A GIS Methodology for Assessing the Safety Hazards of Abandoned Mine Lands (AMLs): Application to the State of Pennsylvania

Abandoned mine lands (AMLs) associated with past coal-mining scar Pennsylvania’s landscape with environmental and safety hazards. Reclamation projects eliminate and reduce hazards AMLs pose. Due to the large number of AMLs and limited funds, precedence is given to reclaim the most hazardous sites first. These sites are identified through an assessment process that assigns priorities to AMLs. However, priorities are out-dated and do not accurately reflect the current spatial distribution of land use and census data. This article presents a GIS methodology for the prioritization of AMLs using the process of extrapolation and focal statistics. By incorporating current assessment techniques into GIS with current land use and census data, AML priorities were reassigned to accurately reflect the current spatial landscape. Results indicate that current AML priorities assigned by the state do not accurately reflect current land use and census data and underestimate the safety hazards of many sites, including high priority sites. DOI: 10.4018/jagr.2011070104 International Journal of Applied Geospatial Research, 2(3), 50-71, July-September 2011 51 Copyright © 2011, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. presence poses a risk to the general population. Many have been the scenes of death due to drowning as unsuspecting individuals attempt to swim in cold, shallow abandoned open water pits that contain old mining equipment. Others perished by falling from dangerous highwalls as they navigate the woods on feet or all terrain vehicles (ATV). Abandoned mining equipment is an attractive playground for young children. These illustrate just a few safety hazards posed by AMLs. From 2000-2008, 250 non-employee mine fatalities occurred nationwide on both active and abandoned mine facilities (MSHA, 2009). Pennsylvania has the most deaths with 23 (Figure 1). Environmentally, the most significant impact of AMLs is the untreated discharge of acid mine drainage (AMD) (Bilek, 2004; Brake, Connors, & Romberger, 2001; Correa, Costa, & Koppe, 2003; Equeenuddin, Tripathy, Sahoo, & Panigrahi, 2010; Hammarstrom, Belkin, & Sibrell, 2003; Hawkins, 1994; Herman & Baumgartner, 1992; Jaynes & Pionke, 1984; Kim & Chon, 2001; Kimmel, 1983; Kumar-Vadapalli et al., 2008; Mayo, Petersen, & Kravits, 2000; O’Bara & Estes, 1985; Rahn, 1992; Rahmatian, 1990; Ramsey & Brannon, 1998; Saria, Shimaoka, & Miyawaki, 2006; Siriwardane, Kannan, & Ziemkiewicz, 2003; Smith & Skema, 2001; Stevens, McCarthy, & Vis, 2001; Wielder, 1993; Wu et al., 2009; Zalack, Smucker, & Vis, 2010). Untreated discharge entering streams can degrade both the habitat and water quality leaving an environment unsuitable for desired uses and void of aquatic life. As a result of such hazards to the general population and environment, reclamation programs have been enacted to eliminate and restore AMLs to their natural state. The agency that specifically designs reclamation projects and Figure 1. Non-employee mine fatalities 2000-2008 20 more pages are available in the full version of this document, which may be purchased using the "Add to Cart" button on the product's webpage: www.igi-global.com/article/gis-methodology-assessingsafety-hazards/55373?camid=4v1 This title is available in InfoSci-Journals, InfoSci-Journal Disciplines Engineering, Natural, and Physical Science. Recommend this product to your librarian: www.igi-global.com/e-resources/libraryrecommendation/?id=2