Audenried Tunnel

Last updated
Audenried Tunnel
Overview
Location East Union Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
StartJeansville Coal Basin
EndUpper reaches of Catawissa Creek
Operation
Work begun1928
Opened1931
Technical
Length3.05 miles
Tunnel clearance 9 feet
Width12 feet

The Audenried Tunnel, also known as the Audenried Mine Tunnel, is a drainage tunnel located in East Union Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. [1] It is approximately three miles long and drains the western portion of a coal basin near Kelayres. [2]

Contents

It is among the largest sources of acid mine drainage into Catawissa Creek. [3] It also contributes up to 80% of the acidity to Catawissa Creek. The Audenried Tunnel's pH is approximately 4. However, there have been somewhat successful attempts at treating the tunnel outflow in the 21st century. The bedrock in the vicinity of the tunnel is mostly shale and sandstone.

Location and description

The Audenried Tunnel is 16,150 feet (4,920 m) long. [2] The tunnel runs between Audenried Mine and the watershed of Catawissa Creek. [3] It is filled with debris and the air inside the tunnel is not breathable. The tunnel roughly follows the synclinal axis of the coal basin it is in. [2] The tunnel drains the Jeansville Coal Basin, which is located between Hazleton and McAdoo. [3]

The Audenried Tunnel is located approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) east of the community of Sheppton, Pennsylvania. [4] The tunnel is 12.0 feet (3.7 m) in width and 9.0 feet (2.7 m) in height. [5]

When the Audenried Tunnel was first built, the first 350 feet (110 m) were fully lined with timber due to the low quality of the rock in that part of the tunnel. The next 150 feet (46 m) were also supported by timber, but to a lesser extent. [2]

In 1931, the Glen Alden Coal Company reported that 8,499 feet (2,590 m) from the mouth of the Audenried Tunnel, there was a fissure that discharged close to 800 gallons (approximately 211 liters) per minute. It is possible that there is a fault at this location. [2]

The Audenried Tunnel is the most downstream mine drainage tunnel to discharge into Catawissa Creek. [3]

Hydrology

The Audenried Tunnel discharges into Catawissa Creek near where the Green Mountain Tunnel and the Catawissa Tunnel discharge into the creek. The Audenried Tunnel discharges in a strip mine not far from Catawissa Creek's headwaters. All of the mine workings in the Jeansville Coal Basin likely drain into the tunnel, as does some water from the surface. The discharge from the Audenried Tunnel contributes currently as much as 80% of the acid flowing through Catawissa Creek, with previous studies showing up to 84%. [3] The average discharge of the tunnel is 12.22 million gallons per day, [3] or about 8500 gallons per minute. [5] However, during heavy rainstorms, the discharge can reach 300,000 gallons per minute. [5] The pH of the water in the tunnel ranges between 3.8 and 4.1. The average pH is 4.03. [3]

The total concentration of iron in the waters at the confluence of the Audenried Tunnel and Catawissa Creek is 0.7 milligrams per liter, which equates to a load of 71.3 pounds (32.3 kg) per day. The total maximum daily load for iron is 57.1 pounds (25.9 kg) per day, which is 21% less than the current load. The total concentration of manganese at the confluence is 2.28 milligrams per liter, which equates to a load of 232.4 pounds (105.4 kg) per day. The total maximum daily load for manganese is 73% less than the current daily load. The total concentration of aluminum is 7.93 milligrams per liter, which equates to a load of 808.2 pounds (366.6 kg) per day. The total maximum daily load for aluminum is 40.8 pounds (18.5 kg), which is 95% less than the current daily load. The total concentration of acidity is 68.08 milligrams per liter, which equates to 6,938.4 pounds (3,147.2 kg) per day. The total maximum daily load for acidity is 69.3 pounds (31.4 kg), which is 99% less than the current load. The total concentration of alkalinity is 2.31 milligrams per liter, which equates to 235.4 pounds (106.8 kg) per day. [3] The total concentration of sulfates in the discharge is 136.25 milligrams per liter. [3] [4]

