Coal Production

Alabama has four bituminous coalfields that are part of the Appalachian coal basin: the Plateau field, the Warrior field, the Cahaba field, and the Coosa field. A total of 9,700 square miles of the State is underlain by coal. The Plateau field is the largest coalfield, being greater in size than the other three fields combined, but has attracted little commercial mining. The majority of coal mining today occurs in the Warrior field. Alabama's total coal reserves are estimated at 4.8 billion tons. Of those, a total of 3.1 billion tons are recoverable, 0.73 billion by underground mining and 2.4 billion by surface mining operations.

The majority of Alabama's coal is high rank bituminous although moderate amounts of low and medium rank bituminous coal also exists. The coal is generally of good quality and most beds have relatively low percentages of sulfur and ash. Lignite is also present in the Coastal Plain, but is not currently of economic interest. Underground coal mining is accomplished by the room and pillar and long-wall mining methods. Surface mining typically uses auger, contour, or area mining methods.

Regulation

Dr. Randall Johnson of the Alabama Surface Mining Commission has responsibility for SMCRA activities related to active coal mining in the State of Alabama.

Reclamation

Michael Skates of the Alabama Mining and Reclamation Division has responsibility for SMCRA activities related to abandoned coal mines in the State of Alabama.

Grants

Alabama grant reports and related documents are contained in the official grant file maintained at the:

Mid-Continent Regional Office
501 Belle Street, suite 216
Alton, IL 62002

They can be reviewed during normal business hours. Alternatively, these documents can be requested through the Birmingham Field Office and a copy of the grant file will be made available. The copy may be requested in paper or electronic format.

More Information

The Alabama Department of Industrial Relations

The Alabama Surface Mining Commission

Alabama Oversight Documents

If you are interested in viewing current or past Oversight Documents, please click the appropriate link in the table below for all documents of a particular type for this State, or on the year listed below for all documents of a particular evaluation year for this State.

Oversight Documents by Evaluation Year
EY2010 EY2011 EY2012