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                      ELKINS MINE DRAINAGE POLLUTION CONTROL
                              DEMONSTRATION PROJECT

                                 Ronald D. Hill

          Chief, Mine Drainage Pollution Control Activities, Robert A.
          Taft Water Research Center, Federal Water Pollution Control
          Administration, U.S. Department of the Interior, Cincinnati,
          Ohio.
 SUMMARY
       In 1964, a mine drainage  pollution control demonstration  project was under-
taken near Elkins, West Virginia.  The area contained a large drift mine  (3,000 acres)
which had been extensively surface mined along the outcrop.  The objective of the
project was to determine the effect on the water quality of  "air" sealing and divert-
ing water away from the underground mine and reclaiming the  surface mines.  Some
450 subsidence holes were filled, over 12.5 miles of surface mines were reclaimed
and 101 seals constructed.  Approximately 640 acres of land  were disturbed during
reclamation which were revegetated in the spring of 1968.  This  paper reports the
effectiveness of the reclamation work for the first two years following construc-
tion.

       The reclamation and revegetation of the surface mines and refuse piles have
shown some benefits, however, an equilibrium condition has not been established and
the long term effects have yet to be determined.  While some areas have shown trends
of continued improvement, others showed an improvement the first year, followed by
some deterioration the second year.

       Air sealing, under the conditions at Elkins was unsuccessful, except for one
site, the oxygen concentration behind the seal has not decreased and the pollution
loads have not decreased.

       For the combined watershed of Roaring Creek and Grassy Run there has been
over a 1,500 ton decrease in the acidity load for the base year  1966.  However, none
of the streams in either watershed has returned to its unpolluted state.

INTRODUCTION

       An authoritative report on acid mine drainage was issued by the Committee of
Public Works of the U.S. House of Representatives.^1)  Recognizing the extent of the
problem, the report pointed out  that elimination of this form of pollution would
restore vast quantities of water for municipal and industrial use, propagation of fish,
aquatic life, and wildlife, recreational purposes, and other uses.  After pointing
out that most of the various methods developed to abate acid mine drainage had been
abandoned because of high costs  and technical failure in field applications,  the
Committee concluded that mine sealing was the most promising method.

       The report recommended:   (l) a sealing program directed at sealing abandoned
mine shafts and other drainage openings, (2) a stepped-up research program by fed-
eral, state, and interstate organizations to develop other abatement measures, and
(3) a stream and acid flow regulation program employed where sealing or other methods
are unable to sufficiently reduce the acid content of the stream to meet water qual-
ity requirements for all legitimate purposes.

       The report also called for a demonstration program to evaluate mine sealing
procedures and results, suggesting that the work be done in  "three appropriate water-
sheds containing between 50 and 100 abandoned coal mines each from which acid water

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                                         285.

is draining."  Funds for the demonstration grant, $5 million, were authorized by
Congress in 1964*

       The work was to be under the direction of the Water Supply and Pollution Con-
trol Program of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, the forerunner of
the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration  (FWPCA) which later was transferred
to the U.S. Department of the Interior.  Other participating agencies were the U.S.
Bureau of Mines (USBM), U. S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries
and Wildlife (USSFW), and West Virginia (W. Va.) agencies in charge of mining, water
pollution, and reclamation.

       In March 1964, the first demonstration project site was selected in the Roaring
Creek-Grassy Run watershed near Elkins, West Virginia.  The area contained a large
drift mine (3,000 acres) and a number of smaller underground mines (Figure 1).  The
outcrop had been extensively surface mined and contained over 1,000 acres of disturbed
land.  The surface mines had intercepted the underground mine workings of the large
mine and were diverting water into it.  Since the coal dipped from the Roaring Creek
watershed toward the Grassy Run watershed, water was diverted from one watershed to
the other through the underground mine.  Upon passing through the underground mine
the water flushed out pollutants.

       Roaring Creek and Grassy Run were discharging over 12 tons per day of acidity
to the Tygart River.  Chemical characteristics of the two streams are presented in
Table I.

