Amendments to Standards for Revegetation Success on Reclaimed Coal Mine
Lands.
RULE NO. & TITLE: (Please click on the hyperlinks below to
view the proposed rule amendments)
2. Alabama Administrative Code 880-X-10D-.56: Revegetation: Standards for Success (Underground Coal Mining Operations)
INTENDED ACTION:
The Alabama Surface Mining Commission Amends the above-listed rules.
SUBSTANCE OF ACTION:
The rule amendment changes the standards for vegetation success for
reclaimed mine lands which will be planted with trees or shrubs. The previous rule required an herbaceous ground
cover of at least 80% on such areas for some post-mining land uses. Research and experience has shown that
herbaceous ground cover of this density inhibits the growth of shrubs and trees
and results in poor survival rates. The proposed rule changes this standard to
require that herbaceous ground cover be sufficient to control erosion without
setting a numeric standard.
Alabama Surface
Mining Commission
Randall C. Johnson,
Director
P. O. Box 2390
Jasper, Alabama
35502-2390
DATE OF APPROVAL BY THE US OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING
RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT:
February 19,
2013 Federal Register Notice : 78 FR 11577 (02/19/2013) (click to view)
Operative
Date of this Rule: March 21, 2013
CONTACT PERSON AT AGENCY: Randall C. Johnson, Director
RANDALL C. JOHNSON
Director
Copies of the proposed regulations are also available (either hard copy or on disc) at the Alabama Surface Mining Commission, 1811 Second Avenue, Second Floor, Pinnacle Bank Building, Jasper, Alabama.