AN ivrr.ur.ovLUNMhNTAi. m h;cr TO IMIXOVI: I;NVIKUMM!.NIAI.
QUALI'H IN AN AK!;A 01- ABAMlONhli MiNhS
Robert S. Davis I). R. Maneval, Ph.X
Biologist Science AdvuM,'
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Appalachian Regional C^r
Region III Washington, D. ',.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
INTRODUCTION'
Mine drainage abatement has been the subject of research on the part of many
state and federal agencies for years. Cooperation on such projects, also, is not
nev, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Appalachian Regional
Commission (ARC), for example, have cooperated on several projects in the past.
However, a project specifically to evaluate interagency cooperation is new. In
addition, this project is ultimately aimed at more than an evaluation of cooperation,
environmental improvements accrued are the ultimate benefits.
Most of EPA's efforts in mine drainage abatement have been in the area of
research and development and demonstration, in keeping with the laws under v,-.ich
EPA exists. Of course, the main constraint in EPA's efforts and its predecessor
organizations has been the level of funding available to carry out abatement work
using available technology. Technology development, however, has progressed to
the point where many alternatives are presently available. While EPA and its
predecessor organizations have been involved with technology development and
demonstration, many other organizations, including federal, state and local govern-
ments as well as private corporations, have contributed enormously and impressively.
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) was created in 1965 by the U. S.
Congress to provide planning, program and financial aid to Appalachia. The ARC
is a unique blend of federal and state cooperation.
Recommendations for a regional program contained in the 1963 report of the
President's Appalachian Pegional Commission (PARC) were significantly weighted
toward resource projects. This weighting reflects several important characteristics
of the President's Commission effort. Recommendations from the Commission for a
regional program were to be such that they would receive generally favorable
support from Congress. At that time (summer 1963), it was easier to identify
generally acceptable program and project opportunities in the resources field,
either in terms of development or in investigation, than in other fields sucn as
health and welfare. Organizationally, therefore, there were a larger number of
individuals and subteams directing efforts towards resource questions during the
PARC effort. Each of the team- - water resources, forest resources, agricultural,
recreation, coal and other mineral resources, and power - was able to draw upon
a wide range of specific program and project opportunities that were available to
them. Most of these represented specific and sometimes favored projects which
had previously been proposed -- deferred for one reason or another -- or were an
acceleration of existing activities.
Section 205
At present, Section 205 of the Appalachian Act authorizes programs for:
(1) the sealing and filling of voids in abandoned coal mines to prevent surface
subsidences; (2) the extinguishment of underground and outcrop mine fires; (.3) the
sealing of abandoned oil and gas wells; (4) the abatement of mine drainage; (5) the
reclamation of surface mine areas and mining waste banks on public lands; (6) the
necessary planning and engineering required for the identification, selection, and
implementation of these reclamation projects.
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These project^ are concentrated in or surround! tie those .irons uith TV - -nt k:L
future growth. A major priority of this program is to reclaim land f'.r int-'siv^.
uses such as industrial and commercial development, school site--', or -;ther -^nlic
use purposes. Tliere is a great need throughout the Appalachian Ke>. ion for -.-><.•
creation of hazard-free lands suitable for development. Most land in minir.r area?
is too steep for uses requiring construction and much of the land of appro:.-: ate
slope is in river valleys and subject to flooding- Hie scarcity of this rc-ource
has been aggravated by past mining practices which have left, in some cases, other-
wise useable land unreclaimed, covered with mountains of waste materials, cr subj:-.t
to subsidence from underground mines.
A wide array of work can be approved by ARC under Section 205 on prr ite
property so long as the mine problem stemmed from an abandoned deep mine. ",nly if
strip mined land is owned by a non-profit, private organization, etc., or is
publically owned, can the ARC make grants for surface mine reclamation. Or ly a
fraction of the thousands of acres of stripped unreclaimed lands in Appalac.-.ia
qualify as noted above. Thus, the ARC efforts to date have involved mainly deep
mine reclamation work - extinguishing mine fires, mine subsidence control, refuse
pile covering, etc.
