When does an underground coal mine cease to be classified as such?

An underground coal mine is considered to cease being classified as such when reclamation activities begin. Reclamation refers to the process of restoring the land after mining operations have finished. This involves rehabilitating the site to minimize environmental impact, restoring vegetation, and ensuring the land is safe for future use. Once reclamation starts, the focus shifts from mining operations to restoring the landscape, marking the transition from an active underground coal mine to a site undergoing reclamation.

Completion of extraction procedures indicates that mining has fully finished, but it does not signify the end of the mine's classification. Similarly, the removal of equipment and the completion of exploratory drilling are related to mining operations but do not directly influence the classification of the mine. The essential factor in determining the cessation of a mine's classification as an underground coal mine is the initiation of reclamation activities.