OSM

Abandoned Mine Land Program

Priority 3 Problem Types

BE Bench

A ledge that forms a single level operation along which mineral or waste materials are excavated. A solid bench is that portion of a bench formed on a solid unexcavated material. A fill bench is that portion of a bench usually consisting of unconsolidated spoil material extending outward from the solid bench.

DP Industrial or Residential Waste Dumps

An area used to dispose of any kind of industrial or residential waste not related to mining or processing..

EF Equipment and Facilities

Any equipment or buildings used to mine, process or transport coal or mineral ores.

GO Gob

The refuse or waste removed from an underground mine. This includes mine waste, rock, pyrites, slate or other unmarketable materials which are separated during the cleaning process.

H Highwall

The face of exposed overburden or the face or bank on the uphill side of a contour strip mine excavation

The vertical wall consisting or the deposit being mined and the overlying rock and soil strata of the mining site.

HR Haul Road

A road built to carry loaded trucks from mine heads. A road from pit to loading dock, tipple, ramp or preparation plant, used for transporting mined material by truck.

MO Mine Opening

Any surface entrance or opening related to an underground mine excavation..

O Other

An area causing an environmental impact that does not fit one of the other Priority 3 definitions.

PI Pit, Open Pit, Strip Pit

The last uncovered cut adjacent to the highwall. In surface mining the working area may be known as strip pit.

Mine workings or excavations open to the surface are also termed pit.

SA Spoil, Spoil Bank

The overburden material removed in gaining access to the coal seam or mineral deposit.

SL Slurry

Fine particle-size material from coal or mineral processing stored in a pond. Solid must be separated from the water in order to have clear effluent for reuse or discharge.

SP Slump

Any surface expression resulting from the caving in of underground mine voids.

WA Water

Water leaving the AML Problem Area and causing environmental impacts because of its pH (acidity), sediment load, or other pollutants or because of its effect on other lands due to poor drainage conditions (e.g. agricultural flooding).

 
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