                                     TABLE I
                         Water Quality Characteristicsa

pHD
Acidity, (Hot), Ca«>3
Iron, Total
Iron, Ferrous
Sulfate
Hardness, CaC03
Calcium, CaC03
Aluminum
Specific Conductance0
Flowd
Grassy
mg/1
2.55
656
110
4
992
446
293
38
1,723
6
Run
Tons/day
	
10.6
1.8
0.06
16.0
7.2
4.7
0.6
___
___
Roaring Creek
mg/1
3.3
no
5
1
168
99
76
12
530
40
Tons/day
	
1.8
0.08
0.01
2.7
1.6
1.2
0.2
-_.
—
a.  Average values for period March 1964 to June 1966
b.  Unit not mg/1, median value
c.  Units - micromhos per cm
d.  Units - cubic feet per second
       The demonstration project was carried out in three phases:  (1) site selec-
tion, preconstruction evaluation, and reclamation planning, (2) construction of mine
seals and regrading and revegetation of surface mines, and (3) project evaluation.
Phase 1, begun in March 1964, and completed in July 1966, was devoted to water quality
surveillance (FWPCA); stream gaging (USGS); surface mapping, investigation of mine
conditions, and designing control measures and reclamation planning (USBM); securing
land permits (W. Va.) and awarding the construction contract (FWPCA, USBM).  Sealing
of the mines and concurrent reclamation measures (Phase 2) were begun in July 1966
and terminated in September 1967.  Disturbed areas were revegetated in the spring of
1968.  Phase 3, evaluation of the effectiveness of mine sealing and reclamation meas-
ures is continuing.

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                                                       286.
S820-.' —
            Demonstration  Project
                        No. I
         Randolph County, West Virginia
                                             FIGURE  1
            LEGEND
  «    SUBWATCRSHED
  C   ' Core drilling site

yM   Permanent streamgage ft quality monitor

 /\    Temporary streamgage

(  j    Stream quality sampling point

: '••••:'•'•    Stripmine disturbance

A   Mine entrance

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                                            287.
 CONTROL MEASURES

        The following control measures were carried out:

           1.   Air sealing of the underground mine:   Since oxygen is necessary for the
               oxidation of pyrite and the production of iron and acidity,  preventing
               oxygen from reaching the pyrite should reduce  or  eliminate acid pollution.
               Air sealing was to be  accomplished by filling  all bore holes,  subsidence
               holes, and other air passages into the mine.   "Wet" mine  seals, which
               allow water to leave the mine, but prevent air from entering,  were  to
               be constructed at all  openings discharging water.

           2.   Water diversion:  Since water is the  transport media  for  carrying acid
               and iron from the mining environment, reducing the amount of water
               passing through a surface or underground mine  will reduce the  amount of
               pollution.  To prevent water from  entering underground mines,  subsidence
               holes were to be filled, streams were to be rechanneled away from mines,
               and "dry" seals, a solid seal through which water could not  pass, were
               to be constructed in mine portals.

           3.   Burying of acid-producing spoils and  refuse:   Since these materials were
               major contributors to  pollution they  were  to be buried in surface mine
               pits.

           4.   Surface mine reclamation:  Although surface mines were to be regraded
               primarily to prevent water from entering the underground  mine,  regrading
               also reduces the time  that water is in contact with acid-producing  mate-
               rial in the surface mine itself.   During regrading burying the  highly
               acid material was planned.

           5.   Revegetation:   All disturbed areas were to be  revegetated to prevent
               erosion and stabilize  the backfills.

        The design of the seals and various types of backfills used  on the  project has
 been reported previously.(4)

        The project was not completed.   Those mines  on the south half of the Roaring
 Creek Watershed,  upstream of Coalton (see Figure 1)  were  reclaimed  as planned.  How-
 ever, no reclamation took place north of Coalton in the Roaring Creek Watershed and
 none took  place  in the Grassy Run Watershed.  Thus,  any  improvement  in  water  quality
 would occur in the southern  subwatersheds of Roaring Creek.   It was  also possible that
 some improvement  might occur in Grassy Run since the reclamation in  Roaring Creek should
 have diverted water from the underground mine which  drained to  Grassy Run.

        A summary  of the work performed is presented  in Table II.

                                     TABLE II
                            Reclamation Work Performed
Reclamation
Surface Mines Reclaimed
Backfill, Total
Subsidence Holes Filled
Mine Seals
Grass Planted Only
Grass Hydroseeded Only
Trees Planted Only
Hydroseed Grasa and Trees Planted
Grass and Trees Planted
 12.5 Miles
  3.6 Million Cubic Yards
450
101
322
 16
 57
195
120
Acres
Acres
Acres
Acres
Acres

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                                          288.

