Groundwater Quality Monitoring of Western Coal Strip Mining:Identification and Priority Ranking of Potential Pollution Sources,

摘要

This report is the first in a series of several to come out of a 5-year study to assess the impact on groundwater quality of coal strip mining in the Western United States. Presented is a preliminary priority ranking of potential sources of groundwater pollution in an area within Campbell County,Wyoming,overlying one of the major coal fields in the Powder River Basin. The priority ranking was developed by making a thorough review of the existing data available from monitoring activities of mining companies and various county,State,and Federal agencies. Potential pollution sources and methods of waste disposal at seven operating mines and also in the vicinity of the City of Gillette were inventoried. The data were carefully reviewed to identify the potential pollutants associated with each source. Groundwater usage was inventoried. An appraisal of the hydrogeologic framework and existing groundwater quality was developed. By superimposing the identified potential groundwater pollution sources on the hydrogeologic framework and making estimates of pollutant mobilities from these sources,the preliminary priority ranking was developed.