History

The Glen Alden Coal Company commenced construction of the Audenried Tunnel in 1928. [5] Construction of the tunnel finished in 1931. [3] [5] The tunnel was originally created to decrease the elevation of the area's water table without resorting to the use of pumps, thus allowing the drilling of deep coal mine shafts. It was successful in doing this, but rendered 33 miles (53 km) of Catawissa Creek devoid of life for 75 years. [5]

An attempt was made to map the Audenried Tunnel in 1971. However, the attempt was aborted after 1,300 feet (400 m) due to the presence of debris that was impassible. [2] Plans were made in 1974 to plug the tunnel. [3]

In 2006, part of the treatment plant at the mouth of the Audenried Tunnel was buried by a landslide, putting it out of commission. [5]

Attempts at restoration and treatment

One plan to reduce the discharge rate of the Audenried Tunnel is to reclaim land and create stream channels for Hunkydory Creek and two unnamed tributaries of Catawissa Creek. There are plans to test a way to neutralize the water in the Audenried Tunnel. [3] The Audenried Tunnel AMD Treatment Project began in the summer of 2005, with the aim of treating the outflow of the Audenried Tunnel. The Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation gained $150,000 from the Office of Surface Mining for the project. The treatment cost approximately $1,900,000 and is the largest acid mine drainage treatment system in the Coal Region. [6] Around 2000, plans were made to reroute Catawissa Creek away from the tunnel. [1]

The Audenried Tunnel AMD Treatment Project takes in water from the Audenried Tunnel and puts it in three concrete tanks that are 120 feet (37 m) wide and 10 feet (3.0 m) deep. The tanks are filled with 4500 tons of limestone. The treatment system raises the pH of the water by 30%. [7] Ed Rendell, the governor of Pennsylvania when this project was worked on, granted $200,000 to the project. [8]

Geology

The bedrock around the Audenried Tunnel includes red shale, sandy shale, which are both clay-like or silt-like. The shale is more weathered near the mouth of the tunnel. The bedrock near the tunnel also includes sandstone belonging to the Mauch Chunk Formation. Between 1,000 feet (300 m) and 1,200 feet (370 m), the bedrock around the tunnel is largely sandstone. [2]

Up to 8,499 feet (2,590 m), the rock near the Audenried Tunnel is mostly interbedded red shale and sandstone. However, there is also a 29 feet (8.8 m) layer of conglomerate. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catawissa Creek</span> Tributary of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania

Catawissa Creek is a 41.8-mile-long (67.3 km) tributary of the Susquehanna River in east-central Pennsylvania in the United States. Its watershed has an area of 153 square miles (400 km2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shamokin Creek</span> River

Shamokin Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 32.4 miles (52.1 km) long and flows through Mount Carmel, Mount Carmel Township, Coal Township, Shamokin, Ralpho Township, Shamokin Township, Snydertown, Upper Augusta Township, and Sunbury. The watershed of the creek has an area of 137 square miles (350 km2). It experiences significant impacts by abandoned mine drainage and many abandoned mine drainage discharges are in its watershed. Various other impairments also affect parts of the creek's watershed. Shamokin Creek is in the Appalachian Mountains section of the Ridge and Valley physiographic province. Rock formations consisting of sandstone, shale, and anthracite deposits occur in the watershed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahanoy Creek</span> Creek in Pennsylvania

Mahanoy Creek is a 51.6-mile-long (83.0 km) tributary of the Susquehanna River in Northumberland and Schuylkill counties, Pennsylvania. There are at least 35 sources of acid mine drainage in the creek's watershed. Anthracite was mined in the upper part of the Mahanoy Creek watershed in the 19th and 20th centuries. Mahanoy Creek's tributaries include Schwaben Creek, Zerbe Run, Little Mahanoy Creek, Shenandoah Creek, and North Mahanoy Creek. Little Mahanoy Creek and Schwaben Creek are two streams in the watershed that are unaffected by acid mine drainage. Schwaben Creek has a higher number and diversity of fish species than the main stem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeddo Tunnel</span>

The Jeddo Tunnel is a drainage tunnel at water level in Pennsylvania. It is one of the Coal Region's biggest discharges of mine water. The tunnel is five miles long and was constructed between 1891 and 1894, and at the time of its construction, was reputed to be the largest mine drainage tunnel in the world. It consists of major tunnels A and B, and minor tunnels C, D and X.

