English

Abstract

Abandoned underground mines in the Pittsburgh coalbed continue to be a source of pollution to over 48 km of streams in the Raccoon Creek watershed. Raccoon Creek watershed is located in Western Pennsylvania and drains 176,890 ha into the Ohio River. In 2006, an evaluation of selected discharges with conceptual treatment approaches was developed that included the ELF project, which had the potential to substantially eliminate AMD impacts to Burgetts Fork for 5.3 km to the confluence with Raccoon Creek. For simplicity, the acronym, ELF, is used to identify the discharge that would be created by consolidation of discharges from Erie Mine, Langeloth Mine, and Francis- Patterson Mine. This project addresses the initial physical feasibility of the ELF System by identifying if the opportunity exists to combine and relocate AMD from various locations in the Burgetts Fork sub-watershed by inter-mine pool transfer to a single discharge point for future reuse or treatment. To evaluate the degree of hydrologic interconnectedness of the mine workings, two tests were conducted. The tests indicate that there is no apparent impediment to flow within the Erie Mine and that the Erie Mine discharge can be successfully relocated by implementation of the ELF system. The tests also indicate that withdrawal from the Langeloth Mine Shaft with injection into the Erie Mine may substantially decrease the discharge from the Francis mine that flows through and out of the Patterson Mine. The physical feasibility of the ELF system to decrease or eliminate the flow from the Patterson Mine requires additional confirmation prior to implementation.