 RESULTS

        The climatic conditions play an important role in the evaluation of pollution
 control techniques.  Not only are there the seasonal variations in flow volumes and
 concentration (see Figures 2-5) but, variations between years.  For example, during
 1964 and 1965, the two years before reclamation, the acidity concentration of Roaring
 Creek at its mouth was 88 mg/1 and 141 mg/1, respectively, and the acid load (March -
 December period) was 1,289 tons and 1,311 tons respectively.  The difference between
 these years was that the precipitation in 1964 was 41.58 inches as compared to 34-06
 inches in 1965 (Table III).  Thus, the choice of a base year becomes critical in
 making evaluations.  This important point should be kept in mind during the following
 discussion.

        Due to the complexity of the situation in the reclaimed area, it was divided
 into five subwatersheds for evaluation.  The location of each monitoring point for a
 subwatershed is shown in Figure 1.  In general, the monitoring point was at the mouth
 of a small stream system.  Each subwatershed is described below.

        Subwatershed RT8F-1 - A sampling point  at the mouth of this 202-acre subwater-
 shed was used to measure the effect of reclamation on 49 acres of surface mines.  One
 underground mine discharge is located in the area and it has not been sealed.

        During wet periods the underground discharge contributed only a small per-
 centage of the pollution load (from 1 to 25 percent) while during dry periods  (summer
 and late fall) it often contributed 100 percent of the pollution load.   Because of the
 variable contribution from the underground mine, determining the effectiveness of the
 surface mine reclamation is difficult.  In our analysis, we have assumed that  the con-
 tribution from the underground mine was the same for both the before and after periods
 and thus,  a constant factor (in actuality the  underground discharge has had a  slightly
 lower acidity and sulfate concentration following reclamation).

        The data collected at this sampling point are summarized in Figure 2 and Table
 IV.   During 1968,  there was a marked improvement in the  acidity and sulfate concen-
 trations.   However,  during 1969,  the concentration levels have increased over  those
 of 1968,  but have  not reached those of the pre-reclamation period.   This increase
 may partially be due to the reduced affect of  the Time that was  applied in 1968 during
 revegetation.   If the present trend continues,  the water quality may approach  that  of
 pre-reclamation periods.

        The acid and sulfate load  during 1968 was significantly reduced  below that of
 1966,  but  during 1969,  the  iron and sulfate  load had returned to levels near or above
 the  1966 level and only acidity still showed a significant  reduction.

        Subwatershed  RT  9-2  -  This  692 acre watershed contained 160  acres of surface
 mines  (23  percent  of land area) all of which were reclaimed.   One underground  dis-
 charge  is  located  in the  watershed,  however, its acid load  contribution is  minor
 (less than one  percent).  In  Table  V and Figure  3,  the data collected at the mouth
 of the  watershed are summarized.

        The  data  show that during 1968 and  1969,  the  concentration of acidity and sul-
 fate was less than the  pre-reclamation period of 1964 -  1966.  During 1969, there has
 been a  small increase in  acidity over  1968 and a small decrease  in  sulfate.  These
 latter  changes are well within a range that  can  be expected,  due to yearly variations.

       The  importance in the  choice  of a base year  is apparent from the  load data
 presented  in Table V.  If the dry year 1965  is chosen, the  acidity load decreased much
 less in 1968 and 1969 than  if 1966  is  chosen, which had  similar  precipitation to 1968
and 1969.  The sulfate load was higher during 1968 than during the pre-reclamation
years, however, in 1969 the load was less.  These data may indicate that a large portion
of the sulfates was leached from the freshly disturbed soil in 1968 and that a continued
decrease in sulfate can be expected.

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                           289.
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                                     290.

                                  TABLE IV
                     Summary Data Subwatershed RT8F-1
Mean Concentration
Mg/1 (S.D.a)
Before Reclamation
1965 - 1966
After Reclamation
1968
1969
Load, tons
Before Reclamation
1965
1966
After Reclamation
1968
1969
a. Standard Deviation
b. Incomplete Data

Summary
Mean Concentration
Mg/1 (S.D.a)
Before Reclamation
1964 - 1966
After Reclamation
1968
1969
Load, tons
Before Reclamation
1965
1966
After Reclamation
1968
1969
Acidity
199 (78)
74 (3D
123 (33)
b
39
12.5
23.7

TABLE V
Data Subwatershed RT
Acidity
178 (63)
86 (28)
96 (26)
IB?
243
153
331
Iron
19 (12)
10 (5)
16 (8)
b
4.7
1.6
4-5


