Abandoned Surface Mine with Low Productivity

The selected study site is a 35 acre abandoned surface mine site in Preston County, West Virginia. The surface mine was most recently operated under a 1988 permit. For the past several years, the mining company has been working to have it released with no active mining. The area was rough-graded and seeded in 1995, but reclamation was unsatisfactory and the bond was forfeited. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has offered the property to the Department of Energy as a demonstration site. The site lies in the Tygart watershed, which is listed as a high priority on the state's TMDL development list. Water quality onsite is poor and shows visible signs of acid mine drainage. Information from the National Atmospheric Deposition programs National Trends Network depicting nitrogen deposition (as NO₃ and NH₄) revealed very high estimates for the Tygart Valley area. The site is also located near sources for coal combustion byproducts which can be used to amend the acidic soil.

Photo Gallery:

• Tygart Valley Watershed

Related Papers and Publications:

• A Holistic Approach to Addressing Environmental Issues in Appalachia [PDF-1074KB]

Contacts:

• For further information on the Tygart Valley Watershed, contact Sarah Forbes.