Surface Coal Mining Effects on Ground Water Recharge -- Copyright -- Preface -- Contents -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Legal and Regulatory Framework -- THE FEDERAL SURFACE MINING CONTROL AND RECLAMATION ACT OF 1977 AND "RECHARGE CAPACITY" -- Introduction -- History and Context -- Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1974 -- Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1975 -- Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 -- Interpretation and Action Subsequent to Passage of SMCRA -- Consequences of the Provision -- KENTUCKY AND OSM ROLES -- CHAPTER CONCLUSIONS -- 3 Hydrology of Ground Water Recharge -- HYDROLOGIC CYCLE -- OCCURRENCE AND MOVEMENT OF GROUND WATER -- GROUND WATER RECHARGE -- FRACTURED ROCK HYDROLOGY -- 4 Pre-Mining Conditions in Coal Mining Regions of the United States -- EASTERN COAL PROVINCE -- INTERIOR COAL PROVINCE -- GULF COAL PROVINCE -- NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS COAL PROVINCE -- Decker Mine, Montana -- ROCKY MOUNTAIN COAL PROVINCE -- PACIFIC COAST COAL PROVINCE -- 5 Mining: Methods and Impacts -- OVERVIEW OF SURFACE MINING, SPOIL HANDLING, AND RECLAMATION -- Contour Mining -- Mountaintop Removal -- Area Mining -- Common Features of Three Mining Methods -- MINESOIL PROPERTIES -- ACTIVE SURFACE MINING EFFECTS ON RECHARGE -- Appalachian Coal Basin -- Summer Operations -- Winter Mining -- Western Coal Basins -- Surficial Recharge Processes -- Deep Recharge Processes -- RECLAMATION EFFECTS ON RECHARGE AND ON WATER QUALITY -- Water Quantity -- Water Quality -- CONTROL OF ADVERSE EFFECTS OF COAL SURFACE MINING ON GROUND WATER QUALITY -- 6 Quantifying Ground Water Recharge -- TECHNIQUES FOR ESTIMATING GROUND WATER RECHARGE -- APPLICATION OF TECHNIQUES TO SURFACE MINING SITES -- Water-Budget Methods -- Vadose Zone Flux Measurements -- Water Table Fluctuation Measurements -- Stream Hydrograph Separation -- Geochemical Techniques.

Numerical Modeling -- CONCLUSION -- 7 Conclusions and Recommendations -- GROUND WATER RECHARGE CAPACITY INTERPRETED -- CONCLUSION -- RECOMMENDATION -- HYDROLOGIC EVALUATIONS -- CONCLUSION -- RECOMMENDATION -- CONCLUSION -- RECOMMENDATION -- CONCLUSION -- RECOMMENDATION -- CONCLUSION -- RECOMMENDATION -- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT -- CONCLUSION -- RECOMMENDATION -- CONCLUSION -- RECOMMENDATION -- CONCLUSION -- RECOMMENDATION -- CONCLUSION -- RECOMMENDATION -- References -- Appendix A Glossary -- Appendix B Legal Background -- B1. The Legislative History of SMCRA -- B2. Context of Recharge Capacity Provision As Introduced In 1973 -- B3. SMCRA of 1977 Versions of Sections in Appendix B2 -- B4. OSM Hydrologic Information and Balance Regulations -- B5. Ground Water Provisions in Kentucky Application Form -- Appendix C Other Land Use Change Effects on Recharge -- Appendix D Water Quality Issues Associated with Surface Coal Mining -- GROUND WATER QUALITY: EFFECTS OF COAL SURFACE MINING -- Water Quality Criteria -- Factors Affecting the Quality of Ground Water -- Important Oxidation Reactions -- Buffering Reactions, Salinity Production, and Sulfate Precipitation -- Cation Exchange and Adsorption -- Transport of Solutes -- Biogeochemical Reactions -- Onsite Disposal of Wastes -- Monitoring and Assessing Ground Water Quality Impacts -- Monitoring Ground Water Quality -- Pre-Mining Overburden Assessment to Evaluate Impacts -- CONTROLLING WATER QUALITY -- Controlling Acid Mine Drainage -- Re-Mining to Control Water Quality -- DISCUSSION -- Appendix E Biographical Sketches of Committee Members.