Nickle Plate abandoned mine pool "blowout" Washington and Allegheny counties, Pennsylvania

Abstract

On 01/25/05, a 10,000-gpm "blowout" of the century-old Nickle Plate Mine (Pittsburgh coalbed) occurred in a public sidewalk about 12 miles southwest of downtown Pittsburgh, PA. The US Office of Surface Mining, first responder, installed diesel pumps and drain lines along public streets to control and convey the discharge to a nearby stream. On 02/22/05, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation issued a 90-day emergency contract to Environmentally Innovative Solutions, LLC to provide a permanent control. With numerous partners (federal, state, local agencies; local residents and businesses), property access, stream and mine pool water quality data, historical mine mapping, and other pertinent site information were acquired. Nine options were developed and evaluated. Paramount in design considerations was public health and safety followed by effectiveness, reliability, community and environmental impact, long-term maintenance requirements, installation cost, and aiding future work including grouting to address mine subsidence issues and treatment of the abandoned mine drainage. Piezometers and test pits were installed in city streets, private driveways, and on undeveloped property and mine pool response tests were conducted. After data evaluation, the mine pool was manipulated to discharge about 1/2-mile northeast of the "blowout" on undeveloped land to an AMD-degraded receiving stream. By 05/20/05, a primary gravity drain, a secondary drain, and an early warning system at the "blowout" had been completed. Subsequent monitoring confirms the facilities are functioning as designed.