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The author presents an overview of surface mine reclamation activity in the United States. The paper focuses on four areas. The first consists of a chronology of governmental involvement in surface mine control, and sets the stage for current surface mining activities in the United States. The second area provides an explanation of the Federal Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 as it pertains to reclamation form and process. Reactions of the states and the mining industry to the provisions of the Act and recent administrative regulations comprise the next area. Finally, physical problems associated with reclamation are presented, and the role of land use planning in the reclamation planning process is discussed.