To: Wharf Rat who wrote (914652 ) 1/15/2016 12:44:51 PM From: TideGlider Respond to Cooperative restores land to better than before Falcons, osprey, kestrels, eagles, deer and turkey are just some of the many species benefiting from Associated Electric Cooperative’s careful environmental stewardship. American bald eagles nest near Thomas Hill Lake. “When you walk the reclaimed fields, woods and wetlands of the Bee Veer Mine, you simply can’t imagine it was ever a strip mine. The grass is high for cattle grazing, turkey and deer are back, and the fishing is good.” The cooperative has restored thousands of acres of once-mined land to productive pasture, forests and wetlands and received national awards for its “exemplary reclamation, which exceeds the state’s bond release requirements in terms of revegetation and post-mining land use.” Nominated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Associated Electric also received the U.S. Department of Interior’s highest honor for its innovative, successful reclamation that improved water quality and transformed 1,000 acres mined by a previous owner into productive pasture, wetlands and forest. Our reclamation achievements complement our work to improve air quality. In the mining business from 1980 to 1993, Associated Electric closed its mining operations and was one of the first to convert its coal units to 100 percent low-sulfur Wyoming coal, reducing sulfur dioxide emissions 90 percent and meeting the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. About 1,400 acres of mined land was reclaimed by 1998 with a $1.8 million bond release. This was followed by additional bond releases on reclaimed land totaling 7,362 acres. The last bonded acreage is in the final phases of reclamation and scheduled for bond release in 2015-2016. The Interstate Mining Compact Commission recognized Associated Electric as a national leader in mine reclamation with its 2007 Kenes C. Bowling National Mine Reclamation Award in the coal category for reclamation of the Bee Veer Mine in Macon County, Mo. Today, on formerly mined land, as well as land that was never mined, are ponds that provide fishing and wildlife habitat, woodlands that provide shelter for many species, land leased to neighboring farmers for pasture, and acres for crop research under way. – longtime resident and restoration supervisor, Associated Electric
