MATRIC has developed an
embedded research center with the goal of creating
science and technology to restore economic
value to mine-scarred lands throughout
West Virginia. Specifically, the Appalachian
Land Restoration Center will conduct
research activities on soil, water and plant
species to develop valuable agricultural
and forestation uses; alternate land uses;
and K-12 education in natural resources,
biology and overall ecology.
The Center will focus on science and
technology and will present data,
information and new technology so that
landowners, mining companies, state and
federal regulators, as well as state and
federal policymakers can extract the
maximum value for their land use in the
overall recovery of mined lands.
With over 190,000 acres of surface-mined lands in the state, the important mission of the Center will be to give landowners the technical tools to create long-term economic value from post-mine lands. The Center will be co-managed by MATRIC, West Virginia Land and Mineral Owners Association and West Virginia State University, and will include partnerships with West Virginia University, Marshall University and other entities across the state. Open scientific-oriented access to the resources of the Appalachian Land Restoration Center will be guaranteed to all non-profit and university partners committed to advancing the technical mission of the Center.
The Center will engage land owners throughout the state in order to test soils, water and plant species. These sites will be at a variety of locations, elevations and exposures including southern, northern and eastern parts of the state of West Virginia.Many potential land uses have been proposed for post-surface mine sites, including tourism, commercial, residential, agricultural and forestry uses. To date, no definitive criteria have been developed for land use selection and little science and technology have been utilized to determine the best economic value for these important lands. Furthermore, at this time, most land owners and coal companies have opted for pasture or woodland restoration in their permit applications.
We believe that by focusing the strong scientific teams at MATRIC and West Virginia State University, we can create new science-based methods for soil remediation, high value plant selection, water quality stabilization and eco-system protection. We will also work closely with the West Virginia Land and Mineral Owners Association which will focus a team of land use experts on the broadest set of uses for the land including industrial parks, new residential communities, and golf courses as well as forestry and agriculture.
Reforestation Focus
The ability to create higher value timber on post-surface mine sites is very significant to West Virginia. The central Appalachian region of eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, and southwestern Virginia is blessed with commercially valuable natural resources, the most notable being timber and coal. Huge amounts of virgin timber were cut and marketed during a 50-year period between 1880 and 1930. Towards the end of this virgin timber harvest, coal mining became the region's economic mainstay. However, the value of the second-growth forest is resurging, with nationwide demand for hardwood products and the advent of wood-processing mills that use timber of all quality grades. This wood-product resurgence is evidenced by many new paper, fiberboard, and lumber mills built or proposed throughout the region in the early and mid-1990s.
Reforestation of land after it has been drastically disturbed by surface mining can produce high-value commercial forests while providing watershed protection and wildlife habitat. Prior to passage of the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), most surface-mined land in the east and midwest was reclaimed with trees. These reclaimed lands varied in their quality and productivity, but reforestation was generally successful and commercially valuable forests were created. Many of these new forests are maturing and are providing considerable revenue to landowners.
Since implementation of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, fewer forests are being restored, although the amount varies by state (e.g., since 1991, 86% of Virginia's mined land has been reclaimed to forested post-mining land uses). Thousands of acres of Appalachian mined lands that were originally forested have been reclaimed as hay land, pasture, or wildlife habitat. Such land is usually left unmanaged after bond release and it slowly succumbs to brushy, woody vegetation with little or no commercial value.
Alternatively, if the land were returned to productive forests, landowners could enjoy the benefits of commercial forestland while simultaneously creating wildlife habitat and watershed protection.
Economics
According to a study by professors at Virginia Tech, the economics of soil remediation are stunning. For example, using white pine species, remediated soils at mine sites can yield as much $1755 per acre in timber value compared to only $122 per acre for untreated soils. The gap widens even further for white oak, which produces $8425 per acre and only $1120 per acre for treated and untreated soils, respectively. These concepts are illustrated below.
Uses of the land other than forestry are also viable including agriculture (e.g. switch grass for ethanol), residential and commercial purposes.
MATRIC, by bringing together the key players and key technologies, seeks to ensure that the efforts of the Appalachian Land Restoration Center will result in significant economic opportunity for West Virginia.
