of Land Management-Cartoon Explanations of Reclamation
*read the entire page top to bottom–good source for notes
2. Mineral Information Institute–Mine Reclamation
*investigate at least three reclamation projects and the link for “Erosion and Sediment Control (read it all)”
3. United States Dept. of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining
*only if you are bored and want to know more…
Good luck!
W
