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Office of Surface Mines Research Needs
TITLE: Biological
Indicators Geared to Assessing Impacts of Acid Mine Drainage on
the Ecosystems of Receiving Streams
SUBMITTING BUREAU: Office of Surface Mining
DATE SUBMITTED: March 28, 1995
BIN NUMBER: OSM01CR98
BRD REGION: National
DESCRIPTION OF NEED: The agency has initiated a program to
restore streams in Appalachia from the effects of coal mining.
The development of biological indicators to assist in determining
the effects the AMD is having on the stream would be extremely
useful in determining the most effective restoration method.
MANAGEMENT PROBLEM WITH NEED: The need for more tools in treating
AMD, the number one environmental problem related to coal mining.
BUREAU CONTACT: Kimery Vories (618) 463-6463 ext. 103
BRD PRIMARY CENTER: ECRC (MESC)
BRD CENTER CONTACT: Jim Fairchild (Del Nimmo)
RESULTS OF BRD-INITIATED COMMUNICATION (FY99): Communication that was initiated through the BIN process in 1996 has continued with OSM during the last year. ECRC has several projects investigating methods directly applicable to information needs identified by this BIN. On-going projects involve research addressing acidification issues resulting from both coal and hard rock mining. Issues of interest to OSM relative to invertebrate community response to physical and chemical stream conditions are also being addressed by Mid-Continent Ecological Science Center and Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. In June 1998, ECRC scientists gave a presentation on BRD research capabilities relevant to OSM needs in the "Mid-Continent Regional Coal Symposium." ECRC also participated in a USGS planning session (November 1998) in Reston, VA to develop a USGS strategy for addressing Eastern Coal Mining Issues. As a part of this session, Jim Fairchild presented a paper on "Biological Recovery of Fish and Invertebrate Communities Following Reclamation of an Abandoned Coal Mine". OSM was represented by Mike Robinson. In conversations with Kim Vories, we have established that a database consolidating information on biological responses to acid mine drainage, with a particular emphasis on coal mining areas, would be a useful tool to OSM. Such a database could be supported through BRD's National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) program and a proposal is currently being prepared in cooperation with OSM to request funding to begin this effort. This proposal will also directly related to OSM needs identified as OSM02CR98 and OSM03CR98.
DATE SUBMITTED TO REGIONAL OFFICE: December 18, 1998
PREPARED BY: Jim Fairchild; 573-875-5399 ext. 1871, Columbia Environmental Research Center, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO 65201 and Susan Finger, Columbia Environmental Research Center, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO 65201
RESULTS OF BRD-INITIATED COMMUNICATION (FY98): Contacts between Kim Vories, OSM contact, and individuals from ECRC were initiated in 1996 and have continued as a result of many common interests. OSM needs to know how to assess the success of restoration in streams impacted by acid mine drainage. They are aware of on-going BRD efforts in this area. Numerous telephone exchanges have occurred between BRD and OSM contacts. A meeting was held on September 16th at the OSM offices in Alton, IL to discuss ways to assist OSM in better defining their needs, thus increasing the success of the BIN process. The need to assist OSM in summarizing existing information on acid mine drainage was discussed and OSM provided an example of such a summary on coal combustion products that they had sponsored in 1996. A synthesis of existing information would be helpful in identifying future needs and in formulating new budget initiatives. OSM was provided with web site addresses for the USGS Acid Mine Interest Group and for the USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative. Short descriptions and updates of existing BRD studies (including those from other regions) were provided to Kim Vories.
DATE SUBMITTED TO REGIONAL OFFICE: November 14, 1997
PREPARED BY: James Fairchild, Environmental and Contaminents Research Center, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO 65201
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://biology.usgs.gov/cro/98osm-1.htm
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