WASHINGTON, D.C. – Iowa and Ohio received national award recognition during the National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs conference held Sept. 25 in Chicago, Ill., for their respective state projects that turn abandoned mines back into working farmland, suitable for haying, livestock grazing or wildlife habitat.

Iowa and Ohio are two of five states that received the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s 2023 Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation award for projects that represent “the nation’s highest achievements in abandoned mine land reclamation, and demonstrate outstanding results in restoring previously mined lands,” officials said.

Established in 1992, the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation awards recognize exemplary state and tribal reclamation projects that reclaim coal mine sites abandoned prior to the enactment of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

In fiscal year 2023, more than $985 million was made available to states and tribes for abandoned mine land reclamation efforts under the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s Abandoned Mine Land program.

These efforts included $725 million from the bipartisan Infrastructure Law, $126 million in traditional fee-based annual grants; and $135 million in Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Economic Revitalization funding.

“The Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation awards honor the best examples of abandoned mine land reclamation in our nation,” said Glenda Owens, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement deputy director.

Colorado, New Mexico and Pennsylvania, along with Iowa and Ohio, were also recognized for helping to protect the public through the elimination of public safety and environmental hazards, and bolstered local economies by creating new recreation opportunities, and protecting local treasures, officials added.

“Our state and tribal partners work diligently to address health hazards and mitigate environmental problems affecting coal communities,” Owens said.

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Mines and Minerals Bureau received the Interior States Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation award for their efforts to reclaim the Patrick Abandoned Mine Land site, located six miles southeast of Eddyville, Iowa, in Wapello County.

“More than 120 sites over the past 40 years have been reclaimed, and this work improves water quality and bolsters soil health,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig.

“Thanks to our productive partnership with the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, we will continue to work with landowners and other partners to make even more progress in the years ahead on the nearly 180 sites left to reclaim,” he said.

In total, Iowa’s $987,977 Patrick project included approximately 381,000 cubic yards of excavation, 37.6 acres of permanent seeding, and nearly eight acres of wetland fringe seeding. Naig said reclamation of the site fosters more stable ecosystems in the local watersheds and waterways to improve soil health, while providing more opportunities for recreation, grazing and economic activity.

Ohio received the national award for exemplary reclamation work at Friendship Park Highwall Reclamation project in Jefferson County.

“Our state and tribal partners work hard to remove health hazards, and reclaim abandoned coal mine sites,” said Thomas Shope, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement regional director in Pittsburgh, Pa. “These awards showcase what is possible in transforming legacy coal mine sites into places that build robust communities.”

The state’s project eliminated significant public health and safety problems by remediating more than 9,000 linear feet of dangerous highwalls and associated water-filled pit impoundments. (Highwalls are steep, exposed cliffs left behind after coal mining – unstable ground that can pose many dangers, including falling rock).

The project also prioritized adding long-lasting economic and environmental benefits to the community by enhancing recreation opportunities, and building diverse habitats for wildlife. Project accomplishments, among other improvements, included conversion of 27.5 acres of unusable land into safe open space, creation of 1.5 acres of wetlands and 1,800 feet of natural stream channel; and construction of 8,070 feet of new trail.

Mary Mertz, Ohio Department of Natural Resources director, said the project “showcases the kind of work we do in Ohio, not only to make these formerly mined lands safe, but to also breathe new life into the region where people can hike, bike, and enjoy the great outdoors.”

Owens said, “These awards showcase what is possible in reinvigorating those impacted coal communities.”