Strip Mine Restoration
Four basic types of surface mine reclamation projects have been supported b/
ARC to date: (1) recreation areas; (2) school sites; (3) industrial parks; and
(4) airport runway extensions. Recreation areas have been aided, fcr ex^-ple, at
Moraine State Park, Pennsylvania; Jellico, Tennessee; Friendship Park, Ohi; : and
Flemington, West Virginia. School sites have been created at Norton, Virginia;
Martinsburg, West Virginia; and Luzerne County (Votech School), Pennsylvania.
Industrial parks have been aided through ARC funds at Delano, Pennsylvania;
Coshocton, Ohio; and Dickson City, Pennsylvania. The airport at Pittsburgh has
benefitted from an abandoned strip mine restoration project which allowed =n
important extension on a runway.
With this in mind, EPA decided to undertake a special project based voon this
available technology. This project was designed to enlist the cooperation of as
many agencies as possible, at the local, state and federal levels, and to define
the direction for the 208 and 303(e) sections of the law in areas where mi-ing is
a part of the continuing land use. The EPA regions are at the interface of
technology and implementing pollution control. Sections 208 and 303 (e) describe
mechanisms regarding the planning process towards carrying this out. Anot%er
reason, and perhaps the most important one, is the cost of abatement at abandoned
sites. This project was designed to be an initial step towards establish.!? ; a
way for interagency cooperation using a combination of as many funding sources as
possible to hopefully further the cause of pollution abatement.
HISTORY OF THE PROJECT
At the outset, EPA contacted ARC, since a closely related contract v^s being
administered at that time under an interagency agreement with EPA's Office of
Research and Development. That contract was aimed at assessing the envirornentai
problems of the Monongahela River Basin. Due to this, and ARC'S close tie~ with
state and local agencies in the area, EPA felt that ARC would have the greatest
amount of knowledge on the Basin. An interagency agreement was then prepared
specifically for this project.
For several reasons the interagency agreement is a good mechanism for a
project of this kind. It places the project on firm footing by acting as .A formal
contract between governmental agencies . Cost savings are realized through the
absorption of overhead costs as part of daily operating procedures. In addition,
specific expertise is more readily available than is usually the case when formal
contracting procedures with non-government organizations are used.
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As with any project ol' this kind, a great deal of effort was initially
expended in locating an appropriate site. Ln consultation witli one or t.-.o st ".cs,
several potential sites were discussed, all in the Ohio River Ba :n, with all :ut
OIK- located in the Monongahela River Basin. This Basin, it was '.'It, clc-;ervc_ the
greatest amount of attention since I; PA luid supported a comprehensive study on -,he
Basin that was carried out by the Appalachian Regional Commission. The presc"
site at Settler's Cabin Park in Pennsylvania (Figure 1) was chosen and has pr: en
to be the best as time has passed. For example, an important aspect of the pr:ject
is its relation to 208 and 303(c), as stated previously. Shortly after the ir.ter-
agency agreement between EPA and ARC was signed, a 208 agency was designated ;/
EPA for the Pittsburgh area. This project in Settler's Cabin Park then assured a
larger image and has now been granted additional funding for the expansion of the
EPA-sponsored portions of the project, amounting to more than twice as nuch as
originally granted by EPA.
Several sites were investigated and one by one were discarded for various
reasons until one was left. The site chosen lies in an undeveloped portion of a
county regional park in an area of incompletely restored strip mines, deep mir.es,
as well as active and abandoned oil and gas wells. The review process required
contact with county and state officials and part of this contact represents initi-
ating cooperation among local, state and federal agencies. The site chosen will
act as a test case for this cooperative effort within the bounds of legislati:r.
and regulation and part of the project will result in a critique of this inter-
agency cooperation.
Over a million people live within the immediate vicinity of the Settler';
Cabin Regional Park. The Allegheny County Commissioners, many years ago, as rart
of a recreation development master plan, located in various sections surrounding
metropolitan Pittsburgh a number of regional parks. The site of this propose;
project has remained in a somewhat undeveloped state due to the adverse environ-
mental effects of previous mineral exploitation. With the growth of the greater
Pittsburgh area and especially the growing concentration of housing areas to the
west and southwest of Pittsburgh in the corridor between downtown Pittsburgh and
the Greater Pittsburgh Airport, the importance of making the Settler's Cabin
Regional Park available for public use is even more important than in the past.
