The Daniel Boone National Forest contains numerous abandoned mine sites left over from eastern Kentucky’s long history of coal mining. Many of these abandoned mines are leeching contaminated water into the nearby waterways. The Forest Service is acting to reclaim these sites in order to prevent heavy metals and other contaminants from entering the surface water and groundwater within the forest. The purpose of this research is to understand the process of abandoned mine land reclamation as well as identify the strengths and weaknesses, ‘winners’ and ‘losers,’ and areas of frustration or improvement in the process. Content analysis was conducted on project documentation as well as on interviews with relevant stakeholders. The Daniel Boone National Forest relies on established reclamation methods, attributing to the strength of the process. However, due to the nature of the mine sites and the types of contaminants, recurring reclamation projects are necessary. Considerable frustration was expressed regarding lack of funding and perceived bureaucratic indifference to the needs of the Forest Service and their mine land reclamation projects. The findings of this research can help inform other mine land reclamation projects on state and federally owned lands.
Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation in Daniel Boone National Forest: A Case Study
