02721naa a2200145 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000170006024500620007726000090013952023210014865000260246965300200249577300600251512794242024-12-12       1975    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d1 aPALSS, W. T.  aReclamation of surface-mined land.h[electronic resource]  c1975  aTechnology relating to the revegetation of lands disturbed by surface-mining is well advanced in the midwestern and Appalachian coal fields. Past accom- plishments demonstrate that the dis- turbances resulting from surface-mining have a potential for management and development. The challenge for the fu- ture will be to develop this potential and to maximize the productivity of reclaimed land. Basic to this concept is the de- velopment of practical methods for pre- mining and post-mining evaluation. Chemical and physical characteristics of the overburden need to be characterized to plan an efficient and profitable mining operation that complements a reclama- tion program designed to achieve an ap- propriate land-management objective. This will return an increasingly larger percentage of the land disturbed by sur- face-mining for coal to economic use. New technology for the reclamation and revegetation of lands disturbed by surface-mining for coal is developing at a rapid rate. This trend will continue as funds for environmental research increase and as more emphasis is placed on en- vironmental protection and land-use plan- ning. The expanding research program has encouraged participation by scientists trained in many disciplines that are directly or indirectly related to surface- mining and reclamation. Although ap- plied research will continue to dominate the research effort, basic research should receive greater emphasis. The abuses of the past should serve as reminders of what may occur when exist- ing knowledge about environmental pro- tection and reclamation is ignored. These past practices are not representative of the mining and reclamation methods in use today. A discussion of present-day reclamation practices is as difficult as giving a resume of agricultural technol- ogy. We can, however, review the basic concepts and procedures that apply to reclamation methods used in the United States. This information, reviewed in context with past practices and the cur- rent research emphasis, suggest the direc- tion future reclamation practices may take. The disturbances resulting from surface-mining for coal may be considered an asset in future land-use planning. Land-management methods can and should be developed to fully utilize the productive capacity of the disturbed land  aRecuperação do Solo  aÁrea degradada  tOhio Journal of Sciencegv. 75, n. 6, p. 298-309, 1975.