How Many Functionally Abandoned Active Mines Are in Kentucky?

There are 48 "functionally abandoned" mines among the active mining operations in Kentucky.

These 48 mines represent a specific category of operations within Kentucky's mining landscape that, while still technically counted among active sites, are effectively abandoned. This condition leads to significant environmental and safety concerns.

Understanding Functionally Abandoned Mines

"Functionally abandoned" mines refer to sites that are part of the active mining inventory but have ceased operations and reclamation efforts, leaving them in a state of neglect. While not officially classified as fully reclaimed or permanently closed, these sites behave as if they are abandoned, posing ongoing risks.

Impact and Scope of These Sites

These functionally abandoned active mines contribute significantly to environmental degradation and safety hazards across Kentucky. Their impact can be quantified in several ways:

• Area Scarred: These 48 mines collectively mar approximately 19 square miles of Kentucky's terrain. This vast area represents land that is disturbed and often lacks proper ecological restoration.
• Dangerous Highwalls: A critical safety concern associated with these sites is the presence of highwalls. These are dangerous, blasted-away mountainside cliffs created during mining operations. The functionally abandoned mines leave behind a combined 15 miles of these perilous highwalls, posing risks to wildlife and humans.

The presence of these sites highlights a challenge in managing mining operations, where even "active" permits can conceal areas that are effectively left unreclaimed.

Key Statistics on Functionally Abandoned Active Mines

For clarity, here's a breakdown of the pertinent figures:

These figures underscore the scale of environmental and safety issues arising from these neglected sites within Kentucky's mining industry.