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U.S. Department of Energy
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Runoff-water quality and hydrology at coal-refuse disposal sites in southern Illinois

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6416497
Data on water quality and other hydrologic parameters were gathered from runoff at three abandoned, unreclaimed, coal-refuse disposal sites in southern Illinois. Two of the sites were subsequently recontoured, limed, covered with 30 cm of glacial till and loess, fertilized, and seeded. Data collected one to four years after reconstruction of these sites indicated that (1) runoff rates were increased because the soil cover was less permeable than the coal refuse and (2) acidity, sulfate, and metal concentrations in surface runoff waters were greatly reduced following renovation. However, gradual increases in acidity, sulfate, and metal concentrations in runoff water at one of these sites were seen two years after reconstruction, and these concentrations may continue to rise in the future. This indicates that the pyrite and iron sulfate salts in the coal refuse will make reclamation a gradual and long-term process, rather than one that can be carried out quickly by grading, liming, and covering with soil. 2 tables.
Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
6416497
Report Number(s):
CONF-821175-2; ON: DE83009687
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English