1. 1. EXTINGUISHMENT OF A COAL REFUSE BANK FIRE IN NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA 2015 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference June 26, 2015 PA DEP BUREAU OF ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION
2. 2. INQUIRY/INVESTIGATION DESIGN/DEVELOPMENT/PERMITTING CONSTRUCTION/EXTINGUISHMENT CHANGES/ISSUES RETROSPECT/MONITORING PRESENTATION BREAKDOWN
3. 3. December 15, 2013 Incident Reported
4. 4. Investigations Tools
5. 5. 12/18/ 2013 Investigation
6. 6. Bank estimated to cover 4 acres and 80-100 feet in height Dec. 18,2013 Initial Investigation
7. 7. Fire Surface Expression 120 X 120
8. 8. Typical Mine Map
9. 9. Project Area Mine Maps
10. 10. Investigation Recommendation Based on the following information: Incident happened suddenly AML Related SB (Surface Burning, gob on fire) Eligible for Title IV Funding Priority (threat to Health, Safety and welfare. Unknown site characteristics (lack of mine maps and how much gob is out there) Investigation unit recommends and Accelerated response Project on December 18, 2013.
11. 11. PA 4294 SIMPSON NORTHEAST
12. 12. Environmental Assessment Process Site analysis & Proposal Resource agencies & Consultations Environmental Impacts Authorization to proceed request
13. 13. Site analysis & Proposal s Full site view Site delineation GPS locations 1. Water bodies 2. Wet land 3. Structures or foundations 4. Site access.
14. 14. Project location Map
15. 15. Project Area and Access Map
16. 16. Project Area and Access Map
17. 17. Resource agencies & consultations A Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) Environmental Review Historic and Cultural Resources The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wetland Inventory The U.S Army Corp of Engineers (ACOE) The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
18. 18. Environmental Impacts The Major impact of this project will be to the following Hydrology Vegetation Fish and Wildlife Resources Air Quality Historic and Cultural Resources
19. 19. Environmental Impacts Hydrology
20. 20. Lackawanna River HQCWF 1/2/13
21. 21. Lackawanna River as a source of water
22. 22. Effected Water Body A and Stream
23. 23. Effected Water Body B
24. 24. Unnamed Stream
25. 25. Environmental Impacts Hydrology Vegetation Fish and Wildlife Resources Air Quality Historic and Cultural Resources
26. 26. Historic and Cultural Resources
27. 27. SHPO
28. 28. Project plan
29. 29. PROJECT BEGAN JANUARY 20, 2014
30. 30. EARLY STAGE FEBRUARY 10, 2014
31. 31. PUMPING OPERATION
32. 32. VIDEO OF FIRE FEB. 24, 2014
33. 33. WATER RUNOFF FEB. 24, 2014
34. 34. BATTLE CONTINUES MARCH 26, 2014
35. 35. FOAM ADDED TO FIGHT FIRE
36. 36. CUTTING OFF FIRE APRIL 3, 2014
37. 37. SHRINKING PILE APRIL 12, 2014
38. 38. FIRE EXTINGUISHED MAY 9, 2014
39. 39. Timeframe 2 Months Jan 20 - May 28 *Fire Extinguished May 8 (109 days) Fire Excavation 50,000 CY 285,000 CY Water Used 20 Mil. Gal. 164 Mil. Gal. Foam Used 10,000 Gal. 35,000 Gal. Area of Site 7.0 Acres 17.6 Acres Total Cost $741,000 $2,214,618 FINAL QUANTITIES ORIGINAL FINAL
40. 40. ED STABACK PARK REFUSE FIRE
41. 41. JEANESVILLE MINE FIRE
42. 42. Assume larger than appears. Plenty of E & S controls. Boreholes and Monitoring Plan for potential fires before they happen. Complaints Media RETROSPECT
43. 43. Further information regarding this presentation please contact: Riyad Barkawi rbarkawi@pa.gov John Curley jcurley@pa.gov David Jansson djansson@pa.gov Bernard Walko bwalko@pa.gov