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UNDERGROUND MINE DRAINAGE CONTROL SNOWY CREEK-LAUREL RUN, WEST VIRGINIA, FEASIBILITY STUDY
Citation:
UNDERGROUND MINE DRAINAGE CONTROL SNOWY CREEK-LAUREL RUN, WEST VIRGINIA, FEASIBILITY STUDY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/2-77/114.
Description:
A study was conducted at the Snowy Creek - Laurel Run basin near Terra Alta, West Virginia, to determine the feasibility of demonstrating mine drainage control by known abatement techniques in abandoned coal mine areas having shallow overburden. The basin contains two abandoned mining complexes that have extensively deep-mined the Lower Kittanning coal found in the Mount Carmel syncline. Associated mine pool discharges are responsible for 90 percent of AMD pollution in Snowy Creek which discharges into the Youghiogheny River (now being considered as a part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System). Only one-third of the Snowy Creek - Laurel Run basin is affected by AMD. Additional inundation and stabilization of the mine pools were judged necessary to reduce the AMD pollution. The recommended approach was to use continuous clay core dams, a mine pool level control lake and movable wall bulkhead seals to increase the size of the mine pools. It was felt that this abatement approach was feasible.