Guidelines, Handbooks, Manuals, and Public Domain Software

In fulfilling its function, OTT is providing information, links, and downloads of materials appropriate for surface mine design, evaluation, environmental protection, reclamation design, and bond release.

Disclaimer: The technologies described on this site are for information purposes only. The mention herein, of the technologies, companies or any brand names does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining.

Each group of publications accredits the provenance or copyrights.

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Guidelines

Guidelines for the Use of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), Version 1.06 on Mined Lands, Construction Sites, and Reclaimed Lands  Also available under the eLearning Initiative webpage - RUSLE Tutorials

A Guide for Revegetating Coal Minesoils in the Eastern United States  By Willis G. Vogel. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station.  General Technical Report NE-68, 1981.

Blaster’s Training Modules Prepared under sponsorship from: Office of Technology Transfer, Western Region, Office of Surface Mining, U.S. Department of the Interior.  In Cooperation With: Sheridan District Office, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Land Quality Division.  Peer reviewed: OSM Blaster Certification Team: Kenneth Eltschlager, Dennis Clark, Wendi Stephens and David Best.  May 6, 2008

Handbooks

Abandoned Mine Site Characterization and Cleanup Handbook, EPA 530-C-01-001, March 2001

Best Practices in Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation: The Remediation of Post Mining Activities, Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology

A Citizen's Handbook to Address Contaminated Coal Mine Drainage
EPA-903-K-97-003, September 1997

Handbook for Calculation of Reclamation Bond Amounts
Directive 882 April 5, 2000

Handbook of Methods to Reclaim Wildlife Habitat on Surface Mines in Wyoming

A Handbook of Technologies for Avoidance and Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage   Prepared by Acid Drainage Technology Initiative (ADTI) group. Published by National Mine Land Reclamation Center (NMLRC) at West Virginia University, June 1, 1998.

Handbook of Western Reclamation Techniques This handbook is copyrighted by Office of Research, University of Wyoming for the  Abandoned Coal Mine Lands Research Program (ACMLRP)

Predicting Soil Erosion by Water: A Guide to Conservation Planning With the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), USDA AH 703

Prediction of Water Quality at Surface Coal Mines   Prepared by Acid Drainage Technology Initiative (ADTI) group. Published by National Mine Land Reclamation Center (NMLRC) at West Virginia University, December 11, 2000.

Small Surface Coal Mine Operators Handbook, United States Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining; A Handbook for Small Surface Coal Mine Operators; J. Toby Tourbier, Richard Westmacott, Water Resources Center, University of Delaware, 1980

Utah Reclamation Handbook

Manuals

Constructed Wetlands Treatment of Municipal Wastewaters, EPA 625-R-99-010, September 2000

Design Manual for Sedimentation Control Through Sedimentation Ponds and Other Physical/Chemical Treatment

Design of Sediment Control Measures for Small Areas in Surface Coal Mining   This design manual gives a series of four design procedures for estimating the performance of a wide variety of erosion control structures which are presently used to control sediment from small areas subjected to surface coal mining.

Design of Surface Mine Haulage Roads - A Manual   The aim of this publication is to provide those involved with surface mine haulage road design with a complete manual of recommended practices that, if implemented, will promote safer, more efficient haulage routes.

Field and Laboratory Methods Applicable to Overburdens and Minesoils, EPA-600/2-78-054, March 1978  by Andrew A. Sobek, William A. Schuller, John R. Freeman, and Richard M. Smith West Virginia University, in Cooperation with the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506

Ground-Water Information Manual: Coal Mine Permit Application - Volume 1

Ground-Water Information Manual: Coal Mine Permit Application - Volume 2

Manual for Abandoned Underground Mine Inventory and Risk Assessment by L. Rick Ruegsegger, P. E., in cooperation with the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Infrastructure Division and the Ohio Department of Transportation. Publication number and date: FHWA IF-99-007, October 26, 1999

A Manual for Training Reclamation Inspectors in the Fundamentals of Hydrology by Willie R. Curtis, Kenneth L. Dyer, and George P. Williams, Jr., U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, 1835 Big Hill Road, Berea, Kentucky 40403

A Manual for Training Reclamation Inspectors in the Fundamentals of Soils and Revegetation by Willis G. Vogel. Prepared for the Office of Surface Mining and Enforcement by  U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Soil and Water Conservation Society, September 1987

Reclaiming Disturbed Lands by Darrell Brown, Resource Technician, and Richard G. Hallman, Project Leader for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Equipment Development Center, Missoula, MT, 2200-Range,8422-2805,1454.1-Technical Services, Range, November 1984

Surface Mining Water Diversion Design Manual by United States Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining, Technical Services and Research, OSM/TR-82/2, September 1982

Technical Measures for the Investigation and Mitigation of Fugitive Methane Hazards in Areas of Coal Mining   A technical manual which addresses methane gas hazards associated with active and abandoned coal mines, presents technical guidelines, techniques and methods used to evaluate methane hazards that may result from surface coal mining and abandoned mine lands sites.   The report identifies, evaluates, and develops "best science" practices to asses the hazards of methane gas, to describe the best technology for methane sourcing and to identify remediation practices for sites with dangerous methane concentrations.

Public Domain Software

Research and Development of a GIS-Based Data Management and Model Integration Tool for Coal Mine Permitting and Reclamation in Wyoming (Research Project Final Report and Arcview GIS Extensions  This product is copyrighted by Office of Research, University of Wyoming for the Abandoned Coal Mine Lands Research Program (ACMLRP).  Software requirements: SEDCAD (for SEDPREPRO section) and ARCVIEW 3.2.  This is a self-extracting file.(5.62 MB)

Surface Water Modeler version 1.1 and Ground Water Modeler version 1.0 Extensions for ArcView 3.1   This product is copyrighted by Office of Research, University of Wyoming for the Abandoned Coal Mine Lands Research Program (ACMLRP). Minimum Software requirements: ARCVIEW 3.1. This is a self-extracting file.(208 MB)

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