Inside
Surface Mining 101
Page Content
Whenever you flip a light switch, microwave a meal, or fire up your flat-screen TV, there is a good chance the electricity you’re using comes from coal that was shipped from a surface mine. In the U.S., coal provides the energy behind about half the electricity we need for everyday living. Coal also plays a key role in the making of essential steel products—cars, refrigerators, buildings, and more.
Mining companies make extremely serious commitments by submitting detailed plans and posting bonds to assure complete land restoration when applying for mining permits. These plans include a vast array of scientific, technical engineering information and may take years before receiving approval.
The journey from the beginning of the permit process to the point where mining has ended and the land has been fully restored can be a long but very interesting one. You can discover some of what typically takes place along that journey in the interactive application above.