The operation began around the time that the Land and Water Conservation and Reclamation Act was passed and became inactive in the 1970s due to a lack of funding.
On May 16, 1967, voters in Pennsylvania approved a $500 million bond issue for the purpose of resolving environmental problems.
It was this act that led to the formation of Operation Scarlift to repair damage caused by abandoned mines.
[1] Operation Scarlift is so-named because of its mission to remove the "scars" left by historical mining activities in Pennsylvania.
[4] The purpose of Operation Scarlift was to remedy the environmental damage that historic mining in Pennsylvania has caused to the land, water, and air.
[1][2] The operation built a series of lime neutralization stations to remedy acid mine drainage.
[5] Additionally, it produced dozens of studies on mining-impacted areas, including watersheds and mine complexes.
In the 1980s, some of the remaining funds were used to attempt to construct passive treatment systems such as aerobic and anaerobic wetlands and ponds.