Tangascootack Creek is a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River in Clinton County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Tangascootack Creek stretches for 11.4 miles (18.3 km) through Bald Eagle, Beech Creek and Colebrook Townships. Its watershed covers 36.5 square miles. Among its tributaries are North Fork Tangascootack Creek and Muddy Run, and there is also a swamp called Bear Swamp near the headwaters. Coal mining, including strip mining, was common in the watershed throughout the 1800s and 1900s. The creek experiences acid mine drainage, much of which comes from Muddy Run.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomhicken Creek</span> Tributary of Catawissa Creek in Pennsylvania, US

Tomhicken Creek, also known as Tomhickon Creek, is a stream in Luzerne County and Schuylkill County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 11 miles (18 km) long and is the largest tributary of Catawissa Creek. Named tributaries of the creek include Little Crooked Run, Little Tomhicken Creek, Raccoon Creek, and Sugarloaf Creek. The watershed of the main stem has an area of 20.6 square miles. A number of mine tunnels discharge into the creek and its tributaries.

Twomile Run is a tributary of Kettle Creek in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) long. Tributaries of the stream include Huling Branch and Middle Branch Twomile Run. The stream flows through Leidy Township and Noyes Township. The stream's watershed has an area of approximately 9 square miles. Coal is mined in the watershed. Most of the acid mine drainage in Kettle Creek comes from Twomile Run.

The Oneida Number One Tunnel is a mine drainage tunnel in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is one of five major mine tunnels in the watershed of Catawissa Creek. The tunnel discharges into Sugarloaf Creek near Lake Choctaw and Lake Susquehanna. The water quality of the tunnel's discharge has improved significantly since the installation of a treatment system at the site of the tunnel in 2001.

The Oneida Number Three Tunnel is a mine tunnel in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is one of five major mine tunnels in the watershed of Catawissa Creek. The tunnel discharges into Tomhicken Creek downstream of the mouth of Little Tomhicken Creek. The tunnel was constructed in the 1930s and a passive treatment system was installed at the site of the tunnel in 2009. The tunnel is more than a mile long.

The Green Mountain Tunnel is a mine drainage tunnel in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is one of five major mine drainage tunnels in the watershed of Catawissa Creek. The tunnel discharges into Catawissa Creek near the Audenried Tunnel and the Catawissa Tunnel. The tunnel was constructed in the 1930s and is slightly less than one mile long.

The Catawissa Tunnel is a mine drainage tunnel in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The tunnel discharges into Catawissa Creek further upstream than any other mine drainage tunnel in the watershed. The tunnel was constructed in the 1930s and a passive treatment system may or may not be installed at the site of the tunnel. The tunnel is several hundred feet long.

The Catawissa Tunnel is a mine drainage tunnel in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Its properties include the discharge, the pH, the chemical hydrology, and the water temperature. A total of 30 different metals and metalloids have been observed in the tunnel's waters. The hydrological data comes from a gauge on the tunnel at a location of 40°54'39" north and 76°03'59" west and an elevation of 1,440 feet (440 m) above sea level. Some of the most abundant metals in the waters of the tunnel include iron, aluminum, and manganese. These metals have concentrations on the order of several milligrams per liter. A number of other metals have concentrations on the order of micrograms per liter and some metals are found in even lower concentrations. Nonmetals such as nitrates, sulfates, fluorides, chlorides, and silica are also present in the tunnel. The concentrations of such nonmetals range between several micrograms per liter and several milligrams per liter.

The Quakake Tunnel is a mine drainage tunnel in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The tunnel is several thousand feet long and has a discharge of thousands of gallons per minute. It was the subject of an Operation Scarlift report. The tunnel is a major contributor of acid mine drainage to the watershed of the Lehigh River.

Stony Creek is a tributary of Black Creek in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 3.7 miles (6.0 km) long and flows through Hazle Township and West Hazleton. Its named tributaries include Cranberry Creek and Wolffs Run. Stony Creek is considered to be impaired by acid mine drainage and also has measurable concentrations of iron, aluminum, and manganese. The Llwellyn Formation and the Mauch Chunk Formation can be found near the creek. Land uses in its watershed include forested land and barren land. A reservoir has been constructed in the watershed and at least one bridge has been built over the creek. The creek is considered to be a coldwater fishery and a migratory fishery.

