Failures of enforcement abound for all of these requirements. AOC was originated to eliminate benches and highwalls in 1970s-style strip mining but is a deficient reclamation concept in mountaintop removal. There are no highwalls left in mountaintop removal because the entire mountaintop is blasted and dug away by huge draglines. AOC and other reclamation matters were part of the February 2000 settlement agreement approved by U.S. District Court Judge Chzrles Haden in the Bragg case. These techniques are useful in growing grasses , which are sewn to prevent erosion, but are not tree-friendly .
Grasses compete with tree seedlings.
Invasive, non-native species of trees and plants predominate. Plants and wildlife that require forest habitat disappear and are replaced by those that inhabit grasslands. With native trees gone their return would have to be by primary succession, since the pre-disturbance soil is no more. Lost for generations . As if to underscore this message, Division of Forestry Director Bill Maxey quit his position on October 31, 1998.