Do You Have a Permit for that Reclaimed Valley Fill? The Sierra Club Says You Need One
July 7, 2016
During surface mining, rock and dirt (known as “overburden” or “spoil”) is removed to access coal seams. This rock and dirt swells, leaving the mining operator with excess material after mining and regrading. In the steep slopes of Appalachia, the only place to safely store this excess material is in valleys and hollows in the form of valley fills.
Typically, the valley fill material is…
