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Mining Operations as Nonpoint Source Pollution
Mid-Atlantic Mining & Nonpoint Source Pollution Quick Finder |
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| Nonpoint Source Home Mining & Nonpoint Source Pollution Mountaintop Mining | Abandoned Mines Acid Air Deposition Acid Rain | Acid Mine Drainage TreatmentMine Drainage Contacts | |
Mining operations contribute significantly to the acidification problem in the mid-Atlantic region. Acidification is caused by:
- abandoned mine drainage - which results from water flowing over or through abandoned mines, and by
- acid air deposition - primarily from the burning of fossil fuel; this produces acid rain
Acidification contaminates the air and water with chemical compounds that either develop acids or deposit metals. The mid-Atlantic area experiences the lowest annual average rainfall pH, is second in the world in acid rain, and has had the heaviest anthracite and bituminous coal mining (highest in sulfur dioxide or SO2) in the eastern U.S. More than 5,150 stream miles have been contaminated, causing the loss of aquatic life and restricting stream use for recreation, public drinking water and industrial water supplies.
About 4,785 miles of streams with low pH in the mid-Atlantic region have been impacted by extraction of resources, primarily coal. West Virginia and Pennsylvania each have about 2,200 stream miles impacted. Maryland and Virginia have less than 400 impacted miles. And, about 350 stream miles are impacted by air deposition, primarily in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The Clean Water Act's Section 303(d) list identifies the stream segments in a watershed which exceed a state water quality limit for one or more constituents. Resources extraction is the leading cause of stream segments being on the the Section 303(d) list in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The Office of Surface Mining (OSM) has identified more than 500 abandoned mining sites in the region. The majority of the sites are found in western Pennsylvania, north central and southwest West Virginia, and the extreme southwestern Virginia. The OSM estimated that at least $3.8 billion would be needed to remedy all of the known acid mine drainage sites within the region.
EPA is identifying sensitive ecosystems, looking at options to reduce acid emissions, and monitoring environmental indicators which track environmental improvements. Improving a waterbody often takes the efforts of government agencies, watershed groups, businesses, students, and other partners, all working together. The estimated time seems to be from 6 to 11 years to restore a stream from a "dead" stream to a fully functional recreational fishery. Initially, the species least sensitive to the pollution come back. Finally, the most sensitive species.
$6.5 Million to Settle Clean Water Act Violations - On February 5, 2009 Patriot Coal Company, one of the nations largest coal mining companies, agreed to pay a $6.5 million civil penalty to settle violations of the Clean Water Act. The settlement includes the third largest penalty ever paid for discharge violations in a federal Clean Water Act case. In addition, Patriot agreed to take extensive measures to ensure Clean Water Act compliance at its mines in West Virginia. The agreement includes innovative and heightened operating standards which should serve as a model for the coal mining industry in Central Appalachia. As part of the agreement, Patriot has agreed to implement extensive measures to prevent future violations and to perform environmental projects. Learn more about mountaintop mining
