Coal was first mined in Georgia in the 1830's. Coal miners were among the first settlers in northwest Georgia. Georgia's coal industry was decimated by the Civil War. The industry was revitalized in the 1880's, however, and small-scale coal production continued for about a century. Today, the state of Georgia has recoverable coal reserves of about 2 million tons, with no coal having been mined in the state since the mid-1980’s.

Adandoned Mine Land (AML)

Since the early 1980’s the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, through the Federal Reclamation Program (FRP) has spent 5.7 million dollars on eliminating safety issues and restoring abandoned coal mine lands in Georgia. Work completed includes:

• Elimination of 15,000 linear feet of dangerous highwalls
• Closure of 112 mine openings
• Filling of 11 vertical mine shafts
• Elimination of two hazardous water impoundments

Un-reclaimed strip mine on Lookout Mountain in Chattooga County, Georgia.	Same location after reclamation.

Active mining is not currently being performed within this state. Adandoned mine land (AML) issues are handled by AR's Technical Support Division (TSD).

Annual Evaluation Reports

• Evaluation Year 2013 (3,862 KB)
• Evaluation Year 2012 (5,898 KB)
• Evaluation Year 2011 (4,237 KB)
• Evaluation Year 2010 (80 KB)