Acid Mine DrainageAcid Mine Drainage(AMD)(AMD)

By Alyssa RuggieroBy Alyssa Ruggiero

What is AMD?What is AMD?

AMD is…AMD is… The orange/yellow discoloration- also The orange/yellow discoloration- also

known as Yellow Boy- in streams known as Yellow Boy- in streams caused by the contamination of caused by the contamination of sulfuric acid due to running water sulfuric acid due to running water that has come in contact with that has come in contact with remaining coal from old vacant coal remaining coal from old vacant coal mines. mines.

Causes…Causes…

AMD occurs when the pyrite iron AMD occurs when the pyrite iron sulfide from the coal becomes sulfide from the coal becomes exposed and reacts with both the exposed and reacts with both the water from the stream and oxygen, water from the stream and oxygen, causing dissolved iron and sulfuric causing dissolved iron and sulfuric acid to form. acid to form.

The rate and extent to which it forms The rate and extent to which it forms varies depending on certain bacteria. varies depending on certain bacteria.

Effects?Effects?

The yellow/orange discoloration in the The yellow/orange discoloration in the streams harms ecosystems because it streams harms ecosystems because it smothers the animal and plant life smothers the animal and plant life and increases the pH levels.and increases the pH levels.

Because of the highly toxic levels of Because of the highly toxic levels of acidity, left over metals, and acidity, left over metals, and sediments all animal life in the sediments all animal life in the streams die.streams die.

AMD In Pennsylvania…AMD In Pennsylvania…

Because of all the abandoned coal Because of all the abandoned coal mines, more than 3,000 miles of mines, more than 3,000 miles of streams are contaminated in PA. streams are contaminated in PA.

It is the most extensive water It is the most extensive water pollution problem in the four major pollution problem in the four major rivers in PA. rivers in PA.

PA loses 67 million a year in PA loses 67 million a year in treatment of the contaminations.treatment of the contaminations.

Possible Preventions…Possible Preventions…

A method used for prevention is to A method used for prevention is to keep the acidic material from keep the acidic material from oxidizing by burying the mine waste oxidizing by burying the mine waste under a thick liner or an asphalt of under a thick liner or an asphalt of polyurethane sealant. polyurethane sealant.

Remedies?Remedies?

Two types of treatment: Two types of treatment:

ActiveActive and and PassivePassive

Both have positives and negatives. Both have positives and negatives.

Active TreatmentActive Treatment

ActiveActive is the traditional way which is is the traditional way which is to add alkaline chemicals, such as to add alkaline chemicals, such as lime, soda ash, and ammonia to the lime, soda ash, and ammonia to the AMD to counteract the acid. AMD to counteract the acid.

Active Treatment Pros & Active Treatment Pros & Cons:Cons:

Pros:Pros: Is a great to raise Is a great to raise

pH levels and pH levels and reduce the reduce the presence of presence of metals.metals.

Cons:Cons: Lime, soda ash, Lime, soda ash,

and ammonia are and ammonia are very expensive to very expensive to maintainmaintain

Disposal of metal Disposal of metal loaded waste can loaded waste can be a problem.be a problem.

Passive TreatmentPassive Treatment

Passive treatmentPassive treatment has been used has been used since early 1990’s. It uses a variety since early 1990’s. It uses a variety of treatment to raise pH levels. of treatment to raise pH levels.

Passive Treatment Pros & Passive Treatment Pros & Cons:Cons:

Pros:Pros: It needs only It needs only

periodic periodic maintenance maintenance

Lower costs than Lower costs than Active TreatmentActive Treatment

Cons:Cons: not enough landnot enough land

Work CitedWork Cited

"Acid Mine Drainage." "Acid Mine Drainage." Stonycreek- Conemaugh Stonycreek- Conemaugh River Improvement ProjectRiver Improvement Project. 2004. 3 . 2004. 3      Mar. 2009 <http://www.scrip.pa-     Mar. 2009 <http://www.scrip.pa-conservation.org/aboutamd.htm >. conservation.org/aboutamd.htm >.

"Coal-Mine-Drainage Projects in Pennsylvania." "Coal-Mine-Drainage Projects in Pennsylvania." USGSUSGS. 30 Sept. 2008. 3 Mar. 2009 . 30 Sept. 2008. 3 Mar. 2009      <http://pa.water.usgs.gov/projects/amd/>.      <http://pa.water.usgs.gov/projects/amd/>.

Todd, Judi, and Kelli Reddick. "Acid Mine Todd, Judi, and Kelli Reddick. "Acid Mine Drainage." Drainage." Civil Engineering Dept.Civil Engineering Dept. 7 7      June 1998. 3 Mar. 2009      June 1998. 3 Mar. 2009 <http://www.cee.vt.edu/ewr/environmental/teach/ <http://www.cee.vt.edu/ewr/environmental/teach/

     gwprimer/acidmine/acidmine.html >.     gwprimer/acidmine/acidmine.html >.