Innovative Mine Reclamation in Central Appalachia

Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition identifies 20 former coal sites for innovative economic development.

The report, Many Voices, Many Solutions: Innovative Mine Reclamation in Central Appalachia, was authored by the Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition, which seeks to spur mine reclamation projects throughout Central Appalachia that are responsive to community needs and that accelerate the growth of new, sustainable economic sectors. The coalition consists of lead organizations in four states — Appalachian Voices in Virginia, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center in Kentucky, Coalfield Development Corporation in West Virginia, and Rural Action in Ohio — and a regional technical expert, Downstream Strategies, based in West Virginia.

The report highlights five sites in each of the four states that represent prime opportunities for a variety of funding streams. Examples include:

  • Kentucky: an affordable green-energy subdivision near abandoned mine lands in Hazard.
  • Ohio: a facility in the Village of Corning that uses acid mine drainage to produce valuable paint pigment.
  • Virginia: an outdoor adventure resort on a reclaimed highwall in Dickenson County.
  • West Virginia: a mixed agriculture and renewable energy project on a former strip mine in Boone County.