Reclaiming Coal Sites Could Spark West Alabama Job Growth
The discovery of coal in the Alabama Territory dates back to 1815, four years before President James Monroe signed the constitution and Alabama became the twenty-second state.
The Alabama Geological Survey at UA identifies the first systematic underground mining as occurring in the Cahaba field near Montevallo in 1856. Since then, coal has been black gold for West Alabama.
Over the decades mines along the Warrior and other rivers came and went, many being mined out. Many of them have stood out of sight and out of mind for decades. Bibb, Fayette, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties are among the 17 counties in the state identified as being home to abandoned coal mines.
Some of those decaying sites may now be reclaimed as a result of the $11 million Alabama Department of Workforce's Abandoned Mine Land Program. According to the program's website, the goal is, "...resolving problems such as mine fires, mine subsidence, dangerous highwalls, open shafts and portals, mining-impacted water supplies and other hazards which have resulted from past coal mining (pre-1977)."
While underground mining had become well-established in Alabama by the late 1800s, the first reported production figures for a single strip-mining operation in Walker County didn't take place until 1914. Dozens of those abandoned surface mine sites saw trees planted on them as required by federal land reclamation law.
This new reclamation project is a requirement of the Federal Office of Surface Mining, under authority of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA).
"Alabama’s commitment to transforming abandoned mine lands into vibrant, productive spaces that benefit our communities,” Alabama Department of Workforce Secretary Greg Reed said in a press release “These projects not only restore our environment but also create jobs and spur economic development in areas that have long shown the impacts of past mining activities."
The press release from the agency identifies the benefits of the reclamation project:
- Redevelopment of mine sites for commercial, recreational or industrial use
- Creation of job opportunities through construction, tourism, or new businesses
- Restoration of natural landscapes to enhance community safety and environmental health.
This project is just a "drop-in-the-bucket" in comparison to the $100 million price tag estimated to reclaim all identified high priority sites. And there are dozens of other sites that have not been identified.
Eligible applicants, including local governments, economic development organizations and nonprofit entities, are encouraged to submit project proposals at Alabama’s Abandoned Mine Land Program or contact the AML Program office at (205) 945-8671 or via email at amler@workforce.alabama.gov.
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