The Settler's Cabin Mine Reclamation Project is located in Allegheny County,
Pennsylvania, southwest of the City of Pittsburgh. Settler's Cabin Park is naned
for the ancient log cabin being restored at the park. Future programs at the
Cabin will accent regional history and the life style of the early settlers, ".he
park area includes some land which was formerly used for farming. The remnants of
these various commercial uses will provide rich and varied subject matter for
future nature interpretive programs, in addition to the extensive history of energy
related extraction activities.
Nearing 1,000 acres, this park site offers a variety of attractive picnic areas
and playground equipment, and when the requested mine reclamation work is done, the
park will be nearly ready for full utilization. The Park layout is shown in
Figure 2. A unique trail system is under development for this park. It will
encompass the natural resources of the area as well as the remnants of previous
commercial land uses.
Site Justification and Benefits
Pinkerton Run is located in the center of a county park within the Pittsburgh
metropolitan area, and reclamation will result in reduction of acid load in the
stream. Water based recreation is a major part of the county park plan. The
County has twice postponed the development of recreational facilities along
Pinkerton Run because of the acid mine drainage problem. Matching State funds are
available for park development if the mine drainage pollution problem can be
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i'iceess! -,:: !y reduced. Relited projects . rsidc the P i nl.ert.on Run area • . ro
now in the design or exociii ion phase, will, '..lien coupled with t ho nro;n -r- : -.
the SettKr's Cabin Regional Park, have an impact on The overall iniprov .:
water qu,-ility in Pinkcrton Run. The entire area of the park is public!/
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IMTAi i,N^_Sj_M.Ji|2:ri^ !-^[(!N_
The description of the study ;irea included in this chapter cncoinpusso* r.ot '".'
Settler's Cabin Park, hut also priwitely-owned property around the periphe: ;• ^z ~ .
park. This slightly expanded study area was developed because of the difficulty ".:
analysis of mining, related surface features, an-j mine drainage di--.chd.rge • , ir.t~
within a confined area. Actually, most of the d c-p mines that contribute to T"int
drainage within the park extend beyond the park boundary.
The study area is contained within the Robinson Run Watershed. Plnkerion's
Run originates outside Settler's Cabin Park in North Fayctte Township and flovs
through the park before discharging into Robinson Run, then into Chartier? reek,
and ultimately into the Ohio River. The location is shown on Figure 1, along wit-.
the major drainage basins of the area.
Topography
The Pinkerton's Run study area is part of the Allegheny Plateau geomorphic
province. The rock strata encountered are essentially horizontal. The landscape
is an erosional one where valleys have been carved by streams downcutting tnrcugr.
layers of sedimentary rock. Land areas between valleys remain as topographic hi-"1
but have a moderately rounded appearance due to weathering and erosional f:rce-s.
The valley wall slopes generally range from about 2$% to about 40?0 while t•;
rounded valley divides have more gentle slopes ranging from about 4% to abc.it 10
The maximum relief of the study area is roughly 400 feet. The Pittsburgh coal si--.-;
outcrops along valley walls within the project area. The coal had great economc
value and has been extensively deep and strip mined resulting in altered land for-s.
Geology
The sedimentary rock strata outcropping in the Pinkerton's Run study area ar;
of Pennsylvanian age. The rock types generally encountered are interbedded sand-
stone, shale, limestone and coal. The rock strata are members of the Monongahela
and Conemaugh Groups. The contact between these two groups marks the position of
the economically valuable Pittsburgh coal seam. A generalized columnar section
showing the rock units exposed in the study area appears in Figure 3.
The strata exposed in the study area dips slightly toward the south. Struc-
ture contours on the base of the Pittsburgh coal seam reflect the gentle southward
dip-
Soils
Soil associations are groups of soils which ordinarily occur together in the
landscape. Each soil has its characteristic location depending on the land slope
and material from which it was derived. The soil associations are named ir. order
of their importance within the association. For instance, the Westmoreland-
Guernsey soil association is composed primarily of Westmoreland soils with secor.c-
ary amounts of Guernsey soils, as well as other minor soils. The Pinkertor. Run
study area generally exhibits two soil associations. These soil associations an;
a brief general physical description of each are listed on the following table:
Soil Association Description
Westmoreland-Guernsey-Clarksburg Soils have developed in material deri\ed fr;
weathered shales, sandstones and Iime5tor.es.
