[ Main ] Educator's Guide
Outreach Initiatives
[ Site Map ]
Geology | Lehigh River Watershed Explorations | Weather | Environmental Issues | Data Collection Activities
 

ABANDONED MINE DRAINAGE:

PENNSYLVANIA'S LARGEST WATER QUALITY PROBLEM

 

Objectives:

  • Explore and become familiar with Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) as a national environmental issue and as a local issue in Pennsylvania.
  • Determine the relationship between industry and AMD.
  • Recognize and evaluate the response to AMD and the recommendations for remediation. Compare recommendations.
  • Use the Internet to gather data, graphs, pictures and information about the watershed and interpret and compare that information.

    In your exploration, aim to answer the following questions:

    1.What is Abandoned Mine Drainage? How is it caused?
    2.What affect does AMD have on water quality? What are other associated hazards?
    3.What historical and industrial events influence the current issue of AMD in Pennsylvania?
    4.How is the AMD problem in eastern PA different from western PA? How does Pa compare to other states with AMD issues?
    5.How has industry responded to the environmental issue of AMD?
    6.What projects are going on to reclaim Acid Mine Lands and prevent Acid Mine Drainage in Pennsylvania and other states?
    7.What techniques are being employed to deal with AMD? Compare and contrast those techniques?

    Link to Worksheet that accompanies activity. Print this sheet out and answer the questions as you explore Abandoned Mine Drainage.

    Note: Abandoned Mine Drainage and Acid Mine Drainage are often used interchangeably in the following Webpages. Acid Mine Drainage is a more specific term that refers to waters where the pH of the
    water is acidic.

    Exploration:

    What is Abandoned Mine Drainage? Why is it such a big problem?
    http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eastern/environment/drainage.html
    http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/enved/go_with_inspector/coalmine/What_is_Acid_Mine_Drainage.htm

    Get all the details about AMD, including the chemistry involved, how it is formed and the pros and cons of different techniques used to treat mine water.
    http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/bamr/amd/science_of_AMD.htm

    What are passive systems and how does this technology help remediate AMD?
    http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/landrec/passtrt/passtrt.htm

    Study the map and compare the number of AMD sites around the country. How are the sites distributed throughout the U.S.? http://www.osmre.gov/aml/intro/zintro2.htm#Map

    What are the facts about AMD in Pennsylvania?
    http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/DEPUTATE/MINRES/BAMR/MINING_012397.htm

    What are the facts about AMD impacts in PA?
    http://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/abondoned_mine_drainage.htm

    What are some of the projects that are happening in PA?
    http://water.wr.usgs.gov/mine/archive/penn.html

    Explore the differences between eastern and western coal mines and their associated environmental problems. Click on the maps to enlarge.
    http://wwwpah2o.er.usgs.gov/projects/amd/index.html

    Read through the following report and become acquainted with AMD, the projects that are being implemented, the funding available and the agencies that provide funding.
    http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/DEPUTATE/MINRES/BAMR/Documents/DEP1494.htm

    Explore the history of mining in Pennsylvania, present day industry, maps, and a time line.
    http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/enved/go_with_inspector/coalmine/Coal_Mining_in_Pennsylvania.htm

    How does AMD affect aquatic life (macroinvertebrates, fish), water use and man-made structures? Scroll down and click on chapter four if you are brought to the table of contents.
    http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/districts/cmdp/chap04.html
    http://wwwpah2o.er.usgs.gov/projects/amd/amdmap.gif

    What are the environmental laws that pertain to coal mining?
    http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/enved/go_with_inspector/coalmine/Environmental_Laws.htm

    Read about AMD from an industry point of view. Scroll down to "Environmentally Responsible Mining Operations"
    http://www.enviromine.com/publicat/enviroresponse.html

    Other Resources:

    Review this report on the scar left by coal mining, written about 1967
    http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/pa_env-her/Scarlift/scarliftcover.htm

    Extension Activity:

    Walk through the tour of the surface mine with DEP officials. Make sure to go the the briefings. Use the arrows at the bottom of each page to continue with the tour. Have fun!!
    http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/enved/go_with_inspector/coalmine/Table_of_Contents.htm

    Hands-on Activity for testing AMD in water for kids. Requires Acrobat reader.
    http://pubs.usgs.gov/openfile/of00-369/of00-369.pdf

    Other issues related to Abandoned Mine Drainage:

    Explore some problems that result from Acid Mine Lands?
    http://www.onenet.net/~naamlp/hazards.htm
    http://www.blm.gov/aml/environ.htm#top

    Explore the Centralia mine fires.
    http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/DEPUTATE/MINRES/BAMR/CENTBRF.htm
    http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/COUNTIES/columbia/Mine_Reclamation_news.htm

     

  • Curricular Activities | Lehigh River Photojournal | Water Quality | GIS | History | River Exploration | Fast Facts
    LEO EnviroSci Inquiry is brought to you by the Lehigh Environmental Initiative at Lehigh University.
    Copyright ©2000-2011 Lehigh Environmental Initiative at Lehigh University. All rights reserved.