Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Engineering, Volume I and II

1020 POLLUTION FROM MINE DRAINAGE

It can be seen from Table 2 and Figure 1 that the cost of

creating or preventing the formation of mine drainage is a

wide ranging variable, dependent on the method(s) selected

for use. The estimated costs for the limestone neutralization

treatment of mine drainage are shown in Figure 1 as a func-

tion of acidity and quantity to be treated.

As can be seen in the figures, the number of methods of

alleviation and control of mine drainage which are highly

effective are few, and most treatment processes produce

undesirable by-products, as well as being expensive over the

long run. It would be highly desirable to lessen the sources

of mine drainage and to be able to treat it effectively with a

gain in desirable by-products.

New techniques for the prevention of pollution from

mines are presently in the development and demonstration

stage. For example, a new technique known as “daylight-

ing” is being demonstrated. This procedure will use strip

mining techniques to remove the residual coal from shal-

low, non-operating mines and consolidate the overburden to

prevent the continued discharge of acid drainage. A variety

of abatement techniques related to surface mine reclama-

tion are being demonstrated in the Appalachia region. Also

there are two major efforts directed toward the development

of non-pollutional mining techniques. These are the mining

of coal under oxygen free conditions within the mine to

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415

$1.00

.90

.80

.70

.60

.50

.40

.30

.20

.10

.09

.08

.07

.06

COST PER 1000 gal.

ESTIMATED LIME NEUTRALIZATION TREATMENT COST - COAL MINE DRAINAGE

O.I MGD

1 MGD

2–4 MGD

6–7 MGD

FIGURE 1 Estimated costs for treatment of coal mine drainage waters based upon a composite

of published laboratory, pilot plant, and actual plant data. The estimate for the 0.1 MGD plant is

preliminary and based upon limited information.

prevent the oxidation of pyrite and the formation of acid

drainage and the application of a new mining technique

called “longwall stripping.” Longwall stripping will apply

longwall mining techniques to shallow cover coals, which

are now strip mined, to remove the coal without inverting or

dismantling the overlying earth strata.

LITERATURE REFERENCES

Most discussions of this type are buttressed by an impressive

listing of reference documents citing sources of the many facts

contained therein. To the casual reader, these references are

useless, except for their creation of an impression of author-

ity. The serious worker will demand to have even more refer-

ences and documentation. The field of coal mine drainage is

somewhat unique in that the literature of the field is regularly

collected, abstracted and these abstracts published. This pub-

lication, entitled “Mine Drainage Abstracts, a Bibliography”

is prepared by the Bituminous Coal Research, Inc. for the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Copies may be purchased

from B.C.R., Monroeville, Pennsylvania. A listing of the

reports of the research in this field may be obtained from

the Publications Branch, Office of Research and Monitoring,

Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460.

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