Evaluation of the Broken Aro Flue-Gas Desulfurization
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EVALUATION OF THE BROKEN ARO FLUE-GAS DESULFURIZATION SLUDGE MINE SEAL PROJECT TO ABATE ACID MINE DRAINAGE LOCATED IN COSHOCTOW COUNTY, OHIO A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Fritz J. Dolores H. Russ College of Engineering and Technology Ohio University In Partial Fullfillment of the Requirement for the Degree Master of Science by Michael T. Rudisell August, 1999 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first like to thank Dr. Ben Stuart for guiding me through these last two years. Ben has been an exceptional advisor as well as a good friend to me as he has led me down this path I chose. He has spent much time with me in the field and classroom teaching me hands-on experience as well as the theory behind it. Also, a number of hours in his office were spent working on projects, assignments, and even just philosophizing about life's problems. A special thanks goes to Dr. Kenneth Edwards for his contributions to the project and for serving on my graduate committee. I would also like to thank Dr. James Lein for being on my graduate committee and the Geography Department for allowing us to use their digitizing equipment in developing our GIs. I would also like to thank graduate student, Branko Olujic, for his many hours spent in the field at Broken Aro taking water samples and measuring flowrates. Next, I would like to thank graduate student, Rajesh Ramachandran, for all his fieldwork assistance and for helping and guiding me through the GIs software used in the Broken Aro project. Thanks also to all the engineering undergraduates at Ohio University that volunteered to help collecting water samples and measuring flowrates in the field. Also, this project would not have been possible without the funding and assistance from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and American Electric Power who provided the FGD material. Lastly, thanks to the Department of Civil Engineering at Ohio University who gave me the opportunity to work on this research project. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page 1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. BACKGROUND OF COAL MINING AND ITS PROCESSES 4 What is Coal? 4 History of Coal in Ohio 5 History of Legislation Associated with Coal Mining 7 Problem Types Associated with Coal Mining 10 Sources of Acid Mine Drainage 12 AMD Chemistry 12 Specific Conductivity of AMD 15 Reduction/Oxidation Potential of AMD 17 How AMD Is Alleviated Under SMCRA 18 NPDES Limitations for AMD 22 Duties of the Department of Mines and Reclamation 2 3 DMR's Abandoned Mine Land Programs 26 Process of Generating Electricity at Conesville Power Plant 2 7 Flue-Gas Desulfurization Sludge Production 29 FGD Chemical Composition and Material Properties 30 3. LITERATURE REVIEW 34 Introduction of FGD Applications 34 Waste Lagoon Liner 36 Use of FGD in Highway Repairs 37 FGD Livestock Pads 40 Roberts-Dawson Mine Injection Project 4 1 Hydraulic Mine Seal: An 18-year Post Audit 44 Rehoboth Reclamation Project 47 Hydraulic Mine Seals 50 Omega Mine Grout Project 53 Injection Technique for Abandoned Deep Mines 55 Chapter Page 3. GIs Utilized for Watershed Analysis 59 Passive Treatment Systems 59 4. METHODOLOGIES 66 Introduction to Sampling Procedures 66 Sampling At Stream Locations 6 7 Flowrate Measurements At Stream Locations 6 8 Notched Weirs 6 8 Cut-Throat Flume 69 Culverts 7 1 Current Meter 7 1 Water Level and Well Depth Measurements 72 Sampling At Well Locations Water Quality Field Tests Water Quality Laboratory Tests Methods for the Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes Metal Concentration Determination Direct Aspiration Technique Graphite Furnace Technique Cold-Vapor Technique Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater Surveying Methods 5. BACKGROUND OF THE BROKEN ARO PROJECT Site Location and Description Remining at Broken Aro FGD Mine Seal Placement The Goal of the FGD Seal Water Monitoring Program Chapter 6. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Results Monitoring Wells Boundary of Mining Area New Pond Used as an Indicator Discussions Collection of Infiltration Above the FGD Seal Effect of the Oxic Limestone Drain Sedimentation Pond Headwaters of Simmons Run AMD Source Outside the Study Area Deep Mine Discharges Downstream Water Quality "Roof Effect" of Mine Inundation in Streams and Wells Off-site Characterization CONLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Conclusions Recommendations Non-Native Ion Tracers Continued Monitoring New Monitoring Wells Trace Metals Analysis Oxic Limestone Channel (OLC) Design REFERENCES Chapter Page APPENDICES 155 A. Geographic Information System 155 Background of GIs 155 Broken Aro GIs Features 156 B. Groundwater Monitoring Well Water Quality Data 166 April 1997 through November 1998 C. Surface Water Location Water Quality Data April 1997 through November 1998 D. Chemical Mass Loadings For Stream Locations April 1997 through November 1998 List of Tables Table I . BPT Effluent Limitations ................................................................ 