What I'd like to know about Approximate Original Contour (AOC)

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Clem,

Now you've started it again.

http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coa...

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Here's reality.

Approximinate Original Contour was required - by state law - years before SMCRA existed: first in Pennsylvania (1971 then in Ohio (1972) and in West Virginia (1975?) .

The "definition" (description) in SMCRA generally minics what was already in these state laws.

In Ohio, AOC was essentially elimination of the highwall - the mining face. In many instances that was accomplished by blasting and the pushing it down into a somewhat backfilled pit. (In the in 1970s and early 1908s there was very little use of trucks to move overburden as is the case now.)

The first OSMRE director Walter Heine was questioned by Congress about a definition and he ducked it as has every director since then.

Defining AOC will not end mountain top removal or excess spoil disposal fills - placing spoil outside of the excavated area. Both are allowable under SMCRA as it currently exists.

Essentially, AOC is defined as what's possible to restore given reasonable engineering and economic constraints.

Reclamation is not restoration and adverse impacts from coal mining are to be mimized, not prevented. The exceptions being is to prevent ""imminent danger to the health and safety of the public" and "significant, iminent harm to the environment."

Note: I was with OSMRE (1978-1995) after being an Ohio reclamation specialist (1975-1978.)

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by: rhmooney3 @ Thu Jul 23, 2009 at 10:44:31 AM UTC