Impact Assessment and Remediation Strategies for Roadway Construction in Acid-Bearing Media: Case Study from Mid-Appalachia

The likelihood of encountering land impacted by current and/or historic coal mining activities is high when constructing roadways in the Mid-Appalachian region. Through additional disturbance of these lands, environmental impacts such as acid and dissolved metals loading and subsequent impacts to aq...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of infrastructure systems 2008-09, Vol.14 (3), p.223-229
Main Authors: Viadero, Roger C, Fortney, Ronald H, Creel, Aislinn T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
Applied sciences
Buildings. Public works
COAL MINING
CONSTRUCTION
DESIGN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Exact sciences and technology
GEOCHEMISTRY
MINERAL WASTES
PH VALUE
REMEDIAL ACTION
Road construction. Pavements. Maintenance
ROADS
SPOIL BANKS
TECHNICAL PAPERS
Transportation infrastructure
USA
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER QUALITY
WATERSHEDS
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Summary:The likelihood of encountering land impacted by current and/or historic coal mining activities is high when constructing roadways in the Mid-Appalachian region. Through additional disturbance of these lands, environmental impacts such as acid and dissolved metals loading and subsequent impacts to aquatic flora and fauna will ensue. Consequently, it is necessary to affect a paradigm shift in roadway design and construction to account for the presence of factors that compound the already difficult task of working in a region characterized by steep topography and aggressive geochemistry. In this study, assessments of the water chemistry and biological impacts of a waste pile containing spoils from previous mining and the presence of an exposed coal mine bench were made as representative microcosmic examples of typical conditions found in the region. Based on quantitative measurements of water quality and biological conditions, recommendations are presented for the assessment and avoidance of impacts prior to construction through acid-bearing materials and suggestions are offered for postconstruction remediation at previously impacted sites.
ISSN:1076-0342
1943-555X
DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)1076-0342(2008)14:3(223)