23 2 . FGD Chemical Constituents ............................................................ 31 3 . FGD Leachate Characteristics.......................................................... 33 4 . Groundwater Monitoring Well Water Quality Data .................................. 166 April 1997 through November 1998 5 . Surface Water Location Water Quality Data ........................................... 203 April 1997 through November 1998 6 . Chemical Mass Loadings For Stream Locations ....................................... 272 April 1997 through November 1998 List of Figures Figure Page 1. AutoCAD Drawing of Broken Aro Reclamation site .............................. 2 2 . Stability Relations of Pyrite in Water ................................................ 17 3 . Location Map of Broken Aro site .................................................... 96 4 . Dump truck unloading FGD .......................................................... 100 5 . Backhoe compacting FGD into a mine opening .................................... 101 6 . FGD Mine Seal Plan ................................................................... 102 7. FGD seal in its final configuration ................................................... 103 8 . Water Levels in Wells vs . Time ...................................................... 108 9 . Acidity vs . Time in Wells (MW3, MW6) ........................................... 110 10. Sulfate Concentration vs . Time (MW3, MW6) ..................................... 110 1 1 . Total Iron Concentration vs . Time (MW3, MW6) ................................. 111 12 . Acidity vs . Time (MW7, MW8) ....................................................... 112 13. Total Iron Concentration vs . Time (MW7, MW8) ................................. 113 14. Sulfate Load vs . Time (D 1A) ......................................................... 115 15.IronLoadvs.Time(DlA) ............................................................. 115 16.Acidityvs. Time(NP1)................................................................. 117 17. Total Iron Concentration vs . Time (NP 1)............................................ 117 18 . Sulfate Load vs . Time (DM2Z) ....................................................... 119 1 9 . Iron Load vs . Time (DM2Z) ........................................................... 119 20 . Iron Load vs . Time (DM2, DM2Z) .................................................... 123 Figure Page 2 1 . Field pH vs . Time (DM2. DM2Z) .................................................... 123 22 . Acidity vs . Time (U6) .................................................................. 126 23 . Field pH vs . Time (U6) ................................................................. 126 24. Acid Load vs . Time (UI, U5, S4) ..................................................... 127 25 . Sulfate Load vs . Time (U 1, U5. S4) ................................................... 128 26 . Iron Load vs . Time (U 1, U5. S4) ...................................................... 128 27 . Acid Load vs . Time (S5) ............................................................... 130 28 . Iron Load vs . Time (S5) ................................................................ 130 29 . Flowrate vs . Time (DM4A, DM4B) .................................................. 132 30. Acid Load vs . Time (DM4A. DM4Bj ................................................ 132 3 1. Acid Load vs . Time (D4, U7. U9) .................................................... 134 32 . Sulfate Load vs . Time (D4. U7. U9) ................................................. 135 33. Acidity vs . Time (MW3) ............................................................... 137 34 . Total Iron Concentration vs . Time (MW3) .......................................... 137 35.FieldpHvs.Time(DI)................................................................ 139 36 . Acid Load vs . Time (D 1).............................................................. 139 37 . Sulfate Load vs . Time (Dl. Dl A) .................................................... 140 38 . Broken Aro GIs Map .................................................................. 162 39 Broken Aro GIS Elevation Model .................................................... 163 40 . Broken Aro GIs 3-D Scene #1 ........................................................ 164 41 . Broken Aro GIs 3-D Scene #2 ........................................................ 165 CHAPTER 1 Introduction The Broken Aro reclamation site is located at the Woodbury Wildlife Reserve within Jackson Township in Coshocton County, Ohio. This abandoned mine site forms the headwaters of the Simmons Run Watershed and is contaminated