ground subsidence over underground coal mine …...mine no. 12 point aconi florence atlantic ocean...

7/8/2011

1

PROTOCOLS TO ASSIST IN THE

REMEDIATION OF CBDC PROPERTIES

IMPACTED BY MINE WORKINGS

Prepared for Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) & Cape Breton Development Corporation (CBDC)

By Conestoga-Rovers & Associates Ltd

Prince Mine

No. 12

Point Aconi

Florence

Atlantic Ocean

Hub Seam

Harbour Seam

Phalen Seam

Emery Seam

Sequence of Coal Seams

Glace Bay

Sydney Coalfield Major Coal Mines

Sydney

Princess

Queen

No. 20

No. 26

No. 4No. 6

No.16

No. 12

No. 9

No. 5

No.1A

No. 1B

No. 8

No. 2

No. 20

No. 4

No. 11

No. 24

No. 24

Lingan

Phalen

No.1A

No. 1B

No. 5

No. 9

No. 10

No. 26

New Waterford

Princess

Sydney Mines

Glace Bay

Donkin

DT

LinganNo. 12 & 14

No. 20

No. 8

No. 1B

No. 5

No. 20

Phalen

No.1ANo. 9

No. 10

No. 26

Lingan

No. 5

No.1B

No. 2

No. 20

Cape Breton University

Glace Bay

New Waterford

Glace Bay

Prince Mine

Donkin

CBDC Properties

Sydney

Donkin

Cape Breton University

Ground SubsidenceOver Underground Coal

Mine Workings

IMWA 2010 Sydney, Nova Scotia | “Mine Water & Innovative Thinking”

© by Authors and IMWA

7/8/2011

2

UNSECURED MINE OPENINGSMINE OPENINGS

POTENTIAL PRESENCEAND RELEASE OF MINE GASES

IMWA 2010 Sydney, Nova Scotia | “Mine Water & Innovative Thinking”

© by Authors and IMWA

7/8/2011

3

Deep concernPaul Humphries The Guardian, Wednesday 31 January 2001 The mass closure of Britain's pits left many bad legacies, but none worse than the gases seeping up from disused mines.

Christopher Noonan would still be alive if a local authority had done just that and put in place safety measures. Noonan, 22, suffocated as he went to the aid of his father, Stephen, who had collapsed in a trench filled with blackdamp while they were laying sewer pipes near Barnsley in 1998. Blackdamp is a heavy, suffocating mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide which may accumulate in abandoned mine workings. Experts found it had seeped into the trench from a disused colliery nearby. Workmates managed to haul Stephen out of the trench, but by that time Christopher had also collapsed and they were too late to save his life.

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE OF ACID MINE WATERS

PURPOSE OF PROTOCOLS

Foster awareness of the mining-related hazards associated with abandoned coal mine workingsmine workings

GOAL OF PROTOCOLS

To help insure that site investigations and remediation are carried out effectively, efficiently, with due regard for worker and public safety and in an environmentally considerate manner

Stage 1

Information Gathering

Stage 2

Initial Site Investigation

Stage 5

Remediation Implemented

PWGSC Web Site

HSMWC

Stage 3

Mine Workings Report

Stage 4

Detailed Site Investigations

IMWA 2010 Sydney, Nova Scotia | “Mine Water & Innovative Thinking”

© by Authors and IMWA

7/8/2011

4

Stage 1

Information Gathering

Stage 2

Initial Site Investigation

Stage 5

Remediation Implemented

Stage 3

Mine Workings Report

Stage 4

Detailed Site Investigations

Stage 1

Information Gathering

Stage 2

Initial Site Investigation

Stage 5

Remediation Implemented

Stage 3

Mine Workings Report

Stage 4

Detailed Site Investigations

Stage 1

Information Gathering

Stage 2

Initial Site Investigation

Stage 5

Remediation Implemented

Stage 3

Mine Workings Report

Stage 4

Detailed Site Investigations

IMWA 2010 Sydney, Nova Scotia | “Mine Water & Innovative Thinking”

© by Authors and IMWA

7/8/2011

5

Sinkhole Subsidence Risk High d/m <6Moderate d/m >6 but < 12Low d/m> 12

Sinkhole Subsidence Risk High d/m <6Moderate d/m >6 but < 12Low d/m> 12

Stage 1

Information Gathering

Stage 2

Initial Site Investigation

Stage 5

Remediation Implemented

Stage 3

Mine Workings Report

Stage 4

Detailed Site Investigations

IMWA 2010 Sydney, Nova Scotia | “Mine Water & Innovative Thinking”

© by Authors and IMWA

7/8/2011

6

Stage 1

Information Gathering

Stage 2

Initial Site Investigation

Stage 5

Remediation Implemented

Stage 3

Mine Workings Report

Stage 4

Detailed Site Investigations

IMWA 2010 Sydney, Nova Scotia | “Mine Water & Innovative Thinking”

© by Authors and IMWA

7/8/2011

7

Stage 1

Information Gathering

Stage 2

Initial Site Investigation

Stage 5

Remediation Implemented

PWGSC Web Site

Stage 3

Mine Workings Report

Stage 4

Detailed Site Investigations

IMWA 2010 Sydney, Nova Scotia | “Mine Water & Innovative Thinking”

© by Authors and IMWA

7/8/2011

8

Stage 1

Information Gathering

Stage 2

Initial Site Investigation

Stage 5

Remediation Implemented

PWGSC Web Site

HSMWC

Stage 3

Mine Workings Report

Stage 4

Detailed Site Investigations

IMWA 2010 Sydney, Nova Scotia | “Mine Water & Innovative Thinking”

© by Authors and IMWA