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Abandoned Mine Drainage

Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) is the principal cause of pollution and stream impairment in the headwaters of the Schuylkill River Watershed, which includes a total of 222 AMD-impaired miles of stream. The AMD Workgroup of the Schuylkill Action Network (SAN) is developing and implementing innovative methods to prevent and treat mine drainage before it reaches waterways. Three such projects are utilizing Schuylkill Watershed Initiative Grant funding from the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.

The Schuylkill Headwaters Association is the local manager for these projects:

• Pine Forest AMD Remediation
Drainage from the Pine Forest Mine's pump shaft contributes aluminum, iron, manganese and acidity to Mill Creek, a tributary to the Schuylkill River in Schuylkill County. This has resulted in Mill Creek’s 303(d)-list designation as “impaired because of metals.” Therefore, SAN is working to install an anoxic limestone drain that will eliminate metals and neutralize acidity in the discharge of the Pine Forest Mine.

Orange-colored water is a tell-tale sign of abandoned mine drainage. Evidence of this pollution is most common in the Upper and Little Schuylkill Watersheds of Berks and Schuylkill Counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Status: Planning and design for the system werecompleted in 2006 and Phase I of implementation was wrapping up as of January 2007. Efforts to monitor flow, hydrology and water quality are ongoing thanks to the work of the U.S. Geological Survey, Philadelphia Water Department, and Aqua Pennsylvania.

• Pine Knot Tunnel AMD Remediation
This project will result in the development of a conceptual design and feasibility study for the remediation and mitigation of water pollution attributed to AMD in the Pine Knot drainage area. This region drains over 20 square miles of mine tunnels, or approximately 35 million gallons per day.

Status: Field investigations are now complete, several potential project areas have been identified, and conceptual designs for each area are now underway. Project designs for one of the most critical areas, the Neumeister discharge, was nearly complete as of January 2007. The USGS continues to monitor flow and hydrology to provide some critical insights into how the Pine Knot Tunnel system drains.

• Reevesdale South Dip Tunnel
The discharge of AMD from the Reevesdale South Dip Tunnel contributes significant aluminum, iron, manganese and acidity to Wabash Creek, a tributary to the Little Schuylkill River in Schuylkill County. This has resulted in Wabash Creek’s 303(d)-list designation as “impaired because of metals.” This project will eliminate metals and neutralize acidity from the Reevesdale South Dip Tunnel discharge through the installation of an oxic limestone drain.

Status: Planning, design and implementation of the treatment system are now complete, but some maintenance issues resulting from heavy rains during the fall of 2006 are still being addressed. In the meantime, signage has been designed and installed, and plans for a dedication ceremony in 2007 are underway.


Learn more about the Schuylkill Action Network’s AMD Workgroup, and its AMD remediation efforts, at www.SchuylkillActionNetwork.org.

Copyright 2008 — Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
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