English

Abstract

The Acid Drainage Technology Initiative (ADTI) is a coalition of federal and state agencies, industry, academia, and consulting firms working together to promote communications and technology enhancement in the field of prediction and remediation of acid drainage from mining activities, past and present. This joint effort was formed in recognition of the need to address a range of issues dealing with the technical problems of predicting and controlling acid drainage. These include: the legacy of acid mine drainage/acid rock drainage (AMD/ARD) problems throughout the U.S; the development of consensus on improved test methods, particularly for prediction of mine drainage quality prior to mining; avoidance and remediation technology to prevent, treat and abate AMD/ARD pollution in an effective and economical manner and the application of best science methods to accomplish these goals. ADTI is subdivided into a coal mining sector and a metal mining sector. The coal mining sector (http://wvwri.nrcce.wvu.edu/ADTI) is organized into two primary working groups, one focused on prediction and the other on avoidance and remediation methods. The metal mining sector (http://www.unr.edu/mines/adti/) is organized around five major technical areas relevant to the particular technical problems it faces: (1) sampling/monitoring, (2) prediction, (3) mitigation, (4) modeling and (5) pit lakes. This paper discusses the formation, goals and major accomplishments of the ADTI, leading to its current activities.