9-2
Iron
5 (2)
4 (1.4)
5 (1.8)
6.4
7.5
7.2
8.0
Sulfate
290 (86)
159 (37)
211 (70)
b
52.1
26.0
64.5



Sulfate
313 (105)
225 (64)
208 (90)
338
436
450
268

a.  Standard Deviation

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                                          291.
.  E
400

300

200

100

  0

 40

 30

 20

 10

  0

400

300

200

100

  0
                                      I
                                                     ACIDITY.  CaC03
                                                     TOTAL IRON
                                                    SULFATE
                              AFTER RECLAMATION
                              	I	
              1965
1966
                                       1967

                                  FIGURE 2
1968
1969
                      RUNOFF  CHARACTERISTICS  WATERSHED RT8F 1

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                                        292.
   350



   300



^ 250
E


£ 200
C3
CJ
* 150



   100



    50



     0

M
E
  .  10

o
ae

     0



   500



~ 400
a*
B

- 300
                                              ACIDITY.  CaC03
100
         BEFORE RECLAMATION
                                                TOTAL IRON
                                                  AFTER RECLAMATION
                                               j_
         1965
                           1966
1967
1968
                                    FIGURE 3
                     RUNOFF CHARACTERISTICS WATERSHED  RT9 2
1969

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                                         293-


       Subwater»hed RT 9-23 - This 3,749 acre watershed contained 256 acres of suf-
face mines  (7 percent of land area) which were reclaimed.  One insignificant under-
ground mine discharge was present in the area.  A summary of the water quality is
presented in Table VI and Figure 4'

       The concentration data as illustrated in Figure 4 are difficult to interpret.
Each year there is a sharp increase in concentration during the summer when the flow
rate is low, with the exception of 196? which had somewhat higher rainfall.  Overall,
as seen in Table VI, there has been a decrease in concentration from the prereclama-
tion period of 1964 - 1966 and a longtem trend of a smaller concentration of acidity
and sulfate.  The load data show that the 1969 loads are less than for either 1965
or 1966.

                                     TABLE VI
                          Summary Data Subwatershed RT 9-23

Mean Concentration
  Mg/1 (S.D.a)	Acidity	Iron	Sulfate

Before Reclamation
   1964 - 1966                  100 (62)              50)              163 (97)

After Reclamation
      1968                       65 (48)              5 (4)              140 (128)
      1969                       56 (30)              4 (2)               84 (40)


Loadj Tons
Before Reclamation
       1965                     446                  33                  792
       1966                     653                  46                  979

After Reclamation
       1968                     429                  29                  844
       1969                     316                  23                  525
a.  Standard Deviation

       Subwatershed RT 6-20 - This 211 acre watershed contained 45 acres of surface
mines (21 percent of land area) and two underground mine discharges.  As shown in
Figure 5 and Table VII, there has been no improvement in the water quality, in fact,
the water has degraded in quality and the long term trend indicates it will get even
worse.  An analysis was made to determine the source of the pollutants (Table VIII).
Before reclamation approximately 54 percent of the pollution load came from the under-
ground mines and the remainder from the surface mines.  Following reclamation in 1968,
there was a 91 percent decrease in the acid, 89 percent in iron and 33 percent in
sulfate attributable to surface mines.  At the same time there has been over 100 per-
cent increase in these pollutants from the underground mines.  In 1969, the acid load
from surface mines increased over 1968, but was still 55 percent less than 1966.
The iron load also raised slightly while the sulfate load decreased slightly.

       Both the underground mines have had their portals sealed with "wet11 seals.
However, the mines are not sealed to air movement, as the oxygen content of the
atmosphere within the mine is the same as without.  Air probably moves into the mine
through subsidence holes, cracks, etc., in the overburden.  Since over 75 percent
of the pollution came from one of the mines, RT 6-12, a further analysis of that

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    500

_   400

    300

    200

    100
06
E
             1965
                            966
1967
1968
                                      FIGURE 4
                       RUNOFF CHARACTERISTICS WATERSHED  RT9 23
1969

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                  295.
                                               1969
               FIGURE 5
RUNOFF CHARACTERISTICS WATERSHED  RT  6 20

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                                    296.
                                 TABLE VII

