1. Coal Impoundment Location and Warning System
John Quaranta, Ph.D., P.E.
WV Water Research Institute
West Virginia University
Pennsylvania’s Abandoned Mine Reclamation
& Coal Mining Heritage Conference
August , 2008
State College, PA

2. The Coal Impoundment Location and Warning System is a pilot project developed by the:
Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC)
Wheeling Jesuit University
West Virginia University’s Water Research Institute
National Energy Technology Laboratory
Center for Educational Technologies
Clifford M. Lewis S.J. Appalachian Institute at Wheeling Jesuit
International Union of Operating Engineers

3. Project Contributors
• Mine Safety and Health Administration • Peabody Energy
• West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection • Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition
• West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey • Verizon
• West Virginia Highlands Conservancy • Kentucky Dept. of Mines and Minerals
• Pennsylvania Bureau of Deep Mine Safety • Raleigh County 9-1-1
• Massey Energy Company • Coal River Mountain Watch
• WV Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training • Office of Surface Mining
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration • Consol Energy
• Virginia Dept. of Mines, Minerals and Energy

7. Aerial view of impoundment number 2 showing the location where the toe blew out as a result of the plugged decant pipe.

8. Introduction: Martin County, Oct. 11, 2000
Martin County Coal Company’s Big Branch Slurry Impoundment broke through an underground mine.
309 million gallons of coal slurry was released.
Deemed the “worst environmental disaster in the southeastern U.S.”
The National Academy of Sciences has since made recommendations to improve safety and reduce environmental impacts of coal waste impoundments.

12. Introduction: The Project Purpose:
To provide public awareness of impoundments.
To develop a web site that provides details of coal slurry impoundments and emergency information.
To address the recommendations made by the National Academy of Sciences.

13. The Web Site Information:
Locations of impoundments in: WV, PA, KY, TN, OH
First responders and emergency action plans
History of coal impoundments and impoundment failures
Alternatives to impounding coal waste

14. The Web Site: Locating Impoundments
Locating Tool #1: The Zoom Feature

16. The Web Site: Locating Impoundments
Zoom 1

17. The Web Site: Locating Impoundments
Zoom 2

19. The Web Site: Locating Impoundments
Locating Tool #2: The Search Field
Appears on every page
User can search for impoundments by typing:
State (KY, OH, PA, TN, WV)
County
Zip code
Impoundment name

20. The Web Site: Locating Impoundments
Locating Tool #3: A-Z Listing of Impoundments
Can be sorted by:
Impoundment name
County
MSHA identification number
Coal company name

21. The Web Site: Locating Impoundments
Locating Tool #4: Interactive Mapping
User can access topographic maps and aerial photography for impoundments in the state of WV.
There are multiple layers of information:
Coal Related Impoundments Zip Codes
Interstate Highways Counties
Evacuation Points/Areas Cities and Towns
Rivers/Streams Roads

22. Routing Plan w/ Road Blocks, Evacuation Centers

23. Zoom-In to Layers w/ Road Block, Evacuation Centers,

24. Impoundment with Evacuation Area and Routing

25. Underground Mining Layer

26. Areal Photo, Evacuation Routing, Underground Mining

27. USGS Topographic Mapping w/population

28. The Web Site: Responders and Plans
Full-Text Form

29. Summary form includes most pertinent information:
The Web Site: Responders and Plans
Emergency Action Plans
Summary form includes most pertinent information:
Emergency phone numbers
Evacuation plans
Actions and responsibilities of first responders
Contact phone numbers

30. Summary Form

32. Volumes ranged from 1,000 to 309,000,000 gallons
The Web Site: Failures Database
Volumes ranged from 1,000 to 309,000,000 gallons
Spills resulting in coal slurry leaving company property appear to be increasing over the past two decades
May be result of more reporting
May be result of age of impoundments in relationship to their original engineering design

33. The Web Site: Failures Database
Coal slurry impoundment releases and causes

34. The Web Site: Failures Database

35. Review: Three Points To provide public awareness of impoundments.
To develop a web site that provides details of coal slurry impoundments and emergency information.
To address the recommendations made by the National Academy of Sciences.

36. National Academy of Sciences Recommendations
Alternative Technologies / Uses for coarse and fine coal refuse.
mapping and characterization of refuse materials for use as
feedstock for waste coal fired power plants & coal-to-liquid
technologies.
Instrumentation technology development for real-time data
collection and emergency warning systems.
FEMA-Table Top Reviews of Emergency Action plans with
coal operators, regulators, responders.
Robotics for underground mapping and mine rescue.
Geosynthetic fabric research for coal particle filtration.
Bacteria research for methane production.
Guidance Document Development.

37. Alternative Uses for Impoundments

39. Communication signal and relay vectors

40. FEMA Table Top Review of Emergency Action Plan

42. Impoundment Guidance Documents

43. In Conclusion:
The Coal Slurry Impoundment project web site provides citizens, emergency responders, and industry with information to enhance the safety of impoundments and explore alternatives to impounding coal waste.
Project continues to address National Academy report findings & collaborate with US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and State regulatory agencies to promote safer impoundments through outreach and research.