Coal Mining Detailed Study August 2008 EPA-821-R-08-012 CONTENTS Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................1-1 1.1 Summary of Public Comments ............................................................................1-1 1.2 Key Definitions....................................................................................................1-2 1.3 Applicability of 40 CFR Part 434 Manganese Effluent Limits ...........................1-2 1.4 Key Findings Concerning Public Comments.......................................................1-3 1.4.1 Bond Forfeitures......................................................................................1-3 1.4.2 Potential Environmental Impacts.............................................................1-4 1.4.3 Surrogate Removal of Metals through Manganese Treatment ................1-4 1.4.4 Effectiveness of Passive Treatment Systems...........................................1-4 1.5 EPA 2008 Decision on Revising Part 434 Effluent Guidelines...........................1-5 1.6 Overview of Remainder of Report.......................................................................1-5 1.7 Introduction References.......................................................................................1-6 2.0 DATA SOURCES.................................................................................................................2-1 2.1 Energy Information Administration.....................................................................2-2 2.1.1 Industry Profile Database Development ..................................................2-2 2.1.2 EIA Financial Information.......................................................................2-5 2.2 Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement .................................2-5 2.2.1 Acid Mine Drainage Inventory Database ................................................2-6 2.2.2 Appalachian Regional Acid Mine Drainage Database ............................2-7 2.2.3 Applicant Violator System Database.......................................................2-9 2.3 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection......................................2-9 2.3.1 PA DEP Bond Forfeiture Table ...............................................................2-9 2.3.2 PA DEP Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation Sampling Database.................................................................................................2-10 2.3.3 PA DEP Inspection Compliance Tables ................................................2-10 2.3.4 PA DEP Permits with Active MDI Points Database .............................2-11 2.3.5 PA DEP Treatment Facilities Sampling Database.................................2-11 2.4 West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection...................................2-14 2.4.1 WV DEP Bond Forfeiture Table............................................................2-14 2.4.2 WV DEP Discharge Monitoring Report Database ................................2-15 2.4.3 WV DEP Manganese Permit Limits Database ......................................2-17 2.4.4 WV DEP Special Reclamation Untreated Sampling Database..............2-18 2.5 Other Stakeholder Data......................................................................................2-18 2.6 U.S. Economic Census.......................................................................................2-19 2.7 EPA Databases...................................................................................................2-19 2.7.1 Toxic Release Inventory ........................................................................2-19 2.7.2 Permit Compliance System....................................................................2-20 2.8 Mine Safety and Health Administration ............................................................2-21 2.9 Data Sources References....................................................................................2-21 i CONTENTS (Continued) Page 3.0 INDUSTRY PROFILE ...........................................................................................................3-1 3.1 Coal Mining Processes and Operations ...............................................................3-1 3.1.1 Physical Characteristics and Geographic Distribution of Coal................3-1 3.1.2 Coal Mining Processes.............................................................................3-3 3.1.3 Surface Mines ..........................................................................................3-6 3.1.4 Underground Mines.................................................................................3-8 3.1.5 Coal Preparation.......................................................................................3-9 3.1.6 Coal Mining Production Data ..................................................................3-9 3.2 Coal Mining Financial Statistics........................................................................3-13 3.2.1 Coal Prices.............................................................................................3-13 3.2.2 Mine Counts, Mine Sizes, and Technological Changes ........................3-15 3.2.3 Major Producers.....................................................................................3-17 3.2.4 Foreign Ownership.................................................................................3-19 3.2.5 Number of Small Entities.......................................................................3-19 3.3 Industry Profile References................................................................................3-20 4.0 COAL MINING REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ......................................................................4-1 4.1 Regulation of Coal Mining Discharges to Surface Water ...................................4-1 4.1.1 Regulation of Coal Mine Discharges Using ELGs..................................4-1 4.1.2 Regulation of Coal Mine Discharges Using State Water Quality- Based Limitations ....................................................................................4-5 4.2 SMCRA Requirements ........................................................................................4-6 4.3 Coal Mining Regulatory Framework References ................................................4-7 5.0 COAL MINE DRAINAGE CHARACTERISTICS.......................................................................5-1 5.1 Wastewater Characteristics..................................................................................5-1 5.1.1 Pollutants of Interest ................................................................................5-2 5.1.2 Acid Mine Drainage.................................................................................5-3 5.2 Comparison of Effluent AMD Concentrations to Part 434 Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards .................................................................5-9 5.2.1 Manganese Water Quality-Based Limits.................................................5-9 5.2.2 pH Variances..........................................................................................5-10 5.2.3 Comparison with Part 434 Subpart C Limitations.................................5-11 5.2.4 Comparison of pH and Manganese in West Virginia and PA Analytical Data ......................................................................................5-16 5.2.5 Compliance with Permits and Enforcement Actions.............................5-17 5.3 Wastewater Characteristics and NPDES Permitting References.......................5-19 6.0 ACID MINE DRAINAGE TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES........................................................6-1 6.1 Active Treatment Technologies for AMD...........................................................6-1 6.2 Passive Treatment Technologies for AMD..........................................................6-3 6.2.1 Aerobic Wetlands.....................................................................................6-5 6.2.2 Anaerobic Wetlands.................................................................................6-5 6.2.3 Anoxic Limestone Drains ........................................................................6-6 6.2.4 Diversion Wells.......................................................................................6-6 6.2.5 Open Limestone Channels .......................................................................6-7 ii CONTENTS (Continued) Page 6.2.6 Oxic Limestone Drains ............................................................................6-8 6.2.7 Pyrolusite® Technology ...........................................................................6-9 6.2.8 Vertical Flow Wetlands .........................................................................6-11 6.3 Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Technologies References................................6-11 7.0 CASE STUDIES OF TREATMENT COSTS ..............................................................................7-1 7.1 Treatment Cost Case Studies ...............................................................................7-1 7.1.1 RoxCoal, Inc. Mine Outfall 003 Treatment.............................................7-1 7.1.2 PBS Coals Job #1 Treatment ...................................................................7-5 7.1.3 PBS Coals Job #8 Treatment ...................................................................7-8 7.2 Model Costs for Passive and Active Treatment Systems ..................................7-10 7.3 Removal