                     Summary Data Subwatershed RT 6-20
Mean Concentration
Mg/1 (S.D.a)
Before Reclamation
1964 - 1966
After Reclamation
1968
1969
Load ^ tons/day
Before Reclamation
1965
1966
After Reclamation
1968
1969
Acidity
486 (183)
613 (173)
783 (227)

113
149
183
183
Iron Sulfate
91 (40) 616 (225)
148 (43) 686 (177)
232 (101) 881 (236)

21 152
33 168
48 211
55 216

a. Standard Deviation
TABLE VIII
Pollution

Acidity,
Total
Underground Mines
Surface Mines*
Iron,
Total
Underground Mines
Surface Mines*
Sulfate,
Total
Underground Mines
Surface Mines*
Loads and their Source - Subwatershed RT 6-20
Before Reclamation
Percent
Tons of Total
148.7
80.5 54
68.2 46
33.2
18.3 55
14.9 45
168.0
££•7 53
n A Q i n
yo.j 47
After Reclamation
1963 1959
Percent Percent
Tons of Total Tons of Total
183.8 - 182.9
167.5 91 152.1 83
6.3 9 30.8 1?
48.0 - 54.5
46.3 96 50.6 92
1.7 4 3.9 8
211.3 - 215.9
169.7 80 168.2 77
51.6 20 47.7 23
*  Considered to be the difference between underground mine  load and total
   load.

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                                           297.


  discharge was made (Table IX).  A slight increase in the concentration of pollutants
  and flow volume has occurred with the exception of aluminum.   No explanation for this
  increase has been obtained.   The water quality from the second "sealed" mine has shown
  no improvement either.

         In summary, the  surface mine reclamation appears to have reduced the pollutants
  from that source, while on the other hand the  underground mine seals are ineffective
  and for some unknown reason  the pollution load is even greater than in the past.

                                       TABLE IX
                    Water Quality Underground Mine Drainage RT  6-12
Before Sealing ^
Mean S.D.*
Flow, cfs
PH
Acidity, CaC03, Mg/1
Iron, Mg/1
Sulfate
Hardness, CaC(>3, Mg/1
Aluminum, Mg/1
0.12?
2.6
977
238
1,002
231
64
0.169
_
533
157
536
165
29
After Sealing^2)
Mean S.D.*
0.16
2.8
1,031
291
1,055
327
50
0.14
_
440
135
386
106
22
  *  Standard Deviation
 (1)  23  Samples,  March 64 - June  66
 (2)  44  Samples,  September 6? - July 69

        Subwatershed RT 6-21 - The  control site  is  located at the mouth of  Kittle Run,
 one  of  the  worst areas in the project.  The  streambed  had been completely  destroyed
 during  mining when the overburden  was  deposited in the creek.   Surface runoff and
 underground mine drainage in the headwaters  were partly directed into  underground mines.
 Thus, the sample site at the mouth of  the creek was not indicative  of  the  total pollution
 contribution.  During reclamation  140  acres  of  surface mines were regraded and  planted,
 several refuse piles  and garbage dumps were  buried, six clay seals  were installed in
 deep mine openings and two wet seals were constructed.   The streambed  also was  reestab-
 lished, thus directing all of the  runoff  past the  control point.

        In Table  X, the data collected  at  the control site are  reported.  It should be
 remembered  that  the before reclamation data  do not show the  total pollution load of
 the  watershed since part of the water was directed into the underground mine  upstream
 from the control point.   Thus, the load values  would have been greater than those
 reported.

        In Table  XI, the source of  pollution  following  reclamation is reported.  It is
 interesting to note that even though the  area contributing to  the discharge from the
 watershed was greater after reclamation,  the acid  and  sulfate  load was  less.  The
 volume  of water  discharged increased from 18.35 million cubic  feet  in  1966, to  22.55
 million cubic feet in 1968,  but decreased to 16.08 in  1969.  At the same time the
 pollution load from the  underground mines remained the  same or increased.  It can be
 concluded from these  data that the reclamation  of  the  surface  mines and the burial of
 the  refuse  piles  resulted in a reduction  in  pollution.  The increase in surface mine
 contribution from 1968 to 1969 may be due to normal yearly variations or show a decreased
 benefit of  the lime applied to the soil during  revegetation.

        The  discharge  from underground mine RT 6-9  has increased in volume  (see Table
XII) and decreased in acid, iron, and sulfate.  Although the concentration has decreased,
the  increase in flow has  resulted  in an increase in the pollution load  (Table XI and XII).

