RECLAMATION OF THE LANDSCAPE 317 



the soil without care or safeguards. However, of all the scars on 

 our landscapes, surface mine operations, both past and current, 

 present the greatest problems and the greatest opportunities for better- 

 ment. So my remarks on the rehabilitation of landscapes are con- 

 fined to surface mine operations. 



First, I want to acknowledge all the good work that has been and 

 is being done by progressive industry engaged in surface mining. In 

 many cases, formerly unproductive lands have been turned into use- 

 ful, productive areas after mining operations. 



Unfortunately, all this good rehabilitation work is not keeping pace 

 with new surface disturbances; nor have we made a worthwhile dent 

 in the job of rehabilitating mined-out areas of the past where no 

 authority exists to correct it. Streams continue to be polluted and 

 related resources are degraded. 



We are all generally aware of the scope and nature of this prob- 

 lem and it serves no purpose to wring our hands or point a ringer 

 of blame. The real questions are : What needs to be done, and how 

 can we best meet these needs? 



We are at the beginning of a long-term program. The first step 

 is an accurate survey of the job to be done and the development of 

 a comprehensive program for rehabilitating surface-mined areas of 

 the United States. This is now provided for by the Appalachian 

 Regional Development Act. 



As we start on this long-term program, certain short-term actions 

 can go forward now with the full expectation that they will not be 

 out of step with the over-all program to be developed. One example 

 is a provision for the rehabilitation of mined areas on public lands in 

 the Appalachian Region. Another is to continue to step up research 

 in all problems of surface mining and restoration. Yet another is 

 the action that communities, companies, and individuals can take 

 on planning and developing mined areas for productive use in local 

 situations. 



We can probably sort the rehabilitation problem into several gen- 

 eral categories for recommended action. One category is the sur- 

 face-mined lands in steep, mountainous country. Here the cost of 

 restoring the land to its original value may exceed by many times 

 the original market value of land surface or the market value of 

 restored lands. 



Another category is the surface-mined areas on level and rolling 

 topography. Here restoration may be profitable. These categories 



