Kentucky Coal Facts - 13th Edition - Department for Energy ...

Reclamation
Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Fund (millions), 1985—2010
Year Kentucky Collection Kentucky State Share* AML Grant Disbursement State Share Balance**
1985 $36.91 $17.30 $32.30 $31.40
1990 38.40 19.41 6.40 43.30
1995 35.49 17.61 15.50 77.10
1996 33.98 16.90 16.00 83.60
1997 34.66 17.24 16.10 90.10
1998 35.04 17.45 15.70 97.40
1999 32.38 16.15 16.50 103.40
2000 30.49 15.19 17.00 108.00
2001 29.42 14.71 18.80 111.90
2002 30.16 15.03 16.70 116.90
2003 26.71 13.35 16.40 120.50
2004 26.38 13.19 16.00 124.40
2005 26.00 13.00 15.00 124.40
2006 26.20 13.10 13.80 128.80
2007 27.68 13.84 13.80 134.80
2008 26.00 13.00 30.80 136.60
2009 24.60 12.30 31.10 117.10
2010 23.00 11.50 37.50 97.60
Total*** 821.18 408.54 493.80 2,227.80
*Includes reclamation fees, interest, and audit adjustment. **Column may not balance due to external adjustments.
*** Summation across all years including those not displayed (1985-2010)
Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation
The federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) established authority for the AML Fund.
Production fees of $0.325 per ton for surface-mined coal and $0.125 per ton for underground-mined coal are collected
from coal producers at all active coal mining operations. These funds reclaim pre-SMCRA sites left abandoned, unreclaimed,
or insufficiently reclaimed, as well as certain sites under interim programs (1977-1982).
The Kentucky coal industry (through FY 2009) has contributed $1.05 billion to the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation
Fund since 1978. Nationally, over $9 billion (through FY 2009) has been paid by active coal operators across
the United States. Fifty percent (50%) of the total Kentucky AML fees go directly to the state share account. However,
$97.6 million (September, 2010) is unallocated due to the federal appropriation process (see Kentucky State Share
Balance column in table above). In 2006 Congress passed amendments to SMCRA that provided for mandatory distribution
of all unappropriated state share balances over a seven year period and increased grant funding to states like
Kentucky with many high priority AML problems remaining on inventory. The result has been an increase in the Kentucky
AML Grant over the past three years. The increasing trend is expected to continue for the next several years.
Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Accomplishments (through 2010)
113 water line projects ($95.65 million) 2,186 mine portal closures
Over 35,568 feet of high wall eliminated
210 vertical shafts sealed
Over 261 hazardous structures removed
47.1 miles of stream restoration
Over 2,299 acres landslide projects stabilized
289.7 acres of mine fires controlled
$497 million in expenditures 74,833 acres reclaimed (GPRA Acres)
energy.ky.gov
kentuckycoal.com
45