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                                     298.
                                   TABLE X
                      Summary Data Subwatershed RT 6-21
Mean Concentration
Mg/1 (S.D.a)
Before Reclamation13
1965 - 1966
After Reclamation
1968
1969
Acidity
1,555 (400)
1,12? (241)
1,060 (227)
Iron
328 (85)
309 (64)
330 (108)
Sulfate
1,768 (432)
1,179 (240)
1,243 (309)
Load, Tons
Before Reclamation^
1965
1966
After Reclamation
1968
1969
a. Standard Deviation.
b. The before and after
684
868
683
575
reclamation data are not dir
148
175
192
183
ectly comparable,
829
944
737
652
because some o
the pollution load developed in the watershed prior to reclamation was diverted to
the underground mine and thus, did not pass the control point.

                                  TABLE XI
           Pollution Loads And Their Sources Subwatershed RT 6-21



Acidity,
Total
Mine RT 6-9
Mine RT 6-23
Total Underground
Surface Mines
Iron,
Total
Mine RT 6-9
Mine RT 6-23
Total Underground
Surface Mines
Sulfate,
Total
Mine RT 6-9
Mine RT 6-23
Total Underground
Surface Mines
1966

Tons

868
59
242
301
•**

175
14
54
68
*#

944
79
268
347
«*
1968

Tons

683
266
246
512
171*

192
72
64
136
56*

737
248
274
522
215*
* Assumed to be difference between total
Percent
of Total

—
38
36
74
26

—
37
33
70
30

-
33
37
70
30
1969

Tons

575
221
163
384
191*

183
62
51
113
70*

652
220
194
414
238*
and underground.
Percent
of Total

_
38
28
66
34

-
33
27
61
39

—
33
29
63
27

*# Cannot be determined because not all water in watershed drained past control point
during pre-reclamation.

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                                            299.


 The cause of the increased flow has not been determined.   Samples of the air behind
 the "wet" seal contained the same concentration  of oxygen as the air outside the mine,
 thus,  air must have access to the mine.

        Mine RT 6-23 also had no reduction in the oxygen content inside the "wet" seal.
 An increase in flow was recorded at this mine (Table XII).  The acid, iron, and sul-
 fate concentrations have been reduced.   Thus, an increase in flow and a decrease in
 concentration results in the pollution load from the mine being approximately the same
 for both the before and after period (Table XI and XII).

        Mine Seals - Eleven "wet" seals  were constructed in the large 2,000 acre under-
 ground mine complex and one in a small isolated  mine.  The sealing of the large mine
 was not completed.  All of the portals  on the south half of the mine were sealed, but
 several were left open on the north half.  The subsidance over large parts of the mine
 was not corrected.  Thus, it is not surprising that air samples collected from behind
 the "wet" seals contained the same oxygen concentration as the air outside the mine.
 The quality and quantity of water discharging from nine mine openings have been mon-
 itored and the results reported in Table XII.

        The first eight openings, reported in Table XII,  were in the large 2,000 acre
 mine.   The data have an overall trend that indicates the  concentration of acidity and
 sulfate has reduced slightly and the flow increased, resulting in an overall increase
 or no  change in the pollution load.  The concentration  figures shown are averages and
 the actual data varied to such a degree that it  is questionable if there are any actual
 changes due to mine sealing.  The increase in flow noted at several sites probably is
 due to better measurements of flow after reclamation.  Before reclamation, there were
 often  seeps at the base of highwalls and toes of spoils that could not be measured.
 As a result of reclamation this water was forced out the  main portal.

        Mine RT 9-11 was a small isolated mine (only a few acres) and all its known
 openings had been sealed.   Unlike the large mine, it was  felt that a better than aver-
 age effort had been extended to seal off all air entrances to the mine.   As seen in
 Table  XIII, the oxygen content within the mine had been reduced, but not eliminated.
 During the latter months of 1969,  a marked increase in  the oxygen content occurred.
 No explanation has been found for this  happening.  A marked reduction in acid and
 sulfate concentration occurred shortly  after the mine was sealed,  even before the
 oxygen concentration was reduced.   This reduction is felt to be due to a change  in
 the hydraulics of the mine,  since two feet of water were  ponded in it  as a result of
 the seal,  and not a reduction in acid formation.   The quality of the water has been
 fairly constant since the  initial decrease and has appeared to reach an equilibrium.

