To restore previously mined land to its former condition

To ban mining in places where it did not already exist

To regulate the methods of mining in use at the time

To make mining on public land accessible to any individual

Placer mining

Strip mining

Open-pit mining

Fracture mining

Subsurface mining

Strip mining

Subsurface mining

Open pit mining

Mountaintop removal

Contour mining

The determined quantities of a mineral resource that can be economically recovered

The predicted total quantity of a mineral resource that exists in a mine or excavation site

The processed weight of the mineral resource recovered over the lifespan of the mine

The finished product, refined from extracted ore and available for purchase in the consumer market

An unreliable figure, often inflated by governments of countries with resource-based economies to inflate prices and attract investors

No, because there is not an established reclamation plan for when the mine is defunct. A written and set plan for environmental reclamation must be included with the permit application before a mine can legally operate.

Yes, because they have satisfied the SMCRA requirements by planning for responsible mining, pollution control and environmental reclamation.

No, because contour mining puts land at an unacceptably high risk of soil erosion.

No, because tailing ponds have been declared an environmental hazard. Even when designed to prevent leaching, there is always a significant risk of toxic chemicals entering the ecosystem.

Yes, because SMCRA does not address restoring the land after mining. The legislation simply exists to to prevent leaching of toxic chemicals used in surface mining, but there are no clauses to ensure environmental restoration.