A Dedication to West Virginia

By Kim Link, Arch Coal

The U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining (OSM) for reforestation efforts recently recognized Arch Coal’s Coal-Mac, Inc. for its reclamation work on the Phoenix #2 surface mine located in Logan County, West Virginia, near Omar. The presentation of the 2010 Excellence in Reforestation Award in West Virginia culminates nearly a decade-long reclamation effort by the company.

The presentation of the 2010 Excellence in Reforestation Award in West Virginia was made by Rick Buckley, Branch Chief, Field Support OSM Charleston Field Office with the OSM’s Charleston Field Office. “These reforestation efforts are being recognized under the Appalachian Region Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) that was started by OSM and its partners in 2004,” said Buckley.  “Since that time the coal mining industry has planted over 70 million trees on more than 100,000 acres in the Appalachian Region.  Otherwise, these areas may have been reclaimed as grasslands.  The re-establishment of these forests ensures the availability of nesting sites for countless birds; provides food and shelter for our native wildlife; and will provide wood products to meet our future needs.”

Finalists for the ARRI re-forestation award were chosen from nominees in the Appalachian Region that best exemplify use of the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) on a reclaimed mine site. FRA, as advocated by ARRI, recommends using the following steps to achieve success:

5 Steps of the FRA:

1. Create a suitable rooting medium for good tree growth that is no less than 4 feet deep and comprised of topsoil, weathered sandstone, and/or the best available material
2. Loosely grade the topsoil or topsoil substitutes established in step one to create a non-compacted growth medium
3. Use ground covers that are compatible with growing trees
4. Plant two types of trees –
1. early succession species for wildlife and soil stability, and
2. commercially valuable crop trees
5. Use proper tree planting techniques

An onsite inspection of the reforestation effort was conducted by the Awards Committee, a panel of judges charged with selecting the annual Excellence in Reforestation Regional Award recipient.

The Phoenix 2 operation consists of 560 acres that had been using surface mining techniques. Original permits had been issued in January 2001 and mining began shortly thereafter. The mining permit was the first to be issued in West Virginia under the approximate original contour (AOC)-plus backfill guidelines. Using these guidelines, the final backfill elevations of portions of the site were higher than original ground elevations, reflecting the natural terrain of West Virginia and enhancing the post-mining land use.

During reclamation of the top level of the backfill, care was taken to avoid soil compaction as the material was placed and spread. Reduced soil compaction facilitates root development and results in improved tree survival and growth. Coal-Mac planted the reclaimed area with a variety of native hardwood and softwood tree species, including red oak, white ash, green ash, white oak, sugar maple, gray dogwood, sycamore, redbud, black cherry and crabapple. Given current growth and survival rates, reclaimed areas are expected to complement the surrounding forested areas within a few short years.

“The re-establishment of these forests ensures the availability of nesting sites for countless birds; provides food and shelter for our native wildlife; and will provide wood products to meet our future needs.”
– Rick Buckley, OSM Branch Chief