The Omega Mine Complex is located outside of Morgantown, West Virginia. The mine is in the Upper Freeport Coal, an acid-producing coal seam. The coal was mined in a manner that has resulted in acid mine drainage (AMO) discharges at multiple points. During the 1990's, the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) assumed responsibility for operating a collection and treatment system for the AMO. Collection and treatment costs are approximately $300,000 per year. An innovative procedure of injecting grout into the mine workings to reduce AMO and the resulting treatment costs is proposed. The procedure involves injecting grout mixes composed primarily of coal combustion byproducts (CCB's) and water, with a small quantity of cement. The intention of the injection program is to fill the mine voids in the north lobe of the Omega Mine (an area where most of the acidity is believed to be generated) with the grout, thus reducing the contact of air and water with potentially acidic material. The grout mix design consists of an approximate 1: 1 ratio of fly ash to byproducts from fluidized bed combustion. Approximately 100 gallons of water per cubic yard of grout is used to help achieve flowability. Observation of the mine workings via subsurface borings and downhole video camera operation confirmed that first. mined areas were generally open while second-mined areas were generally partially collapsed. Closer injection hole spacing was used in second-mined areas to account for collapsed workings.

No abstract

No abstract

Abstract. Coal mining distwbs large tracts of land which must be reclaimed. Unfortunately, iron sulphides which are common in most coals and the adjacent strata weather, forming acid mine drainage (AMD) which degrades surface and ground water. Burning of coal prodnces combustion by products, most of which are placed in ponds or landfills. Suitable disposal areas are difficult to find and permit, especially in wban areas. This has led to ash haulback -where the waste generated during coal burning is hauled back to a mine for disposal. The potential advantages of coal combustion ash haulback are:• Disposal occurs in a disturbed area (mine) rather than distwb additional land near the power plant.• The same vehicles used to haul coal from the mine can be used to return the ash to the mine.• Ash, if alkaline, may provide neutralization of acidic water· or mine oveiburden commonly found at coal mines.• Low permeability ash could reduce ground water flow through the mine backfill, thus reducing leaching of acid forming constituents or metals.Placement of ash in surface mines provides an efficient, cost-effective method of disposal while at the same time contributing to reclamation of the mine. Wise natural resource management suggests a reasonable approach to disposal of coal ash is to return it to its original location -the mine.

No abstract