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operating ideas continued allows for the possibilities of re-using certain materials and doubling positive outcomes. Understanding the natural footprint of the land to be mined is also helpful toward achieving sustainability goals—by being more realistic about what the land can and cannot accom- plish once it is mined will help to keep costs low and overall production and post-production efforts less arduous. Identifying Specific Needs In this line of thought, it makes sense that there is a movement within sustainable mine reclamation to return the land to something not unlike its former self, rather than attempting to create some- thing brand new and unrecognizable. In many cases, this can be achieved by working in concert with the local com- munity to determine what their needs might be, and then repurposing the mined site to meet those needs. As an example, the community surrounding a mined site may identify a new neighborhood park as a local need. By knowing this at the outset of developing and/or reclaiming the mined land, the organization and the community can work together harmo- niously to determine the vision and potential limitations of the project. Other options a community might con- sider as helpful alternatives to a former mined site could include a water reser- voir, viable industrial park, public recre- ational trails through a reforested area, or a similar project. For a mineral pro- ducer that can develop a positive rela- tionship with the community in which it operates, and can identify a project that mutually benefits that community as well as the producer, more benefits abound. Good will and a reputation for social responsibility go a long way toward company growth and market advantage. In addition to partnering with the local community, non-profit organizations should be considered, as they offer resources toward sustainable mine recla- mation projects as well. Working with groups such as the Wildlife Federation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy and other federal, state or local nongovernmental agencies can help identify the best possible end use for the reclaimed mine—whether that be the cre- ation of habitats that encourage biological diversity, endangered wildlife protection, or an ecosystem that fosters the growth of local but rare plant species. These organi- zations can offer planning and expertise, and can also help with providing volun- teer labor. Additionally, partnerships between mine operators and nongovernmental organizations can provide economically positive outcomes. These partner orga- nizations offer grant funding and tax or impact mitigation credits and incentive knowledge that can help make a sustain- able mine reclamation project that much more financially feasible. In addition to the options already mentioned, another option for reclaim- ing mined land sustainably is by creating a wetland bank. This could qualify the land to generate wetlands credits. In this scenario, a pre-approved wetland bank would allow developers and/or mine operators to secure wetland mitigation credits for developments that impact wetlands in other locations. The credits finance the development and mainte- nance of the sustainably reclaimed mine as a wetland bank. Once established, the wetland bank could then be donated to a non-profit organization such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the EPA, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for long- term maintenance and operation. Carbon-offset opportunities are ano- ther sustainable end-use in the reclama- tion of mined land. Carbon offsets reduce carbon dioxide or other green- house gas emissions in a balancing act to compensate for a carbon emission made elsewhere. Companies, governments and other organizations that need to comply with carbon dioxide caps make up one of the markets for carbon offsets. Companies, governments and individu- als can also purchase carbon offsets to offset their own greenhouse gas emis- sions that result from everyday activities. Afforestation and reforestation of a mining area are both specific types of carbon offset projects well-suited for sustainably reclaiming mined areas. In addition to the environmental benefits these projects produce—improved air and water quality, reduced soil erosion, and a generally lessened impact of global August 2012 100th Anniversary Special Issue warming through carbon storage— afforestation or reforestation projects can also offer new jobs, new streams of revenue and improved local economies. In one example, abandoned and previously reclaimed coal mines in the Appalachian region were reforested through a project that brought together the University of Kentucky, the U.S. Forest Service and the Office of Sur- face Mining and Reclamation Enforce- ment. These sites proved excellent locales for enhanced terrestrial carbon sequestration. Financial Rewards Sustainably reclaiming a mine can also benefit mine producers financially through their eligibility for other tax credits (especially the Brownfields tax credit), and through an increased value of the land. In one example, by trans- forming the land into an ecological land- scape that promotes long-term preservation through land restriction and charitable donation, the land quali- fies for a tax credit that can offset corpo- rate profits. This type of project will also positively restore the land's ecosystem, which will in turn increase the overall value of the land. If the land is then donated to the local community or a charitable organization, a higher tax credit for the land could be realized. With the multitude of possibilities available toward reclaiming mined lands sustainably, it is no wonder that sustain- able mine reclamation is growing in pop- ularity. Sustainable mine reclamation projects allow a mine producer to devel- op something new and worthwhile, that supports the organization's goals and the betterment of the community in which they operate. Sustainable mine reclama- tion projects also create financial pros- perity, environmental stewardship, and social benefits—thereby creating a posi- tive Triple Bottom Line for the producer, the community and the environment. Wendy Schlett is a project manager for Sustainability, Environmental Management Systems and Environmental Regulatory Compliance at GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. (www.gza.com). For more information, con- tact Ms. Schlett at 616-956-6123 or by email: wendy.schlett@gza.com. www.coalage.com 191