 CONCLUSION

        The Elkins Mine Drainage Demonstration Project has produced both encouraging
 and discouraging results.  The reclamation and revegetation of surface mines  and
 refuse piles have resulted in a decrease  in the  pollution load from that  source.
 Not all the changes occur  overnight and several  years may be required  before  all of
 the residual pollutants  are  leached from the reclaimed  spoil.   Soil samples  col-
 lected from the spoil indicated that  a  reserve of 2,000 pounds per acre  of sulfate
 remains to be leached in the upper six  inches.   In some areas the  pollution load the
 second year after reclamation was  higher  than the first.   This change  may be  due to
 normal yearly variations or  to the decreased effect of  the lime  applied during re-
 vegetation.

        The  air sealing of  underground mines  to eliminate  all oxygen cannot be accom-
 plished under the conditions encountered  at  Elkins.   Even under  the best  conditions the
 oxygen was  reduced to only seven percent.  With  each  change  in barometric  pressure, air
moves in or out of the mine.  In a large  complex mine with a tendency for  subsidance,
no reduction can be expected.  Air sealing as practiced at Elkins was not  successful.

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                                    300.
                                  TABLE XII

           Characteristics of the Discharge Prom Underground Mines
                     Before (1966) and After Air Sealing
Mine Seal
Number


RT 6-9
RT 6-23
RT 6-12
RT 6A-1
RT 6-3
RT 6-6b
RT 6-5
RT 5-2
RT 9-Hc

RT 6-9
RT 6-23
RT 6-12
RT 6A-1
RT 6-3^
RT 6-6°
RT 6-5
RT 5-2
RT 9-llc
a. Bulkhead
Acidity Sulfate
1966 1968 1969 . 1966 1968

Concentration, Mg/1
1,958 1,615 1,615 2,740 1,494
1,942 1,455 1,312 2,114 1,56?
977 1,031 955 1,002 1,055
712 437 474 586 509
21? 195 181 427 412
264 2,193 2,422 408 2,022
307 21? 225 486 425
837 664 - 1,147 799
591 331 348 1,035 685
Load Tons/Year
59 266 221 79 248
242 246 163 268 274
65 129 135 68 136
17 11 6 10 13
20 22 23 38 45
25 39 18 22 34
240 171 172 399 350
118 119 & 81 159
18 16 16 26 33
seal constructed September 1969.
b. The concentration mas lower and volume higher du.

1969


1,608
1,560
1,098
520
358
2,380
412
a
674

220
194
152
6
51
17
315
a
30

Discharge
1966 1968 1969
Million Cubic Ft.
Per Year
1 5.5 4.5
4-3 5.7 4.1
4.1 4.5 4.8
0.6 0.8 0.4
3.4 3.9 4.7
2.3 0.8 0.2
27.9 27.7 24.7
4.5 6.6 a
0.9 1.5 1.4











ring 1966 because sirface runoff
was measured along with the mine discharge.
All mine seals, but RT 9-11 are into the 2,000 acre mine, RT 9-11 is into a small
isolated mine.

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                301.




            TABLE nil



Effectiveness of Mine Seal RT 9-11


Before Sealingb (Mean)
Minimum
After Sealing
Oct. 67
Nov. 67
Dec. 6?
Jan. 63
Feb. 63
March 68
April 68
May 68
June 68
July 68
Aug. 68
Sept. 68
Oct. 68
Nov. 68
Dec. 68
Jan. 69
Feb. 69
March 69
April 69
May 69
June 69
July 6.9
Aug. 69
Sept. 69
Oct. 69
Nov. 69
Dec. 69
Oxygen
Within Mine,
Percent
-j.-.r
	

— _
9.1*
—-..
7.8*
-._ _
8.8*
-.,.—
10.8*
-.-,-!-
7.0*
—.—
—___
7.2*
7.6*
.....
..,,..-
— 	


—.-...
~ 	 -
	
__ —
7.0
..
14.0
15-5
Acidity (Hot)
auc/1
591 (65)c
438

388
365
325
315
328
332
277
344
382
354
318
360
279
247
269
373
320
357
319
332
367
339
357
432
309
340
333
PH
2.8d
3.1«

3.1
3.2
3.2
3.1
3.2
3.2
3.3
3.3
3.0
3.2
3-2
3.0
3.2
3.2
3.2
3.3
3.2
3.2
3.2
3.1
3.2
3.1
3.0
2.6
3.4
2.8
3.2
Iron,
n«/l
93 (25)c
48

86
83
87
75
69
77
60
64
81
73
70
74
74
78
66
62
58
70
118
93
63
67
60
60
86
71
56
Sulfate,
ntt/1
1,035 (155)C
710

835
770
785
655
700
703
625
620
660
780
665
680
630
660
590
700
585
650
602
597
770
605
685
860
700
735
600

a. Data collected by U.
b. March 1964 - August
S. Bureau of
196?.
c. Number in parenthesis is standard
d. Median value.
*». Ma-vHimini valua.


