gary anderson, arippa, ebensburg power, "23 years of abandoned mine reclamation"

Ebensburg Power Company

Twenty-Three Years of Abandoned Mine Reclamation

In Western Pennsylvania

Ebensburg Power CompanyFacility

EPC Reclamation Process

Ebensburg Power Company

• Consume about 500,000 tons coal refuse/yearsince initial operation – 10,700,000 tons

• Utilize about 480,000 tons ash/year for beneficial use

• Neutralize about 15,000,000 lb/year of sulfuric acid with beneficial use ash – since initial operation about 250,000,000 lbs

• Remove about 46,000,000 lbs/year of sulfuric acid away from PA waterways - since initial operation about 1,000,000,000 lbs

Revloc Refuse SitePre Reclamation 1989

Revloc I and II Coal Refuse Sites

• Approximately 86 acres of land• About 4,000,000 tons of coal refuse• Initial operation 1990• Reclamation completed 2012• Removed about 3,000,000 tons coal refuse• Total cost $24,000,000 or $280,000/acre • Site Available for Industrial Development

Revloc Refuse Site Active Reclamation 1999

Revloc Refuse SiteMarch 2004

Revloc Refuse Site 2010

Revloc Final Reclamation 2010

Revloc Sites After Reclamation

• Baseline Pollution Load Reduction to South Branch Blacklick Creek– 93% reduction in acidity– 92% reduction in iron– 71% reduction in manganese– 95% reduction in aluminum

• Restoration of aquatic life to approximately six miles of stream

Nanty Glow East & WestMarch 2004

Nanty Glo WestMarch 2004

Nanty Glo EastMarch 2004

Nanty Glo West and East

• Approximately 100 acres of land• Located along Pergrin Run – Kiski-Conemaugh • About 3,500,000 tons of coal refuse• Initial operation 2005• Reclamation completed ????• Removed about 1,700,000 tons coal refuse to

date• Total cost to date $23,000,000

Nanty Glo West and East2013

Nanty Glo West2013

Nanty Glo West Reclamation Impact on Pergrin Run To Date

• Baseline Pollution Load Reduction to Pergrin Run– 95% reduction in acidity– 93% reduction in iron– 29% reduction in manganese– 94% reduction in aluminum

• Mining parameters Before / Todayph <4 ph / >6 ph

Sulfate >1000 mg/ml / <100 mg/ml Iron/aluminum >100 mg/ml / < 2 mg/ml

Nanty Glo East2013

Mine 37

Mine 37 Coal Refuse Pile

• Located along Paint Creek-tributary of Stonycreek• Approximately 63 acres of land• About 1,600,000 tons of coal refuse• Initial operation ????• Reclamation completed 5 -8 years• Expect to remove about 1,200,000 tons of coal

refuse

Mine 37- Impact on Paint Creek Watershed

• Mine 37 water runoff contributes – 801 tons/yr acidity - 91% of watershed total– 94 tons/yr iron - 87% of watershed total– 33 tons/yr manganese - 93.5% of watershed total– 126 tons/yr aluminum - 95% of watershed total

Values provided by Paint Creek Restoration Plan