Engineering's Role in Surface Mining

As a result of Public Law 95-87, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, many new consulting opportunities are being developed by engineering firms. Many of these opportunities are in the form of established services given a new perspective to meet regulatory compliance and/or reclamation data base requirements. Some of these engineering and environmental services are discussed and, utilizing actual case study experience, a scenario is presented of the engineering firm's new role in this most controversial legislation. Given the environmental ethics established in the 1970's, it seems unlikely that our nation's environmental protection will be rescinded. With this future course of action, the engineering firm should continue to play a major role in the environmental aspects of surface mining.