A five-year intensive research study lead by West Virginia University entitled "EPA Region III Mine Pool Project," was completed and is credited in preventing very serious acid mine drainage (AMD) pollution of the Monongahela River.

The $6 million study covered a 30 by 80 mile complex of abandoned mines from Fairmont, W.Va. to Pittsburgh where little was known about mine water movements, interchange between adjacent mine pools, water chemistry, filling rates, and potential overflows.

Objectives included investigating flooding and post-flooding hydrology, hydrogeology, and geochemistry pertinent to long-term impacts on surface water ecosystems, modeling hydrogeological (flow) and geochemical evolution of modern and projected future mine-water discharges; conducting pilot field simulations to define and quantify technologies and design parameters for in situ treatment of high-iron net-alkaline mine discharges; continue quantifying economic values (both costs and benefits) related to water quality changes (part and potential future) in the Monongahela River; and expand geographic information system support for the project.

The study's predictions aided Pennsylvania in preventing a large AMD overflow from the abandoned Shannopin Mine Pool in 2004 and also set the groundwork for addressing other impending overflows during the next several years.

For more information visit the Mine Pool Project webpage.

6/17/2005