ENVIRONMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO UNDERGROUND AND SURFACE COAL MINES IN SOUTHWEST INDIANA

An extensive area of southwest Indiana, Pennsylvanian in age, contains prominent coal seams mined for 100 years or more. Significant surface strip mines and underground works occur in 17 Indiana counties yielding 186,000 acres underground and 284,000 at the surface. Prior to the SMCRA Act of 1977 strip mine reclamation was lacking, yielding elongated lakes in final cut areas. Where underground water-filled mines occur in conjunction with surface mine lakes, an opportunity exists to exchange water volumes. Energy storage and heat exchange are possible environmental opportunities. Engineering problems may ensue including underground collapse, surface subsidence and water quality aspects. These concerns are addressed in this discussion.