Acid Drainage Technology Initiative: Continuing Progress in Coal Related Topics

Abstract

Abstract. In 1995, the U.S. Office of Surface Mining (OSM) and the National Mine Land Reclamation Center (NMLRC) joined with the Interstate Mining Compact Commission, the National Mining Association, academia, and other Federal agencies to form the Acid Drainage Technology Initiative (ADTI). The ADTI partnership seeks to identify, evaluate and develop "best science" based practices to prevent new acid mine drainage sources and eliminate existing sources. The ADTI partnership developed a management structure to oversee the program and developed action plans to address key technical areas. The ADTI organization consists of a coal mining sector, a metal mining sector and a secretariat, overseen by an Operations Committee. The coal mining sector of ADTI is divided into a prediction working group and an avoidance and remediation working group to implement and coordinate the research strategy. This paper summarizes the results of the coal mining sector efforts since the completion of the avoidance and remediation, and prediction handbooks in 1998 and 2000, respectively, and the status of current activities. The activities have included field verification of acid drainage predictions using acid-base accounting, monitoring and follow up evaluation of acid mine drainage passive and in-situ treatment systems, developing standardized kinetic testing protocols, flooded underground mine pools, and issues related to elevated selenium in streams associated with surface mines.Additional Key Words: acid mine drainage, coal mining sector.

Future Directions of the Coal Mining Sector of the Acid Drainage Technology Initiative and the Needs for Acid Drainage Research

“…The organizational efforts and activities of ADTI are discussed more fully discussed in Hornberger et al (2000), Block et al (2004) and Parsons et al (2004). As outlined in those papers, the ADTI has resulted in a number of accomplishments and has fostered an ongoing spirit of cooperation and collaboration in addressing acid drainage related problems.…”