The study provides information on feasible economic incentives which will encourage the private sector and others to undertake environmental improvement activities on abandoned and active mines in the Monongahela River Basin. The undertaking of these activities with the recovery of restoration expenses at a profit will help lessen the crushing pollution abatement cost to government in the basin. Major subjects discussed are: Controlling surface water infiltration in underground mines; coal waste utilization; engineering properties of coal waste; land reclamation and recovery of coal reserves from partially worked out mines.