Abandoned Mine Lands
Atlas is your trusted partner in Abandoned Mine Lands reclamation design planning.
With more than three decades of industry mining expertise, Atlas brings knowledge and insight to turn abandoned mine lands into safe, sustainable spaces through effective planning, strategic permitting and successful remediation.
Our Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) group consists of a diverse team of engineers, geologists, scientists and designers with more than 30 years of collective experience.
Our depth of expertise equips us to navigate the full spectrum of AML challenges with confidence and precision.
With offices located within coal basins of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, Atlas has extensive experience in reclaiming legacy mine sites, along with considerable knowledge of regulatory requirements, so we’re able to offer efficient solutions and effective plans and permits, remediating these sites successfully.
Making an impact across the United States.
Our relationships with industry partners and vast experience enable Atlas to successfully navigate complex processes while meeting aggressive deadlines.
By the late 1800s, coal mining had become the dominant source of energy in the U.S. — a position it held until the 1950s. As the nation’s primary fuel for power generation and metallurgical processes, coal was extracted aggressively, often with little regard for environmental consequences.
This legacy is most visible in the Appalachian Basin, where landscapes remain scarred by past mining practices. Abandoned mine features such as abandoned highwalls, clogged streams, subsidence features, open shafts, unstable spoil piles and contaminated runoff —pose serious risks to public health, safety, property and ecosystems. At Atlas, we recognize the urgent need for environmental remediation and are committed to restoring these sites for the benefit of communities and future generations.
Our team is well-versed in the reclamation process and employs a wide array of innovative design strategies to address issues such as mine-related landslides, acid-producing spoil, complex grading plans, and acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment techniques.
30+
Years of Mining Reclamation Experience.
Services
Atlas collaborates with public and private organizations to manage projects, expedite environmental reviews and investigations, and design customized well-specific plugging and abandonment techniques to cost-effectively complete decommissioning, restoration, and remediation of sites that safeguard human health and the environment.
Reclamation Plan Assessment, Development and Design
- Grading plans.
- Stream and wetland design.
- Reclamation of acid-producing soil.
- Evaluation of potentially
acid-producing material.
Assessment
- Groundwater studies.
- Subsurface investigations.
- Evaluation of potentially acid-producing material.
Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Evaluations
- Feasibility studies.
- Pre- and post-reclamation water analyses.
- Active and passive treatment design.
Hydrologic/Hydraulic Engineering
- Modeling.
- Subsurface water management design.
- Stormwater control design, including ditches and ponds.
Health and Safety
- Health and safety plan.
Environmental Services
- Stream and wetland delineations.
- Environmental assessments.
- Natural resource assessments.
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation.
- Environmental permitting.
Monitoring
- Pre-reclamation.
- Post-reclamation.
- Operation, maintenance and monitoring of treatment systems.
Construction Quality Assurance
- Resource utilization.
- Implementation of approved reclamation procedures.
- Daily reporting.
- Reclamation plan monitoring.
Geotechnical Services
- Geophysical investigations.
- Subsurface investigations.
- Slope stability analyses.
- Slide investigations/remedial designs.
- Drilling oversight/sampling and analyses services.
Atlas at the National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs conference.
Clayton Kirk Roderick
Abandoned Mine Lands Program Manager
Remediation of Landslides, Stabilization of Saturated Slopes and the Abatement of Associated Mine Waters along the New River Gorge
Monday, October 6 at 2:30pm
Clayton will discuss how adopting natural stream design in remediation projects promotes ecological integrity and meets regulatory goals. Shifting from traditional engineering methods—like rip-rap channels and piped discharges—to natural stream design techniques to address mine pool discharge and stabilize landslide-prone areas not only aligns with National Park Service (NPS) expectations but also reduces environmental impact and improves long-term sustainability of water flow.
Kyle Helal
Senior Ecologist
Bat Habitat Mitigation and Closure Practices on AML
Wednesday, October 8 at 11:30am
Abandoned mine lands pose environmental and health risks—but they also serve as critical habitat for several bat species, including federally and state-listed ones. These mines replicate natural roosting conditions, making them essential for bat survival. However, improper closure or reclamation can destroy these habitats, leading to further population decline and potential legal consequences. In his presentation, Kyle will discuss mitigation strategies that protect bat populations while addressing mine safety and environmental concerns.
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