Cranberry Creek is a tributary of Stony Creek in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 4.4 miles (7.1 km) long and flows through Hazle Township. The creek is affected by acid mine drainage. It also contains metals such as iron, manganese, and aluminum. It is in the drainage basin of the Jeddo Tunnel. Major roads in the creek's watershed include Pennsylvania Route 924, Pennsylvania Route 309, and Interstate 81. At least one bridge has been built over it. The creek has undergone restoration and there are plans to construct an area known as the Cranberry Creek Gateway Park in its vicinity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nanticoke Creek</span> River in the United States of America

Nanticoke Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 4.4 miles (7.1 km) long and flows through Hanover Township and Nanticoke. The watershed of the creek has an area of 7.57 square miles (19.6 km2). The creek has one named tributary, which is known as Espy Run. Nanticoke Creek impaired by pH and metals due to abandoned mine drainage. Abandoned mine drainage discharges in the creek's watershed include the Truesdale Mine Discharge and the Askam Borehole. The creek is located in the Northern Middle Anthracite Field and is in the Anthracite Valley Section of the ridge and valley physiographic province. The main rock formations in the watershed include the Mauch Chunk Formation, the Pottsville Group, and the Llewellyn Formation. The surficial geology consists of coal dumps, surface mining land, alluvium, Wisconsinan Outwash, Wisconsinan Till, urban land, and bedrock.

Espy Run is a tributary of Nanticoke Creek in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 2.4 miles (3.9 km) long and flows through Nanticoke and Hanover Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 3.14 square miles (8.1 km2). The stream is affected by abandoned mine drainage and has been affected by sewage in the past. The Espy Run Wetlands and the Espy Run discharge are in the stream's vicinity. The surficial geology in the area consists of urban land, coal dumps, surface mining land, Wisconsinan Till, Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift, and bedrock.

Rausch Creek is a tributary of Pine Creek in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.7 miles (2.7 km) long and flows through Hegins Township. The watershed of the creek has an area of 9.55 square miles (24.7 km2). The creek has two named tributaries: East Branch Rausch Creek and West Branch Rausch Creek. Rausch Creek is designated as an impaired waterbody, with the cause of the impairment being metals and the probable source being abandoned mine drainage.

East Branch Rausch Creek is a tributary of Rausch Creek in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 2.3 miles (3.7 km) long and flows through Porter Township and Hegins Township. The watershed of the creek has an area of 4.21 square miles (10.9 km2). The creek is impacted by metals, pH, and siltation due to abandoned mine drainage and resource extraction. It drains an area between two mountains: Good Springs Mountain and Big Lick Mountain. There are also two mine pools in the watershed.

West Branch Rausch Creek is a tributary of Rausch Creek in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. It is approximately 3.7 miles (6.0 km) long and flows through Hegins Township. The watershed of the creek has an area of 4.78 square miles (12.4 km2). The creek is designated as an impaired waterbody due to metals from abandoned mine drainage. It has no named tributaries.

References

  1. 1 2 Gerry Ulicny (February 7, 2000), Schuylkill Groups Seek Waterway Grants * Largest Project Would Be Catawissa Creek Restoration To End Acid Mine Pollution., The Morning Call , retrieved November 19, 2013
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Audenried Tunnel (PDF), retrieved November 15, 2013
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 CATAWISSA CREEK WATERSHED TMDL: Carbon, Columbia, Luzerne, and Schuylkill Counties (PDF), EPA, March 1, 2003, retrieved November 17, 2013
  4. 1 2 Feature - Audenreid Treatment Project Will Clean Up 36 Miles of Catawissa Creek, September 16, 2005, archived from the original on March 4, 2016, retrieved November 19, 2013
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Audenreid Tunnel Treatment System (PDF), retrieved November 19, 2013
  6. ↑ EPCAMR (2011), EPCAMR Project History Highlights , retrieved November 19, 2013
  7. ↑ EPCAMR (2005), 2005 Year in Review for the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program (PDF), retrieved November 19, 2013
  8. ↑ PA Governor Rendell Investing to Improve PA's Economy, Environment; Awards $14.4 Million in Growing Greener Funds , retrieved November 19, 2013

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.