Mapping of the frazee mine,the western maryland coal combustion by-products/acid mine drainge initiative,part II of III

摘要

AMD is an environmental legacy of coal mining from the last century and through 1977,when mine reclamation laws were established.Maryland coal production over the years before 1977 reveals that Maryland coal basins have void space from mining a quarter billion tons of coal.The exposure of sulfur-bearing minerals in these mine voids to oxygen and water generates AMD,which is toxic to aquatic flora and fauna.It is estimated that about 450 miles of waterways in western Maryland are impacted by AMD.