United Stat, 

 Departmen 

 Agriculture 



Forest Service 



Research 

 Note NE-303 



1981 



PY 



-4 I 



timer Volumes 



of Old Pennsylvania 



MR P9 '82 



Surface Mine Reclamation 



^"^^WWt^s 



by Walter H. Davidson 



Abstract. Surface mine reclamation plantings established in 

 Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1934 were evaluated to deter- 

 mine merchantable volume, presence and volume of volun- 

 teer species, and soil development since planting. The evalu- 

 ation showed that planted conifers had a total volume of 744 

 M bm on the 150 acres of reclaimed surface mines. In addi- 

 tion, there were 356 M bm of volunteer hardwood species 

 on the area. Examination of soil profiles showed develop- 

 ment of distinct soil horizons in all the plantations. 



Pennsylvania bituminous coal operators have been practicing 

 reclamation of surface mines for many decades. There were 

 no legal requirements before 1945 to reclaim or replant lands 

 disturbed by the mining activities, but individuals who had a 

 "feeling" for the land practiced reclamation. The Bituminous 

 Coal Open Pit Conservation Act in 1945 imposed specific 

 reclamation requirements on coal operators. 



Unfortunately, many of the old plantings were not docu- 

 mented, and we cannot reconstruct their history. In a few 

 instances, there is documentation, and the growth and de- 

 velopment of the plantations can be evaluated. The oldest 

 known documented reclamation plantings include 22 planta- 

 tions established by the Morris Run Coal Mining Company in 

 Tioga County, Pennsylvania, from 1919 to 1938. The docu- 

 mentation consisted of maps subdivided into 22 lots; dates 

 when each lot was planted; and number of seedlings, by spe- 

 cies, planted in each lot. The lots ranged from 3 to 13 acres 

 with a total area of 180 acres. Species planted were: jack 

 pine (Pinus banksiana), pitch pine {P. rigida), eastern white 

 pine {P. strobus), red pine (P. resinosa), Scotch pine (P. 

 syluestris), Norway spurce {Picea abies), and Japanese larch 

 {Larix leptolepis). All seedlings were planted at a 4- x 4-foot 

 spacing— 2,600 seedlings per acre. The planting arrangement 

 was not recorded in the mixed plantations. Observation, 



however, indicates that they were planted in multiple rows 

 of a single species. 



In March 1925, 18.4 acres of the plantations burned. This in- 

 cluded lots 7, 8, 9, and 10. These lots were replanted in April 

 1925. 



Plantation Evaluation 



In the summer of 1979, we evaluated the Morris Run recla- 

 mation plantings. We made measurements and observations 

 to determine: Volume per acre of planted species, species of 

 volunteer vegetation, volume per acre of volunteer species, 

 and soil development within the plantations. 



We used the point-sampling system to inventory the planting 

 sites. Point centers were located systematically in each plan- 

 tation from a grid superimposed on a map of the area. The 

 number of points in each plantation was based on the size of 

 the plantation. Five points were established in plantations of 

 9 acres or smaller, and 10 points were estabhshed in planta- 

 tions of 10 acres or larger. Tree counts were determined with 

 a 10-factor wedge prism. 



A volume table was made for each planted and volunteer 

 species. Average dbh for each merchantable height class 

 was measured from sample trees in each plantation. Volume 

 was determined for each height class from standing tree vol- 

 ume tables. International 1/4-inch rule was used. 



Basal area values were calculated and separated into planted 

 versus volunteer species and merchantable versus nonmer- 

 chantable trees by species. 



Visual soil evaluations were made on 19 sites. A 3-foot soil 

 pit was dug at each sample site and the soil profile was ex- 

 amined. An emphasis was placed on the litter layers and 

 "A" horizon. Observations were recorded on topography, 

 slope, overstory, and understory. 



