|
Acid-forming
materials. |
Rock or coal layers containing significant amounts of pyrite or other
minerals which, if exposed by coal mining will cause acid mine
drainage to occur when acted upon by air and water. |
|
Acid mine
drainage. |
The
term AMD is used, in this context, to refer to any pollutional discharge
emanating from a mining operation. Many of these discharges are, in fact,
alkaline with high levels of metals. |
| Anthracite. |
Coal which is commonly called “hard coal” and contains a high percent
of carbon. Anthracite is mined mostly in Eastern Pennsylvania. |
| Approximate
original contour. |
The surface configuration achieved by backfilling and grading the
mined area so that the reclaimed land closely resembles the general premining
surface configuration and blends into and complements the drainage pattern
of the surrounding terrain. |
| Area
mining.
|
A surface mining method that is carried on in level to gently rolling
topography or relatively large tracts of land. Active area mine
pits may be several miles long. |
| Auger
mining.
|
A mining technique often used by surface mine operations when the
overburden becomes too thick for the coal to be mined economically
using traditional surface mining methods. Large-diameter
(usually 2-4 feet) horizontal holes are drilled as much as 300 feet
into the v vertical face of the coal bed by an auger. Like a bit
used for boring holes in wood, coal augers consist of a cutting head
with a screw-like extension. As the auger turns, the head breaks
up the coal and the screw carried it back into a conveyor that loads
it directly into a truck. |
|
Backfilling.
|
The operation of refilling an excavation using material removed during
the mining process. |
| Borrow
Material. |
Soil and rock fill that was dug from a nearby pit to furnish fill or
soil cover for an earth moving project. |
| Bituminous. |
Coal which is commonly called “soft coal,” is high in carbon, and
ranked between anthracite and lignite. Bituminous coal is most
abundant in the Eastern states. |
| Cessation
Order.
|
Order to cease mining issued to a coal operator by the regulatory
authority due to severity of violations. |
| Contemporaneous
reclamation. |
Restoration of mined land that occurs as soon as practical after coal
removal. |
| Contour
mining. |
A mining method commonly used in eastern mountainous topography where
coal is removed in a narrow strip around the hillside. The
extent of the cut into the hillside is determined by the depth of
overburden at the highwall
compared with the thickness of the coal seam. |
| Fund
(Abandoned
Mine
Land). |
Fees collected from active mining operations, contributions, late
payment interest, penalties, administrative charges, and interest
earned on investment of the fund’s principal that are deposited in the
U.S. Treasury, and used to pay for reclamation of abandoned mine land
hazards. |
|
Grading. |
The process of smoothing the disturbed areas of the mine site, after
the coal is removed, to closely approximate the pre-mining terrain. |
| Gob. |
A pile of loose waste, coal and other minerals extracted from a mine
that are not marketable. Gob may be left piled in underground
workings or at the surface of the mine. |
| Highwall. |
The cliff-like excavated face of exposed overburden and coal in a
surface mining. |
| Landslide.
|
Unconsolidated material that becomes unstable due to overloading or
water saturation and slides down-slope. |
| Lignite. |
Color coal that is commonly called “brown coal,” ranked between peat
and sub bituminous, and having less than 8,300 BTU’s. Lignite is
commonly found in Western states. |
| Notice
of Violation.
|
Notice presented to coal mine operators by inspectors when performance
standards or permit conditions are not being met. |
| Overburden. |
Rock material overlying the coal deposit, but excluding soil.
Soil is generally removed separately for use in reclamation. |
| Performance
bond.
|
A financial guarantee posted by a mine operator to ensure faithful
performance of the reclamation requirements of the Surface Mining Act.
Bonds are returned to the operator upon successful completion of
reclamation. If the operator does not complete the required
reclamation, the bond is forfeited and the money is used to reclaim
the land. |
|
Permit. |
A document issued by the regulatory authority that gives
approval for the operation of a surface coal mine under conditions set
forth in the Surface Mining Law and the implementing regulations. |
|
Permit area.
|
The area of land and water within the boundaries specified in the
mining and reclamation permit. At a minimum, this includes all
areas that will be directly affected by the surface coal mining
operation during the term of the permit. |
| Pits. |
The active part of a strip mine where active excavation and mineral
extraction is being done. |
| Preparation
plant. |
A facility at which coal is cleaned or processed before being shipped
or used. |
| Primacy. |
A joint state/federal relationship where states have elected to
develop, administer, and enforce approved programs for regulating coal
mining and reclamation under the Surface Mining Law. Currently
there are 24 primacy states. |
| Prime
farmland. |
A special category of highly productive cropland that is recognized
and described by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Soil
Conservation Service and receives special protection under the Surface
Mining Law. |
| Priority
(AML).
|
Eligibility of abandoned mine land projects for fund expenditures
based on a degree of adverse effects on health and safety. The
priority projects are as follows:
-
The protection of public health, safety, general welfare, and property
from extreme danger of adverse effects of coal mining practices;
-
The protection of public health, safety, and general welfare from
adverse effects of coal mining practices.
-
The restoration of land and water resources and the environment
previously degraded by adverse effects of coal mining practices
including measures for the conservation and development of soil, water
(excluding channelization), woodland, fish and wildlife, recreation
resources, and agricultural productivity.
-
The protection, repair, replacement, construction, or enhancement of
public facilities such as utilities, roads, recreation, and conservation
facilities adversely affected by coal mining practices; and
-
The development of publicly owned land adversely affected by coal mining
practices including land acquired as provided in this title for
recreation and historic purposes, conservation, and reclamation purposes
and open space benefits.
|
|
Pyrite.
|
A yellowish mineral, iron disulfide (FES2) commonly found in coal beds
and associated rocks, that results in acid drainage when it comes into
contact with air and water. |
| Regulatory
authority. |
The state agency, or Office of Surface Mining, which has responsibility
for administering the Surface mining Law in a given geographic area. |
| Riprap.
|
Large pieces of broken or crushed durable rock or concrete placed on
earth dams and in drainage channels for protection against water
erosion. |
|
Sedimentation
pond. |
An impoundment constructed on the mine site to remove suspended solids
from surface water before the water leaves the permit area. |
| Slurry. |
Fine coal and other material washed from marketable coal during the
cleaning process. |
| Spoil. |
The rock overburden, not including the soil layers, that has been
removed in surface mining to gain access to the coal seam. |
| Subsidence. |
Surface caving or sinking of a part of the earth’s crust due to
underground mining excavations. |
| Terrace. |
A depression across the face of a steep hillside that slows the flow
of surface water and minimizes soil erosion. |
| Topsoil. |
The dark, fertile uppermost layer of the soil. |
