An Application of MS/OR in Strip Mined Land Reclamation

The Kansas Legistlature in 1968 provided for the reclamation of land strip-mined for coal after January 1, 1969, but there was no provision for the reclamation of the approximately 50,000 acres strip-mined in Southeast Kansas prior to that date.

Concern of the residents of the area to return the land to productive use and concern of the Kansas Geological Survey with the conflict between mineral production and other social and economic activities in rural areas resulted in the formation of an “Action Group” with the purpose of: (1) determining strip-mined land ownership and availability for redevelopment; (2) determining and demonstrating productive use of strip-mined land; and (3) determining sources of funds for redevelopment projects.

Initial contact with land owners indicated a reluctance to reclaim their land; essentially, there were no funds available for reclamation.

Several means for overcoming the lack of money and reluctance of landowners to participate in reclamation were tried, but with no success. Finally, basic data gathered from agriculture agencies were computerized. Linear programming and modeling of one rancher's operation indicated cattle grazing to be profitable on reclaimed land. An interactive computer program was developed to allow landowners to evaluate their own expectations. Output from the model and the linear program were used to convince a governmental agency to share the cost of demonstration projects totaling 1,300 acres.

Five thousand acres have been reclaimed in Kansas, as of July 1, 1974, with an economic impact of $2,000,000 on the region. This once unproductive land generates $1,000,000 annually. Most significantly, the tax base has been increased for many school districts and political divisions located in heavily strip-mined areas.