Fires in abandoned coal mines and waste banks. Information circular/1993

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:6039622

Kim, A G; Chaiken, R F

Fires that occur in abandoned coal mines, waste banks and in coal outcrops constitute a serious health, safety and environmental hazard. Toxic fumes, the deterioration of air quality, and subsidence constitute the greatest hazards from these fires. Although fires on abandoned mined land (AML) occur in every coal producing state, the severity of the problem varies. Methods to extinguish or control AML fires, including excavation, fire barriers and sealing, are generally expensive and have a relatively low probability of success. The report includes information from a variety of sources. Factors affecting the occurrence, propagation and extinguishment of AML fires are discussed. Conventional fire control methods are described, and their probable effectiveness is evaluated.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6039622
• Report Number(s): PB-93-232551/XAB; BUMINES-IC-9352
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Library of Congress catalog card No. 92-20449
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COAL MINES
FIRES
ABANDONED SHAFTS
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
AIR QUALITY
EVALUATED DATA
EXCAVATION
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
FIRE PREVENTION
HEALTH HAZARDS
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
OPTIMAL CONTROL
PROBABILISTIC ESTIMATION
STATE GOVERNMENT
TOXICITY
UNDERGROUND MINING
COLLOIDS
CONTROL
DATA
DISPERSIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
HAZARDS
INFORMATION
MINE SHAFTS
MINES
MINING
NUMERICAL DATA
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
SAFETY
SHAFT EXCAVATIONS
SOLS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
012033* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Underground Mining- Mine Environment- (1987-)
540120 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
016000 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Health & Safety