Mines.

deviation.


















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                                         302.


      The final analysis of the effectiveness of the remedial measures is the pol-
lution load of Roaring Creek and Grassy Run.  In Table XIV, these loads are pre-
sented.

       The Roaring Creek discharge shows a reduction of the acid load of 754 tons in
1968 and 781 tons in 1969, if 1966 is considered the base year.  If 1965 is considered
the base year, then there has been an increase in the acid load.  It is suggested
that 1966 is a better base year since it has a precipitation level similar to 1968
and 1969 while 1965 has approximately five inches less.

       Although no remedial work was performed in the Grassy Run watershed, the
work performed in Roaring Creek was to have diverted water from the underground mines
that drain to Graasy Run, thus, reducing the pollution load.  As shown in Table XIV,
there has been a reduction.  Oddly, there have been no significant trends in the dis-
charge from this watershed, the discharges for 1965, 1966, 1968, and 1969 being 195,
190, 248, and 166 million cubic feet per year, respectively.

       If 1966 was considered the base year, then there was a decrease in the acid
load for the Roaring Creek - Grassy Run area of 1,50? tons in 1968 and 2,990 tons
in 1969.

       However, even with these decreases, it is quite evident that these creeks are
still highly polluted and far from being recovered.  They can only return to that
condition when an effective method of controlling underground discharges can be
developed.

                                     TABLE XIV

             Pollution Load Roaring Creek and Grassy Run, 1964 - 1969

                     	Acidity. Tons/year	Sulfate. Tons/year
      Year               Roaring Creek     Grassy Run     Roaring Creek   Grassy Run
Before Reclamation
1964
1965
1966

1,500*
2,397
3,576

l,823b
3,303
3,467

2,119a
4,131
5,416

2,775b
5,320
4,683
During Construction
      1967                 4,908            4,737C           7,603          6,144e

After Reclamation
1968
1969
2,822
2,795
2,915
2,393
4,663
3,207
4,141
3,480
a.  Only 10 months, March - December
b.  Only 9 months, April - December
c.  Only 9 months, January - September

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

       This project was a cooperative effort between the Federal Water Pollution Con-
trol Administration, the State of West Virginia, and the following Federal agencies:
U. S. Bureau of Mines, U.S. Geological Survey and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Soil Conservation Service, U. S. Forest Service, and Tygarts Valley Soil Conser-
vation Districts, provided assistance in the revegetation aspects of the project.
Mr. Lowell A. Van Den Berg, FWPCA, was responsible for the development of the field
activities for this project and the coordination of the activities of the various
agencies.  Mr. Robert Scott was project engineer.

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                                       303.

                                    REFERENCES
(1)  Committee of Public Works,  U. S.  House  of Representatives, 1962,  "Acid Mine
     Drainage," House Committee  Print  No.  18,  87th  Congress, Second Session, U. S.
     Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.

(2)  Porges,  R., Van Den Berg, L. A.,  and  Ballinger,  D. G., Re-Assessing an Old Pro-
     blem - Acid Mine Drainage.  Journal of the Sanitary Engineering Division, Proc.
     of the American Society of  Civil  Engineers,  Vol.  92, No. SA 1, February 1966.

(3)  Bullard, W. E., Acid  Mine Drainage Pollution Control Demonstration Program
     Uses of  Experimental  Watersheds.  International Association of Scientific
     Hydrology, Symposium  of Budapest, Extract of Publication No. 66,  Budapest,
     Hungary, 1965.

(4)  Hill, Ronald D., Reclamation and  Revegetation  of 640 Acres of Surface Mines -
     Elkins.  West Virginia.  Proceeding International  Symposium on Ecology and
     Revegetation of Drastically Disturbed Areas, Pennsylvania State University,
     August 1969 (to be released 1970). Copies available from Federal Water
     Pollution Control Administration.

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, ,„« -»8  X1JU-

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