About DOR
The Division of Reclamation (DOR) is one of approximately 22 divisions of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). The Division is responsible for oversight of active coal mining and restoration of land disturbed for coal extraction. The Division also restores land mined for coal, but abandoned without full or proper reclamation by the operator. The coal programs are a cooperative effort between the State and the federal Department of the Interior - Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM).
DOR also administers the State laws (IC 13-4-6) pertaining to the mining of clay, shale, and oil shale. These are typically small operations impacting mush smaller areas that a coal mine. There are currently 4 active clay operations in the State covering a total of 190 acres. Each permit is good for one year and are renewable. Post-mining land uses are predominately wildlife habitat and water.
Many other minerals are also mined in Indiana including peat, marl, gypsum, sand, gravel, crushed stone, and dimension stone. These, however, are not regulated by the Division of Reclamation. There is no single, comprehensive State or federal oversight of these activities in Indiana. Some operations may require certain individual permits from the State, but most jurisdiction for these activities lies with local zoning or planning commissions.
More information on other minerals in Indiana.
The Division of Reclamation oversees the mining and restoration of land disturbed for the extraction of coal, clay, shale and oil shale.
Mine safety is a combined effort of the Indiana Department of Labor Bureau of Mines, and the national office of Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) - Coal Mine Safety and Health housed in the U.S. Department of Labor.
The DOR has a unique and difficult responsibility of balancing protection of the environment with the need for coal production. This responsibility is set out in Indiana law stating the primary function of the Division is "...to protect society and the environment from the adverse effect of surface coal mining operations ..." while assuring..." that the coal supply essential to the Nation's energy requirements and economic and social well being is provided and strike a balance between protection of the environment and agricultural productivity and the Nation's need for coal as an essential energy source." (IC 14-34-1-3). Click here for more information on active coal mining in Indiana.
The Restoration Section restores abandoned lands under two different scenarios: Abandoned Mine Lands (AML), or Bond Forfeiture. The AML program reclaims areas disturbed by coal mining activity occurring prior to implementation of the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). Bond Forfeiture restores sites mined since adoption of current programmatic conditions, but left incomplete. In either case, the objectives are the same - alleviate safety, health, and environmental hazards, while improving productivity and enhancing the landscape. AML work is financed by a national fee collected by the federal government from current coal operators. Performance bonds are used to restore incomplete work of current operators. Click here for more information on the Restoration Section.
