Indiana Won Award for Mine Land Reclamation

The state earned recognition for restoring more than 80 acres of abandoned mine land in Sullivan County.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Environmental

Expansive view of reclaimed mine land featuring rolling grassy slopes, native vegetation, and a sediment basin under bright daylight. — The Indiana Department of Natural Resources won the regional Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Award for the successful restoration of 80 acres in Sullivan County. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Indiana Department of Natural Resources received the Interior States Region Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Award on October 6, 2025. The honor recognized the completion of the South Lake Highwall Project, which remediated environmental and safety hazards.

Why it matters

Abandoned mine land projects are critical for eliminating safety and environmental risks left behind by legacy coal mining. These efforts restore degraded landscapes to functional states while preventing hazardous drainage.

The project regraded 49 acres of spoil slopes, revegetated 71 acres of land, and addressed at least five acid seeps. Workers also buried coal waste deposits to stop acid mine drainage across the 81-acre total site.

The players

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

This state agency manages the public lands, forests, and reclamation programs in Indiana.

Jefferson Township

This local government entity partnered with state authorities on the reclamation work.

The details

Engineers from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources worked with the Division of Forestry and Jefferson Township to plan the site remediation. The team utilized heavy earthmoving to bury toxic waste materials and stabilize the landscape.

1982: Indiana's AML program began restoration efforts.
1992: The Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards were established.
October 6, 2025: The state was presented with the reclamation award.

Deeper Dive

This project follows the environmental mandates established by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. It builds upon decades of state effort that has successfully restored over 25,000 acres since the early 1980s.

The reclamation of this site removes physical safety hazards for hikers and wildlife within the Greene-Sullivan State Forest. By addressing acid seeps and coal waste, the project significantly improves local water quality for the surrounding community.

The takeaway

Legacy mining sites remain a challenge, but targeted engineering can effectively return damaged land to a natural state. Proactive environmental remediation remains the primary tool for mitigating the long-term health impacts of historical coal extraction.