Remining
Remining is any operation where additional mining occurs subsequent to the original mining or site abandonment regardless of the existence or quality of mine discharges. However, the term remining primarily refers to surface mining of abandoned surface or underground mines or reprocessing of coal refuse piles where preexisting pollution discharges will be affected.
In Pennsylvania, remining has proven to be a very valuable tool in addressing AML and AMD problems. By allowing coal operators to extract remaining coal for its value in exchange for reclamation of the remined sites, a win-win situation exists that gives the coal operator an opportunity to mine coal that would normally would go untouched because of potential liabilities, and the citizens a no or little cost reclamation of land often accompanied by improvements in water quality.
Brochures from WPCAMR:
» Remining for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (PDF or
HTML)
»
Burning Waste Coal in CFB Power Plants (PDF or HTML)
Effectiveness of Pennsylvania's remining program in
abating abandoned mine drainage: water quality impacts
M.W. Smith, District mining manager, PADEP, Hawk Run, Pennsylvania
K.B.C. Brady, Hydrogeologist, PADEP, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
J.W. Hawkins, Hydrogeologist, OSMRE, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Abstract
Click here for entire paper
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP) has been issuing
surface mining permits since 1984 that authorize remining in areas that will
affect preexisting pollutional discharges. These permits require the mine
operator to employ best management practices to reduce pollution loading from
abandoned mine discharges. A total of 110 completed mining operations with 233
discharges were evaluated to determine the impact to water quality. Overall,
acid loading, from these discharges was reduced by 7,200 kg (15,900 lbs) per day
or 61%. Metal loading were also reduced. For acidity, 49% of discharges improved
or were eliminated, 52% showed no significant change and fewer than 1% got
worse. Loading reductions resulted from a combination of reduced concentrations
and lower flows.
Remining Coal on Lehigh Earth Observatory's Envirosci Inquiry website
Remining Fact Sheets from PA Dept. of Environmental
Protection:
*
Pennsylvania's
Remining Incentives
* Remining
Bonding Incentives
*
Alternative Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Programs
EPA Summary Paper OVERVIEW OF THE COAL MINING AND REMINING REGULATIONS
From
Coal Mine Drainage Prediction and Pollution Prevention in Pennsylvania
Chapter 17 Remining by Jay Hawkins, OSM
Discussion Paper on Water Quality Issues Related to Coal Remining
Remining and Rreclamation Incentives in Pennsylvania law
DEP Tackles Mining Reclamation with a Cache of Incentives
Possible Initiatives to Increase Remining and Expand AML Program Funding Options
2004
REMINING INCENTIVES REPORT about the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation
Act.
Prepared for
Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and House Environmental
Resources and Energy Committee by
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Mineral Resources Management
Remining In Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Costs and Water Quality Changes by Jeff Skousen (WVU Professor of Soil Science and Land Reclamation Specialist), Robert Hedin (Hedin Environmental, Pittsburgh), and Ben Faulkner (Bratton Farms, Princeton, WV). It appeared in the summer 1997 issue of Green Lands magazine.
