The Division of Soil Conservation regulates coal-mining activities in Iowa as required by Iowa Code Chapter 207, and the Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (Public Law 95-87).
The state has a long history of coal mining dating back to the mid-1800’s. Iowa coal fueled trains to the West after President Lincoln designated Council Bluffs as the eastern terminus of the Trans-Continental Railroad. Iowa’s first reclamation statute was enacted by the General Assembly in 1968. The Division has worked cooperatively with the U.S. Office of Surface Mining (OSM) since passage of the federal law in 1977, and was granted primacy for the current coal program in 1981 by the Secretary of Interior.
In the last two decades, the ranks of eight independent Iowa coal producers have been narrowed to one remaining operator who is in the process of closing out his operations. No coal is currently being mined in the state, nor has any been mined since 1995. Start-up of new mining operations in the foreseeable future appears unlikely given current economic considerations, competition from western coal, and air quality concerns about sulfur emissions from Iowa coal.
Since 1977, the Division has permitted, bonded, inspected and enforced coal mining regulations in Iowa. Permits issued were required to provide an assessment of pre-mining conditions, an operation plan for the mining phase, and a reclamation plan for restoration of the site and achievement of the intended post-mining land use.
Twenty-eight coal permits issued by the Division since 1977 remain intact and continue to require some level of reclamation. These permitted sites are located in Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, and Lucas Counties. Still pending bankruptcies of two Iowa coal companies will require forfeiture of reclamation bonds held by the Division at twenty-one of those sites.
Completion of reclamation at forfeiture sites requires that the Division first forfeit the bond in order to obtain funds to do the needed reclamation work. Surety companies have the option of performing the work themselves in lieu of forfeiture. Once bond forfeiture has been completed, funds received can then be used to let bids with a third party contractor to complete the reclamation plan specified in the permit.
Iowa is one of twenty-five coal states that hold “primacy” for the regulation of coal mining. Cost of administering the program is shared equally by the Division and the U.S. Office of Surface Mining on a 50/50 match basis.
For additional information, visit the following OSM Mid-Continent Regional Coordinating Center web site: www.mcrcc.osmre.gov.
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