This volume is the sixth in a series of six reports designed to provide the surface coal mining industry and its regulators with a comprehensive review of the best available methods for extracting coal while protecting the environment. The six-volume report examines the surface mining of coal in the Eastern United States and sets guidelines for developing, evaluating, and selecting mining and reclamation plans that will be the least detrimental to the environment. The principal objective of the report is to examine and evaluate the various factors and considerations associated with considerations into a comprehensive guide for use by mine planners and managers. The report has three major sections. The first of these is a brief introduction to the overall mine land planning process. The second examines the major cultural and natural factors that determine land use suitability. The third provides a practical review of the important planning considerations and requirements associated with the major land use types.