The researchers studied the costs of handling and reclaiming spoil at a surface mine in Virginia. They looked at how much it cost to move the waste material from mining, comparing different areas of the mine. They found that the average cost of handling spoil was $1.90 per cubic yard, but this varied depending on where the mining took place. Reclamation costs also varied, ranging from$0.08 to $0.20 per cubic yard. The study aimed to develop better methods for estimating these costs, which are important for planning how to restore the land after mining.