Coal Program

Surface Mining and Reclamation Division

Wayne VanBuren, P.G. - (479) 968-7339

In 1977 the Congress of the United States passed Public Law 95-87 (PL 95-87), the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). This law established performance standards for coal mining operations for the express purpose of protecting society and the environment from the adverse effects of surface coal mining operations.

Under the conditions of PL 95-87 states in which surface coal mining operations were located had eighteen months from the date of enactment in which to submit a state program covering surface coal mining and reclamation operations or to comply with a program administered by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) of the Department of the Interior. In 1979 the 72nd General Assembly of the State of Arkansas passed the Arkansas Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act of 1979 (Act 134 of 1979, as amended by Act 647 of 1979). This Act authorized the state to develop, adopt, issue and amend rules and regulations pertaining to surface coal mining and reclamation operations. These regulations must be consistent with but no more restrictive than the regulations issued by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to PL 95-87.

On July 25, 1980 the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission adopted Regulation 20, the Arkansas Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Code (ASCMRC).

Active Coal Mining Sites

Active coal mining sites are inspected on a monthly basis. These inspections are conducted by personnel from the Russellville Field Office. Notices of Violation and Cessation Orders may be issued by the inspectors at the site when infractions of the ASCMRC are noted.

Abandoned Mine Lands (AML)

Pursuant to Title IV of PL 95-87, SMRD handles the reclamation of abandoned coal mines that existed prior to the passage of PL 95-87. A trust fund was created by PL 95-87 that is contributed to by a fee assessed on every ton of coal mined in the country. OSMRE provides a portion of this money to the states for the design and contracting of the reclamation of these pre-law abandoned coal mine sites. SMRD currently uses state of the art surveying and computer aided design systems to perform all of the functions necessary to produce reclamation plans for the AML sites in Arkansas. SMRD then contracts through the State Building Services to have the projects completed.