Acceptable post-mining land uses include commercial, residential, recreational, agricultural or public facility improvements.

Fragmentation and destruction of potential habitat, however, is evident despite attempts at post-mining land reclamation.

The vast majority of the post-mining land uses in both states were designated for fish and wildlife habitat, forest or pasture lands.

Non-timber post-mining land uses such as grazing or development will result in permanent fragmentation of forest habitats.

Forestry and native habitat are more sustainable post-mining land uses for central Queensland mines than grazing or cropping.

Native habitat or bushland is now the preferred post-mining land use for about half the Bowen Basin open cut coal mines.

Approach SRK (UK) Ltd works with mine personnel in developing a practical rehabilitation plan based on a defined or favoured post-mining land use.

Depending on surface land owner wishes the land will then be further reclaimed by adding trees if the pre-approved post-mining land use is forest land or wildlife habitat.

The second is the Final Mine Closure Plan, updated in draft form through the life of the mine after deciding on the post-mining land use in consultation with the Panchayats.

If the land owner has requested other post-mining land uses the land can be reclaimed to be used as pasture land, economic development or other uses specified in SMCRA.

Republican Sen.-elect Rand Paul has said the mining practice "enhances" the land, and West Virginia Democratic Sen.-elect Joe Manchin calls the post-mining lands a "principal tool" of redevelopment.

Fisher also would agree to a reclamation plan to achieve forested post-mining land use, and the company would leave a coal barrier in place and add a minimum of 1,200 tons per acre of alkaline material to the pit floor.

When mining ends, operators must restore the land to its approximate original contour (AOC) or leave the land graded and suitable for a "higher and better" post-mining land use (PMLU) that has been approved as part of the original mining permit application.