Slopes range from gentle to steep, but are
mostly moderate.
Westmoreland-Guernsey Soils have developed in material derived frc
weathered shales, sandstones and limestones,
Slopes are steep.
and
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Conemouqh
i GEOLOGIC
2 SECT ION
."DIVIDUAL
B ECS
G I e n sh ow
tTTSBURGH COfll
* E S LIMESTONE
Figure 3 GENERALIZED COLUMNAR SECTION
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,:'.ii -oil :;'.rio^ t.il'OS inlo ,u _ount -u-\ci •1hyMCai t i a i 1 >' dettTPii :iin^ their potential urocl I hi i . . 1'lic potential '-' . -r . i p i 1 ~.
t'or fnv location can be estimated hy conihi ni ne the physio.il soil charac tt-r. st ic -
with the slopes on which they are t-'ound. Potential soil croji i) i 1 i',_ a[Mii_,n to
areas distrubed hy the activities of man, such as strip mininjj. In qener:.:, the
potential erodibility of the existing soil associations within Settlor's VMI: /i.k
is estimated as high, except in flat or moderate slope areas where the pc'.ntial
erodibility is estimated as medium.
Water
Water Quality
The water quality of the Settler's Cabin Park area is affected -rimaril/
by acid mine drainage. In an underground mine, water percolates through tie over-
burden and contacts pyrite in the strata lying above the coal (usually car?onace:us
shales and sandstone]. The water then flows along the floor of the nine ^rid even-
tually discharges at an outcrop or exposed entry or, in some cases, rises to the
surface under artesian pressure. All but two of the 25 documented .cid nne drain-
age discharges routinely collected during the sampling period were gravit.' drained
deep mine discharges. The remaining two acid discharges resulted from ar- .nre-
clair.ed strip mine in which runoff becomes entrapped in depressions and c intact;
acid forming strip mine spoil material.
Acid mine drainage most seriously affects Pinkerton's Run and its cajir
tributaries which are continuously polluted. The streams monitored by SF-3 and
SR-4 are also continuously polluted by acid mine drainage. The least affected
stream is monitored by station SR-6, its eastern tributary monitored by S7-16 i=
relatively clean, while the western branch monitored by SR-S is intermittently
affected by acid mine drainage. The effect of acid mine drainage polluti:?. on fe
aquatic life of the project area is significant. A comparison of the cherical
water quality during the study and the concentrations required to sustain /iable
fish populations provide little or no likelihood that fish live within the park.
A possible exception would be upstream of Station SR-16 where the chemical water
quality during the sampling period remained acceptable.
A field investigation was performed to locate and sample nine drainage
discharges. Twelve deep and strip mine discharges were known from the Ch=rtier?
Creek Mine Drainage Pollution Abatement Survey, which was published in 1?~D. A
total of 80 mine drainage discharge points and stream monitoring station; ,\ere
located by the field crews. However, most of the mine drainage discharge; were
located during the period of high ground water and subsequent high mine flows.
Consequently, for the purpose of routine sample collection and monitoring for 13
weeks, the sampling program was reduced to include 49 samples. Of the
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• 'ruand Water
The major water bearing Iv.-ds which are potent i:ii sources of water supply
in the Pinkerton's Run study area arc the Pittsburgh Sandstone, Connellsville Sand-
stone and Morgantown Sandstone. The reliability of the Pittsburgh Sandstone, which
overlies the Pittsburgh coal, is questionable as a water source in the study area.
This is because the Pittsburgh coal has been extensively mined and subsequent sub-
sidence of the overlying strata has probably drained the aquifer. The Morgantown
Sandstone, which lies roughly ISO to 220 feet below the Pittsburgh coal, is the
best and most persistent aquifer in the area for domestic uses, and is permeable
enough to sustain some public water supplies. The Connellsville Sandstone is not
as reliable an aquifer in the study area as the Morgantown Sandstone. This is
because the Connellsville Sandstone, which lies 30 to 60 feet below the Pittsburgh
coal, is more shaley and thus less permeable. However, areas which are not shaley
are generally permeable enough to sustain domestic needs.
