The purpose of this study is to continue to collect and characterize water quality and flow data on a sample of permanent program surface mine and coal refuse pile permits with long-term pollutional discharges. In this study, quality and flow data was collected and both field and file reviews were conducted on the sample permits. Upon receipt of the PADEP’s database, however, another section was added to this study to include a comparison of data between the OSM and PADEP’s database. This study is conducted as an oversight study of the AMD Inventory Database.

Of the 26 permits selected from the AMD Database, it was determined that 9 of these sites should be removed from OSM’s long term pollutional data inventory. Characterization data was obtained on 17 more sites and added to the database. Nine additional permits were found to have long term pollutional discharges, but were not reflected on PADEP’s AMD Inventory Database. Further analysis will be necessary to determine whether these sites should be added to the database.

Continue to inspect sites with potential long term pollutional discharges to verify and update the existing AMD Inventory. It is recommended that the nine sites indicated in summary findings be revisited.

To assess the current validity of data in the inventory, a study was initiated last year (EY 1999) to conduct field and file reviews of samples of different categories of permits identified in the inventory. This study reviewed active and inactive surface mine and refuse pile primacy permits with pollutional discharges. Data was collected to update current conditions of the previously identified discharges and to create a data base containing water quality and flow information on those active and inactive permits. The intent was to further develop the existing inventory database containing the active and inactive sites, and to characterize the type and extent of AMD pollution on those sites.

It was recommended that verification and updating continue on the remaining active and inactive permits with pollutional discharges. As a result, 26 more permits were randomly selected for inspection for this workplan year.

In an effort to continue the verification of the inventory, 26 permits were selected for inspection to collect and characterize water quality and flow data. Nine of the 26 permits were found to have no AMD and have been removed from the AMD database. Of the 17 permits inspected with long term pollutional problems, there were 20 individual discharges of which 18 are receiving treatment. Five of these discharges are being treated by passive treatment systems, while the remaining 13 discharges are being treated with a variety of chemical treatment systems. Of the 18 treated flows, information during HFO inspections show that if these treatments were stopped, 6 discharges would have a significant impact on the receiving stream; 8 discharges would have a moderate impact and 4 discharges would have no more than a minor effect on the receiving stream. The two discharges that are not currently being treated have a moderate effect on the receiving stream.

Upon receipt of PADEP’s AMD inventory, flow data comparisons were conducted. The data was quite similar with no unusual differences noted. However, nine permits with long term pollutional discharges were not identified in DEP’s database. These results are reflected in Appendix A.

Documentation AMD inventory forms were developed to gather specific information for each permit and discharge. These forms are also being used in all the Field Office oversight studies to collect and document information on permits with AMD problems. A detailed data base is being maintained for all sites identified for evaluation, so there is documentation of the final disposition of any permit initially identified as potentially having an AMD problem. The data base also contains all information collected about the permit and the individual discharges.

The findings presented in this report are based on a review of water quality and quantity data on permits with known discharges. The summaries provide general characterizations of the scope of the AMD problem on active and inactive primacy permits. Data on the individual discharges, particularly where limited to a single sample, may not be representative, and certainly do not reflect seasonal variation in the discharges. The data base is set up to respond to queries regarding any of the collected data and specific permit and discharge information is available in the data base. For the assessment of impacts, the following terms were used:

Impact on the Receiving Stream - A statement of the potential impact on the receiving stream should the discharge go untreated, or real impact if the discharge is currently untreated. Options: None - no impact; Minor - barely detectable chemical change in the receiving stream water quality, but no impact on the biology of the stream; Moderate - detectable chemical change in the receiving stream water quality and some impact to stream biology; Significant - significant change in receiving stream water quality and obvious impact to the stream biology, possibly dead.