Data Summary

Coal Mining Operations

2024 - Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

API
REST: https://mapservices.pasda.psu.edu/server/rest/services/pasda/DEP/MapServer
WMS: https://mapservices.pasda.psu.edu/server/services/pasda/DEP/MapServer/WMSServer?request=GetCapabilities&service=WMS

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Web Application: https://maps.psiee.psu.edu/paatlas/
Data Archive: Download historic versions of this dataset

ABSTRACT
Represents the Primary Facility type Coal Mining Operation (CMO) point features. A Coal Mining Operation is a DEP primary facility type related to the Mining Program. The sub-facility types related to Coal Mining Operations that are included are: Deep Mine Underground mining of coal. Includes, but is not limited to, portal, tunnel, slope, and drift mines. Discharge Point Discharge of water from an area as a result of coal mining activities. Mineral Preparation Plant Facility at which coal is cleaned and processed. Post Mining Treatment Post-mining discharges are groundwater seeps and flows that occur after a mine has been completed and reclaimed. Many of these discharges have become contaminated by contacting acid producing rock in the mine environment. Untreated discharges that enter clean streams cause acidification, which immediately kills much of the aquatic life. Coal mines that are predicted to have discharges are not permitted; however, coal mining operators are required to treat post-mining discharges in cases where the predictions do not come true. Through advances in predictive science, less than 2 percent of the permits issued today result in a post-mining discharge. New technologies, including alkaline addition and special handling of acid producing material, are being studied in order to help address the remaining 2 percent. Refuse Disposal Facility An area used for disposal or storage of waste coal, rock, shale, slate, clay, and other coal mining related materials. Refuse Reprocessing Facility at which coal is extracted from waste coal, rock, shale, slate, clay, and other coal mining related material, i.e., coal refuse. Surface Mine Surface mining of coal by removing material which lies above the coal seam. Includes, but is not limited to, strip, auger, quarry, dredging, and leaching mines. A Coal Mining Operation is a DEP primary facility type related to the Mining Program. The sub-facility types related to Coal Mining Operations that are included in eMapPA are: Coal-Aboveground Storage Tank - aboveground tanks greater than 250 gallons used to store a regulated substance, motor oil or fuel on a coalmine permit. These tanks are regulated under the coal mining regulations since they are specifically exempted from the storage tank regulations. Discharge Point - Discharge of water from an area as a result of coal mining activities. Mineral Preparation Plant - Facility at which coal is cleaned and processed. Mining Stormwater GP - General permit for Stormwater discharges associated with coal mining activities in which the main pollutant is sediment. Discharge is not into a High Quality or Exceptional Value designated stream. NPDES Discharge Point - An effluent discharge at a coal mine operation permitted under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Post Mining Treatment - Post-mining discharges are groundwater seeps and flows that occur after a mine has been completed and reclaimed. Many of these discharges have become contaminated by contacting acid producing rock in the mine environment. Untreated discharges that enter clean streams cause acidification, which immediately kills much of the aquatic life. Coal mines that are predicted to have discharges are not permitted; however, coal mining operators are required to treat post-mining discharges in cases where the predictions do not come true. Through advances in predictive science, less than 2 percent of the permits issued today result in a post-mining discharge. New technologies, including alkaline addition and special handling of acid producing material, are being studied in order to help address the remaining 2 percent. Refuse Disposal Facility - An area used for disposal or storage of waste coal, rock, shale, slate, clay, and other coal mining related materials. Refuse Reprocessing - Facility at which coal is extracted from waste coal, rock, shale, slate, clay, and other coal mining related material, i.e., coal refuse. Surface Mine - Surface mining of coal by removing material which lies above the coal seam. Includes, but is not limited to, strip, auger, quarry, dredging and leaching mines. Underground Mine - Deep mining of coal. Includes, but is not limited to, portal, tunnel, slope and drift mines.