The land is cleared from surface debris and rock so that any and all top soil can be removed and stockpiled for final site reclamation. This ensures successful post-mining vegetation and growth.

Consolidated rock layers must be broken with the use of explosives so the mining equipment can mine the layers of overburden. The benched area is drilled using down-hole rotary drill rigs. The holes are then partially filled with approved explosive materials and detonated or "shot."

Overburden removal is accomplished using large bulldozers, front-end loaders and rock trucks. The bulldozers typically remove the top two-thirds of the overburden by pushing or "slot dozing" the overburden into the previous block cut. The front end loader then loads the remaining one-third of overburden lying directly above the coal seam onto the rock trucks, which transport overburden away from the open cut area and "back dump" towards the bulldozers. This allows for continuous, concurrent reclamation.

Once the pit area is cleaned from rock and debris, a front end loader with a straight edge attached to the bucket is used to clean the coal. The coal is then loaded in to trucks using a Gradall, excavator or front-end loader. This process must be carefully executed to ensure that the coal is loaded as cleanly as possible.

To ensure that any water emanating from the final reclaimed area is clean and free from impurities, Amerikohl prides itself in its special handling and alkaline addition practices. Once all coal is loaded from the pit area , the coal waste is cleaned from the pit floor and placed high in the backfill area away from any contact with water. Limestone quarry dust, rec-mix or other alkaline materialis then placed over the entire pit floor, thus creating an alkaline pit environment.

Concurrent backfilling, a trademark of Amerikohl's mine sites is accomplished as part of the normal mining practice of modified block cut mining. Rough backfilling is always within 300 feet of the active open cut mining area. Concurrent backfilling allows for continuous seasonal reclamation and revegetation, which in turn can aid in the prevention of acid mine drainage.

Mine reclamation primarily consists of restoring the surface to its pre-mining condition or better. This is achieved by backfilling the ground to Approximate Original Contour (AOC) and fertilizing, seeding, and mulching the areas to establish lush vegetation.
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