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Assessing Mountaintop Mining Environmental Impacts in Eastern Kentucky

This study delves into the environmental impacts of mountaintop mining in Eastern Kentucky from 2009 to 2012, focusing on water chemistry changes, hydrology effects, soil compaction, reclamation efforts, and wildlife changes. The research aims to guide permit decisions, establish baseline data, and investigate cumulative impacts.

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Assessing Mountaintop Mining Environmental Impacts in Eastern Kentucky

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  1. US EPA Region IV Surface Coal MiningField Activities 2009-2012 Chris Decker Adventures in Mountain Top Mining / Valley Fill

  2. Diagram of MTM/VF Process Overburden Removed Spoils placed in adjacent valley,

  3. Draglines remove coal, create spoil piles Regrading and continued dragline removal Final regrading, revegetation

  4. Environmental Impacts x • Water Chemistry: Increased conductivity, Ca, Na, Se, K, Mg, Mn, and SO4 • impacts fish & macroinvertebrates • Hydrology • downstream greater base flow • Compaction of soils • slow regrowth of trees & and woody plants • Loss of streams and wetlands • Fragmentation of forests • Terrestrial animal communities • Increase grassland birds & snakes, decrease in amphibians • cumulative environmental costs have not been fully investigated • social, economic and heritage issues

  5. Regulations Mining operations are regulated under: • Clean Water Act (CWA) • Section 402 – discharges to streams EPA, States • Section 404 – filling of streams/wetlands EPA & ACOE • Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) • Operating standards, permits, inspections DOI

  6. What Have We Been Asked To Do • Assess current conditions in order to guide permit decisions • Establish baseline data for continued monitoring • Investigate cumulative impacts

  7. A Typical Study Site

  8. Field Activities • Water Quality Assessment • water samples and in-situ monitoring • conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, temp • metals, hardness, • sulfate, chloride, alkalinity, solids • Bioassessment • Macroinvertebrates - Kentucky MBI • Fish - IBI and tissue • Stream habitat • Hydrologic Permanence Evaluation • North Carolina method (2005) • trace water flow to origins • geomorphology, hydrology, biology • document ephemeral, intermittent, perennial • Flow status has regulatory implications x

  9. Field Work 2009-2012

  10. Selected In-Stream Data 2009-2012

  11. Future Plans • New Study • Cumulative Impacts of Mining in Eastern Kentucky (CIMEK) • Long Term Conductivity Monitoring

  12. Cumulative Impacts Study (CIMEK) • 60 Stations • Sample Quarterly • Water Samples • Macroinvertebrates • Fish • Continuous Conductivity Monitoring • 25 stations • deployed HOBO loggers • Possible 2nd year extension ($$$)

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