abandoned mines the seinfeldian side of pennsylvania’s mining heritage

Abandoned Abandoned MinesMines

The Seinfeldian side of The Seinfeldian side of Pennsylvania’s Pennsylvania’s

Mining HeritageMining Heritage

We all know it…We all know it…

……the TV show the TV show about a New York about a New York Comedian…Comedian…

Jerry Seinfeld…Jerry Seinfeld…

Portrayed by…Portrayed by…

……Bob Bob Hughes???Hughes???

……and his friendsand his friends

Cramer…Cramer…

……portrayed for us portrayed for us by…by…

…….John .John Dawes???Dawes???

Elaine…

Played today by…

…Bev Braverman???

and George Costanza….

….played by….

…hey, it had to be

a bald guy, right?

SeinfeldSeinfeld A show about A show about

nothing.nothing.

The History of Abandoned The History of Abandoned Mines…Mines…

Is ‘Seinfeldian’ in Is ‘Seinfeldian’ in that it is a history that it is a history of…of…

……Nothing!Nothing!

….nothing was backfilled…

……nothing sealed…nothing sealed…

……nothing knocked nothing knocked down…down…

Abandoned vs. ClosedAbandoned vs. Closed

When a mine stops When a mine stops production it can production it can close or it can close or it can become become abandoned. abandoned.

Why?Why?

‘‘S’ is the answer.S’ is the answer.

S = Seinfeld – i.e. S = Seinfeld – i.e. nothing.nothing.

Or S = EntropyOr S = Entropy

EntropyEntropy

‘‘A measure of the degree of disorder A measure of the degree of disorder in a substance or a system: Entropy in a substance or a system: Entropy always increases and available always increases and available energy diminishes in a closed energy diminishes in a closed system.’system.’

Entropy and Pennsylvania’s Entropy and Pennsylvania’s HeritageHeritage

Mines close for lots of reasons. Mines close for lots of reasons. Closure itself is not the problem –Closure itself is not the problem –

Fixing available energy at that point Fixing available energy at that point in time in time may be the problem.be the problem.

If the site is properly reclaimed then it If the site is properly reclaimed then it is is stable.Little or no energy is needed to

maintain the sites conditions.

Abandoned mines need Abandoned mines need energy! energy!

Each ‘system’ is unique.Each ‘system’ is unique.

Land Land Reclamation Reclamation Systems…Systems…

……eliminate eliminate safety safety hazards…hazards…

……seal, close, seal, close,

extinguish, extinguish, backfill…backfill…

……create a create a stable site.stable site.

Perpetual problems…Perpetual problems…

Perpetual SolutionsPerpetual Solutions AMD SystemsAMD Systems

Not stableNot stable Require ‘energy’ Require ‘energy’

Initial constructionInitial construction OperationOperation MaintenanceMaintenance Component Component

ReplacementReplacement 2007 Roundtables2007 Roundtables Two clear messagesTwo clear messages

Set aside full 30%Set aside full 30% Deal with OM&R.Deal with OM&R.

Perpetual Motion Perpetual Motion MachinesMachines

Influent Quality Influent Quality and Quantityand Quantity

Effluent StandardsEffluent Standards TMDLsTMDLs

Technology Technology ChoicesChoices

Present Value of Present Value of Future Costs Future Costs ModelsModels Annual costsAnnual costs Component lifeComponent life InflationInflation Interest Interest

New EnergyNew Energy

Value from closed Value from closed mines.mines.

Value From Mine Water

New Energy from New New Energy from New EnergyEnergy

Development of AMD for Development of AMD for ‘fracing’ Marcellus Gas ‘fracing’ Marcellus Gas Wells.Wells.

Co-treatment of flow back Co-treatment of flow back and brine at AMD facilities.and brine at AMD facilities.

Abandoned Mines and Abandoned Mines and HeritageHeritage

Santayana – “Those who cannot learn Santayana – “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Shelley – “Fear not for the future, Shelley – “Fear not for the future, weep not for the past.”weep not for the past.”

Shaw – “We learn from history that we Shaw – “We learn from history that we learn nothing from history.”learn nothing from history.”

Abandoned Mines and Abandoned Mines and HeritageHeritage

Ulrich – “Well behaved Ulrich – “Well behaved women rarely make women rarely make

history.”history.”