The Federal Reclamation Program of the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) has performed more than 1,500 emergency reclamation projects. Emergency projects are eligible coalmine related problems, posing an immediate threat to the health, safety or general welfare of the public. These AML reclamation projects have involved landslides and unstable refuse lands, mine and refuse fires, hazardous mine entries, shafts and subsidence. During reclamation activities related to these problems, specialized borehole video camera work provides valuable engineering and geologic information.

The Borehole Video System (BVS) is lowered down three inch or larger boreholes and shafts to inspect the geology and structural integrity above abandoned mines. The system also inspects the interior of the underground mine opening that the borehole may penetrate. Fractures in the strata above the mine and the condition of mine pillars and roof are indicators of general geologic stability. The camera view of fractures and voids in boreholes provides information not available from core drilling or down-hole geophysics.

Early borehole camera systems were developed for the nuclear industry and were not designed for use in boreholes. The BVS improves inspection of boreholes and open mine voids by providing higher resolution imagery and better illumination. The camera radial view can zoom up to seven times and scan around its axis. This system also collects digital data on the depth, hole and view orientation, and can calculate the distance of viewed objects. The camera is mounted in a utility van to transport to the project and provide a comfortable atmosphere for viewing the borehole or mine investigation.