Document ID: EPA-HQ-RCRA-2003-0002-0226
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2003-08-04T04:00Z

DRAFT
Placement
of
Coal
Ash
at
Abandoned
Mine
Land
Sites
The
purpose
of
the
Abandoned
Mine
Land
(
AML)
program
is
to
protect
public
health,
safety,
and
property
and
to
restore
land
and
water
resources
and
the
environment
previously
degraded
by
adverse
effects
of
coal
mining
practices.
Lands
which
are
eligible
for
reclamation
are
those
that
were
mined
for
coal
or
affected
by
mining
and
abandoned
or
left
in
an
inadequate
reclamation
status
prior
to
August
3,
1977.

According
to
the
Office
of
Surface
Mining's
Final
Environmental
statement
on
the
AML
program,
a
total
of
383,400
abandoned
surface
coal
mined
acres
accumulated
from
1931
to
1971.
Furthermore,
over
400,000
acres
were
threatened
by
the
potential
of
subsidence,
over
10,000
miles
of
stream
had
been
affected
by
mining,
and
over
5,000
miles
of
stream
had
been
impacted
by
acid
mine
drainage.

Coal
combustion
materials
legitimately
utilized
in
a
beneficial
manner
have,
and
continue
to
be,
a
significant
by­
product
with
properties
conducive
for
use
in
AML
activities.
Many
state
programs
have
specific
statutory
or
regulatory
criteria
which
allows
the
beneficial
use
of
these
materials
for
specific
purposes.
For
some
states,
the
use
for
AML
reclamation
is
stated
specifically
in
law
or
regulation.
Many
state
programs
utilize
these
materials
in
reclamation
activities
each
year.
As
many
of
these
uses
are
specific
to
the
site,
intensive
nationwide
regulations
or
guidelines
could
serve
as
a
disincentive
for
the
use
of
an
otherwise
quality
material.

The
use
of
coal
combustion
materials
is
dependent
on
several
factors.
The
factor
with
most
significance
is
likely
access
to
the
material.
Areas
in
need
of
reclamation
activities
that
do
not
have
a
source
of
coal
combustion
materials
in
close
proximity
will
be
impacted
by
transportation
costs
such
that
either
an
alternative
material
will
be
required
or
the
project
simply
does
not
take
place.

The
use
of
coal
combustion
materials
for
structural
fills
associated
with
AML
reclamation
activities
is
a
common
occurrence.
This
use
is
oftentimes
for
the
purpose
of
stabilization
of
abandoned
highwalls
for
the
prevention
of
slides
or
elimination
of
a
safety
hazard.
Another
use
for
structural
fills
is
the
sealing
and
stabilization
of
abandoned
underground
mines.
This
beneficial
use
is
for
subsidence
prevention
and
water
discharge
deterrent.
Likewise,
coal
combustion
materials
are
utilized
in
the
AML
program
for
providing
a
cap
to
coal
refuse
piles.
This
use
decreases
infiltration
and
recharge
to
water
tables
which
may
have
formed
in
the
refuse
pile,
thus
helping
to
mitigate
acid
mine
drainage
which
develops
downslope
of
these
areas.
Normally,
the
generator
of
the
material
is
required
to
provide
chemical
and
structural
analyses.
Parameters
include
pH,
metals,
and
acid­
base
accounting.
Proctor
analysis
for
determining
optimum
lift
and
compaction
are
included.
Surface
water
monitoring
oftentimes
occurs
with
groundwater
monitoring
dependent
upon
the
beneficial
use
application
and
the
condition
of
the
groundwater
present
at
the
site.

The
use
of
coal
combustion
materials
as
an
alkaline
recharge
material
is
very
significant,
particularly
in
the
eastern
region.
Oftentimes,
highly
alkaline
coal
combustion
materials
are
utilized
to
increase
neutralization
potential
which
decreases
acid
mine
drainage.
The
manner
in
which
this
use
occurs
varies
dependent
upon
the
specifics
associated
with
the
mine
which
is
being
reclaimed.
In
some
instances,
it
may
be
for
filling
vertical
shafts
several
hundred
feet
deep.
This
eliminates
both
a
safety
hazard
and
allows
alkaline
materials
to
mingle
with
groundwater
and
mitigate
the
affects
of
acid
mine
drainage
prior
to
exiting
the
mine
downslope.
In
these
cases,
the
material
is
characterized
for
pH,
metals,
and
acid­
base
accounting.
Only
those
materials
which
are
conducive
for
providing
alkaline
recharge
are
utilized.
Surface
water
monitoring
at
locations
that
water
exits
the
mine
takes
place.
In
the
event
that
water
does
not
exit
the
mine
and
the
quality
of
the
water
is
at
issue,
groundwater
monitoring
is
enacted.