Abstract |
The Lake Hope project will demonstrate the control and elimination of mine drainage pollution by refuse pile disposal and/or covering and underground mine sealings. Acid producing coal refuse will be removed and buried in suitably prepared sites. These sites will be finished graded and seeded. Non-acid producing coal mine refuse piles will be reshaped to existing contours, covered and reclaimed by appropriate seeding and tree planting for erosion control and aesthetic enhancement. The mine sealing demonstration program will be undertaken in two phases. The first phase will seal those mine openings which have been determined the most significant acid discharges and those openings immediately adjacent to or suspected of having connecting with the high acid concentration discharge openings. The second phase will seal selected remaining mine openings as determined by the continuous water quality monitoring data obtained. Continuous water quality monitoring systems will obtain data to be evaluated over the life of the project and after all construction has been completed. |