Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council

Transcription

1 Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council Kempton Acid Mine Drainage Complex Prepared for the 2005 Mid-Atlantic Association of RC&D Council s s Annual Conference Tim Hann Coordinator Charlie Burdick Grants & Projects Manager

2 Coal Production in Maryland Maryland produced 5.1 million tons of coal in 2002

3 History of the Kempton Mine Complex Upper Freeport Coal Seam Davis Coal and Coke Company Mining began in 1880 s Sank two 420 foot deep shafts in 1911 One for transporting miners (Man Shaft) One for transporting coal (Bore Hole) Initiated deep mining in 1914 A third deep shaft for ventilation later sank (Air Shaft)

4 History of the Kempton Mine Complex Town of Kempton straddling WV/MD border of was built 500 people by 1918, peak of , and in 2002 had 7 houses and 20 people Mining complex encompasses 12.2 square miles 7% in MD/93% in WV Abruptly closed and abandoned in 1950

5 Legacy 3,000,000 gallons of acid mine water (ph ~3.5) daily pouring into Maryland s s Laurel Run and North Branch of the Potomac River

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7 Kempton Acid Mine Drainage Complex

8 What is Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)? Pyrite + Air + Water = Sulphuric Acid FeS O H 2 O Fe(OH) H 2 SO 4 Pyrite Oxygen Water Iron Sulphuric Hydroxide Acid

9 What Does AMD Look Like?

10 Approaches to AMD Remediation Filling mine voids with cementitious material made from fly ash (Experimental) Bioremediation Pyrolucite Technology Limestone doser

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12 Partners U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Surface Mining Grants Local Watershed Groups Volunteer In-Kind Contributions MD-DNR DNR Power Plant Research Program Grants MDE-Bureau of Mines Grants Garrett College Expertise Frostburg State University, Geospatial Research Group Expertise Temple University Expertise Maryland Environmental Restoration Group Expertise West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Expertise University of Maryland, Department of Civil Engineering Expertise USDA NRCS Funding/Expertise Local Soil Conservation Districts Funding/Expertise

13 Challenges Magnitude of the problem Entire Potomac Watershed Crosses state boundaries Impacts Chesapeake Bay Solutions Band-aidsaids Need large-scale, economic permanent solution Exploring the potential of filling targeted, strategic mine void locations with coal combustion products (grout from fly ash)

14 Solar Power Other WMRC&D Areas Photovoltaic watering systems Clivus Multrum composting toilets Biomass Defined trees, crops and agricultural and forestry wastes useful for making fuels, chemicals and electricity Switch grass Poultry litter Tree crops Biodiesel per Title IX of the 2002 Farm Bill Energy Provision

15 Energy Audits Other WMRC&D Areas Per Title IX of 2002 Farm Bill Energy Provision Conservation Security Program (CSP) Energy Enhancement Administration of energy audits and renewable energy development assessment Focus on farmers, ranchers and small rural business Jointly done by MD Energy Administration and MD NRCS Target Monocacy River Watershed, Frederick County, MD Energy auditor position Trained by private consultant Provide data to private contractor for analysis and preparation of report

16 Methane Digesters Other WMRC&D Areas EQIP funding Evaluate system best suited to agricultural needs Economic Development Assisting establishment of tire recycling company in Western MD Phase 1 tire chipping for power plant fuel Phase 2 tire depolymerization process yielding tire component materials for resale and recycling Assessing establishing fish farms at two major sites of AMD discharge one being Kempton

17 QUESTIONS?