Unconsolidated deposits of alluvium on the flood plain of Pinkerton's Run
could prove to be a. source of water. The water bearing potential of the unconsoli-
dated flood plain material is dependent on its thickness and lithology and warrants
further study.
Mining History
Deep mining activities in the general area of the Pinkerton's Run Watershed
roughly covered the years 1908 through 1937. Mining operations were conducted
using the room and pillar method where drift entries were driven to provide access
to the coal. The coal was then mined from room-size areas leaving pillars of coal
in place to provide roof support. This phase of the mining operation occurred
roughly from 1913 to 1932.
The final phase of mining involved the recovery of the coal pillars as deep
mining operations concluded. Most of the mining was done under shallow cover
causing localized subsidence and subsequent disruption of surface and subsurface
patterns. The numerous mine openings in the area were usually left unsealed,
allowing water and air to enter the mine complex which contributed to the acid mine
drainage problem.
Strip mining operations were primarily conducted in the 1940's. The coal left
in place by previous deep mining was entirely stripped from the coal outcrop follow-
ing the contours of the land surface. Many of these strip mines were improperly
reclaimed and now provide a means for surface water to enter the deep mine where
it can discharge as acid mine drainage. No strip or deep mines are currently in
operation within the watershed.
ANALYSIS OF DATA
All available mine maps were obtained. An overlay was prepared in an effort
to ascertain where underground workings were near the surface or had been inter-
cepted by surface mining.
Following the collection of water quantity and quality data, mine maps, and
other available sources of information, an analysis was made of alternative pollu-
tion abatement plans which would maximize acid load reduction, be least cost in
effectuating, and blend in best with the long-term park department plans.
From the process of screening abatement plan alternatives, a recommended
abatement plan was developed. This section summarizes that plan and includes a
preliminary scope of work with cost estimates.
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A comnrchens i ve mine drainage ab.itemetr: ,-lan was devised for Settler's Cabin
Park which includes five step1- ->r ph.ises ftv i \vi K'ltienlat ion. The first phase, or
Phase I, should, by itself, he sufficient tu fulfill the teemical criteria of
achieving an inflow of 50 nm/I of net alkalinity <.oni_ent rat i on at each stream
monitoring station in the P i nkert on' .-• Run Watershed during the once in ten year,
seven day consecutive low flow. !'he plans are numbered Phase I through Phase V,
with each phase being successively more complex.
Certain individual abatement methods are common to all five phases. These
common methods were judged to be the minimum requirements necessary to achieve the
project objectives in all five phases.
The first and most important abatement method common to the five phases is the
reclamation of the strip mine formally designated OAK 30 in the Chartiers Creek
report and designated here as Work Area No. 1. Work Area No. 1 was recommended in
the Chartiers Creek report as a method of decreasing the flow at mine discharge
4688. The design of the project was authorized by OCR as Project SL 102-7-20.
Plans, drawings, and a cost estimated were completed for this site, although the
design was never finalized by DI'.R. Reclamation of strip mine OAK 30 was halted
when the property owner, Patrick J. Fleck, doing business as Deep Valley Coal
Company, obtained a mine drainage permit, 3474SM15, for an area covering OAK 30.
As of this writing, a strip mine permit has been applied for but has not been
granted for OAK 30.
Two mine drainage discharges were attributed to Work Area No. 1, Since the
two discharges result only during or after a storm when water-filled depressions
overflow, these two sources have the capacity to degrade Pinkerton's Run with a
slug of acidic water.
The second abatement method found in all five alternatives is an interceptor
system designed to collect localized deep mine discharges and bypass the streams
and eventually discharge the collected AMD into Robinson Run, either treated or
untreated, depending upon the selected plan.
ABATEMENT SUMMARY
The location of all recommended work areas is shown by phases on the abatement
plan, and an impact summary of all phases is shown on Table 1. A "no-action"
alternative is also summarized for baseline establishment.
