approximate original appearance by grading available topsoil and then planting grasses and ground covers. After projects are completed, hardwood tree seedlings are planted in the springtime on the reclaimed sites.

In March 2009, AML started one of its larger enhancement rule projects, the River Queen Slurry AML Enhancement Rule Reclamation Project at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center, a military installation in Muhlenberg County. According to State Command Sergeant Major Gregory D. Armstrong, AML and the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs have worked to

gether to help identify, cleanup and reclaim coal refuse on the military reservation since the early 1980s.

“The Wendell Ford Training Center will now be capable of supporting two army battalions simultaneously with state-of-the-art facilities utilizing more than 11,500 acres of post-mined land,” CMS Armstrong said.

AML enhancement rule projects are distinguished as winning environmental projects on many fronts—the removal of potential fire hazards and sources of water pollution; offending physical problems, often eye-sores to local communities throughout the Commonwealth, are eliminated; project areas are made suitable for outdoor activities and/or productive use; trees are planted on sites providing numerous land, air and water quality improvements and recycled coal refuse provides a source of valuable energy that does not require mining in-ground coal. Further, since reclamation costs are borne by contractors reprocessing refuse, government money is saved and may be redirected toward reclamation of additional AML problems.

sources of water pollution; offending physical problems, often eye-sores to local communities throughout the Commonwealth, are eliminated; project areas are made suitable for outdoor activities and/or productive use; trees are planted on sites providing numerous land, air and water quality improvements and recycled coal refuse provides a source of valuable energy that does not require mining in-ground coal. Further, since reclamation costs are borne by contractors reprocessing refuse, government money is saved and may be redirected toward reclamation of additional AML problems.

A special program designed to supplement the Kentucky Division of Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) existing restoration projects is having a positive impact on communities throughout Kentucky.

TOP: Octavia Church prior to reclamation showing the toe of the refuse pile. Note steepness of the pile on right side of photo.

AML enhancement rule projects are a special type of reclamation project focused on reclaiming abandoned mine lands that, otherwise, have little likelihood of being reclaimed. These projects allow AML contractors to remove coal from abandoned mine sites and to sell reprocessed coal in order to offset costs of projects. Usually, coal refuse is dry-excavated and mixed with water into slurry, or dredged out wet and hauled to coal processing facilities for recovery. Abandoned mine sites are then restored to their approximate original appearance by grading available topsoil and then planting grasses and ground covers. After projects are completed, hardwood tree seedlings are planted in the springtime on the reclaimed sites.

ABOVE LEFT: Existing coal waste dump during excavation and removal of waste material.

“Projects such as these are another example of the Department for Natural Resource’s commitment to solving environmental and energy problems plaguing our Commonwealth by creatively partnering

ABOVE RIGHT: Octavia Church following removal of coal waste and revegetation. Photos provided by AML

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