October 15, 2024



Note: Those reading this blog may also be interested in our recent paper titled Turning Liabilities Into Opportunities: Acid Mine Drainage and Rare Earth Elements which discusses other ways that our region’s legacy of coal mining could be turned into new economic opportunities. 

The coal industry runs deep in the United States, and even deeper in Appalachia. So deep, that with more than 200 years of operation to date, billions of tons of coal have been extracted in the U.S.  This industry, though, has caused damage to the ecosystems that surrounded its mines and plants particularly before 1977, when Congress spurred remediation efforts across the country with the passage of the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation act and the creation of the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program. Despite nearly 50 years of work to reclaim lands impacted by coal mines from before 1977, 73% of the total damaged abandoned mine lands remain unreclaimed (Dixon 2021). Unreclaimed mine lands present dangerous environmental hazards, as well as an economic burden and pose a barrier to future economic development for many communities. 



However, our communities are resilient, and many are taking these liabilities and turning them into assets. Luckily, many programs and organizations are taking up this issue and are working to repair the estimated 850,000+ standardized acres of damage that remains (Dixon 2021). Many of these AML sites are even being remediated into a variety of new grounds, including recreational areas, protected flora/fauna habitats, and more with collaborative projects between non-profit organizations and federal bodies. Look below to take a tour through some of our region’s remediated AML sites!



On October 30th, 2023, community members, project partners, and officials alike came together in Dante, Virginia to celebrate the redevelopment of AML sites into a new recreation area. The AML features included abandoned mine portals and environmental hazards, all of which have been remediated, leading to 16 miles of new trails and a new campground. Further, this new trail system will connect the park to another community in the area, Saint Paul. Partners of the project for the five-plus years of effort include the Dante Community Association, the Russell County Board of Supervisors, Appalachian Voices, Virginia Department of Energy, Spearhead Trails, the Appalachian Conservation Corps, and The Nature Conservancy. (Garrison 2023).

This new recreation area provides a great example for other coal communities to follow for development and remediation. Along with the recreation area, the rest of the town is very involved with revitalization and cultural development. If you’re looking for a town full of outdoor activities and cultural heritage, be sure to visit Dante and go to Appalachian Voices to learn more about the project!




With help from the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, a private and public partnership was made to clean up abandoned mine sites dating back to the late 1700’s in order to create the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. The area is still home to AML sites, as well as an active mine site, but now serves as a model for remediating environmental hazards and creating new and engaging public spaces.



The 10,000 acres that The Wilds currently sits on is deeply historical, from the Indigenous groups that called it home, to the early European settlers of Ohio, and then to surface mining in the 20th century that continued until the 1980s. With a public-private partnership involving the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the concept for a conservation center for threatened and endangered species emerged. Now, in southeastern Appalachian Ohio, The Wilds is open to the public, “offering sweeping views, jaw-dropping safari tours, and unforgettable memories for anyone who visits.”



Dixon, Eric. “Repairing the Damage: Cleaning Up the Land, Air, and Water Damaged by the Coal Industry Before 1977.” Ohio River Valley Institute, 14 Apr. 2021, ohiorivervalleyinstitute.org/cleaning-up-aml-damage/.

Garrison, Rance. “Community Celebrates Opening of New Recreation Area in Dante, Virginia.” Appalachian Voices, 21 Nov. 2023, appvoices.org/2023/11/16/new-recreation-area-dante-virginia/.  

“About The Wilds.” The Wilds, www.thewilds.org/about-wilds.  Accessed 15 Aug. 2024.