COST SUMMARY
Provided on Table 2 is a summary of the total estimates costs to implement
each phase. Part of the capital costs include estimated engineering and design
services, exclusive of surveying, aerial photography and map preparation. All
costs are derived from 1976 unit prices for construction labor and materials or
adjusted to 1976 based on the "Engineering News Record" 20 cities construction cost
index. Finally, capital costs were amortized at 7% interest for 20 years and added
to estimated operation and maintenance costs to yield an equivalent annual cost for
each phase. All estimated costs have been rounded to the nearest $1,000.
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',<• Bureau "! iurf-ioo Mine kec i ain.r ion i-> ncoilfd to insure- adequate ivr Iaw;it ion ot
-lurk Areu ! ,
Scope of Work
kegrade 26 acres of W«rk Area 1 to provide positive drainage, drain and
treat existing water-filled depressions, close two mine openings. Construct 2,200
lin. ft. of diversion ditch at the top of the existing highwull, and install 290 lin.
ft. of bituminous flume across the required bench to minimize infiltration into the
spoils.
Install 23,000 lin. ft. of plastic pipe from 10 AMD discharges. Install
concrete catch basins at 9 discharges and excavate a trench through the toe of the
reclaimed strip mine upstream of SR-23 to place a perforated pipe to collect AMD
seepage. Install a total of 78 manholes, one at every pipe confluence and at every
300 lin. ft. along each intercept ,r. The pipe is to be installed at a minimum of
4 ft. below the ground surface and should parallel the streams along the floodplain.
The impact of this Phase I work is shown in Table 3.
Phase II
Phase II adds the restoration of five portions of unreclaimed strip mines. All
five areas currently contain depressions which restrict natural surface drainage
and allow infiltration from water-filled depressions into adjacent abandoned deep
mines. The work areas are designated 2, 5, 7, 8, and 10.
Scope of Work
Regrade a total of 18 acres in five unreclaimed strip mine areas to pro-
vide positive drainage and revegetation. Samples of the upper spoil layer should
be tested for nutrients and fertilizer requirements to insure adequate soil treat-
ment.
Phase III
Phase III consists of revegetating four strip mines with appropriate grasses,
legumes, trees and shrubs. The revegetation will enhance the aesthetics of the
park, facilitate development of proposed revegetation facilities, provide a buffer
zone between existing and proposed high density picnic areas and unsightly strip
mines, and minimize erosion.
Scope of Work
Revegetate a total of 77 acres in Work Areas 3, 4, 6, and 11. Appropri-
ate grasses, legumes, trees and shrubs for reforestation areas and game refuge
areas, and their locations, are shown on the abatement plan map.
Phase IV
Work Areas 9 and 12 are approximately 30 to 50 ft. above an abandoned deep
mine. Roof collapse in the deep mines and subsequent fracturing of the rock units
above the coal have caused extensive surface subsidence in each of these areas.
This subsidence causes severe limitations upon land development within the park,
especially Area 12 which is intended to become a picnic area. Moreover, Area 9 is
promoting rapid infiltration of storm runoff through subsidence areas. This infil-
tration probably discharges as part of AMD source 4676 located at the headwaters
of the stream monitored by station SR-3. Also, the interpretation of subsurface
structure and mine drainage patterns indicates that the mine complex of Work Area
12 is responsible for the 380 Ibs. per day of acid monitored at station SR-17.
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I'a^'li"!!! or i:yeav.'V<- the deep -line ue.rk'.n'"< "t" 3 :icrv< n; '',•:!> \ro'i p ••
.>] ;jcres of V.'ork Area 12. Remove remnant ; of the main Pitt^bur. i t.n,i! plii< rooi
.inil bony coals .uul the P i t t:>':"ir'.',h ruler .oal. Apnrox imately d.OOO r;-vi f-2,0i'0 to-
of marketable coal for Work Areas 9 ami 12, respectively, could be recovered to ::-
sot the construct ion cost.-;.
In Work Area ;), place approximately 2,7()0 cu. yds. ol" rock filter mater-
ial along the working Pace ho fore backfilling. If additional deep mine drainage .
encountered. Kogradc to approximate original contour. l:or U'ork \rca 12, place i.
clay blanket and select relatively impervious spoil material along the northern
work limits prior to backfilling. Backfill and grade to finished contours for t'r :•
proposed picnic area development.
Phase V
The final phase of the recommended abatement program includes a lime neutral-
ization treatment facility to chemically neutralize the AMD coin-eyed by the Phase '-
interceptor system and for the construction of additional interceptors from AMD c.--
charges 4673 through 4688 located to the west and southwest of the project area.
This phase is intended as a long range goal and should be considered as a
possible component of a more comprehensive appraisal of mine drainage and water
resources problems throughout the Robinson Run and Chartiers Creek drainage basir.;.
Scope of Work
Install approximately 31,000 lin. ft. of plastic pipe to intercept at
least 11 AMD discharges designated 4673 through 4688 in the west and southwest
portions of the project area. The AMD sources should be conveyed by gravity to a
lime neutralization treatment facility located in the flood plain of Robinson Run
near the confluence with Pinkerton's Run. The treatment facility will chemically
neutralize and oxidize the mine drainage such that the discharged effluent will
comply with Title 2S, Chapter 95, Water Quality Criteria for pH and iron.
The design flow for the treatment facility was estimated at 2,500 gal. rer
minute with a weighted average acidity concentration of 275 mg/1. All design para-
meters for the unnamed tributary to the North Branch of Robinson Run, monitored by
station SR-12, were estimated due to AMD discharges beyond the scope of the curre-".:
survey. Additional flow and water quality characteristics should be obtained ale:-.;;
this stream reach for design purposes.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors especially appreciate the help of Mr. Ralph Rhodes, whose exper-
ience and perspectives in Research and Development projects, as well as in govern-
ment relations, served well in the initial struggle to launch this project. We .:re
also indebted to the support of Mr. Daniel J. Snyder, III, and Dr. Alvin R. Morris,
the Regional Administrator and Deputy Regional Administrator, respectively, of Er\,
Region III.
The authors also acknowledge the patience and encouragement of Mr. Clifford
McConnel and members of his staff, namely Mr. Andrew "Bud" Frederick and Mr. David
Hogeman. Their initial help with regard to technical information was invaluable.
At the local level, the Allegheny County Commissioners were eager to pursue
this project. Their positive attitude was of immeasurable help, especially with
regard to the availability of the site as well as manpower and materials. Mr.
Donald Herman, County Director of Public Works, acting as their representative, has
been the man behind the nuts-and-bolts help in construction needs and access to
adjoining properties during the engineering phase.
P! «> n •; <_• I y ;.• .% t o '-, > • . ,. < \, ;•< •
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and
Do not tvpi- in tins •]?>••<,
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• ,i is.' •!'(', ' In- people f.-'-pijii^ i hi.,- {-"or cooperat. j j>p, <'n-o Sr. llonaul >',". '\1iitchoa_
...-•.;-o lit'' it. .t in UUP ; n ^-rel-ited i>roji-c!s is Vt-ry broad, and Mr. 0. l.orch (.no Ion;.;-;
>v i i li the Coi'iiiuss ion 1 .
Within i:.PA, Mr. IMuar Pash ("now with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service), anc
hjs successors in tlie Washington Headquarters, Mr. Charles Vcnderlyn and Nh~. Deely,
have both sliown sufficient interest so that further funding lias rec -utly been made
avali able,
SELECTEO RI- FERENC_L:S
1, A. C. Ackenheil Geosystcms, Inc., Pollution Abatement Survey of Chartiers Cree;
Drainage Basin, Pa. Contract No. SL-102. 1969.
2. A. C. Ackenheil Geosystems, Inc., Settler's Cabin Park Mine Drainage Pollution
Abatement Survey: Allegheny County, Pa. (Available from Appalachian Regional
Commission.) 1976.
3, Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965, as amended; PL 89-4.
4. Criteria for Developing Pollution Abatement Programs for Inactive and Abandone:
Mine Sites. EPA 440/9-7S-008. 1975.
5. Environmental Protection in Surface Mining of Coal. EPA 670/2-74-093. 1974.
6. Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments. PL 92-500. 1972.
7. Inactive and Abandoned Underground Mines: Water Pollution Prevention and
Control. EPA 440/9-75-007. 1975.
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