Jonathan Run Acid Rock Discharge Mitigation Strategies

Jonathan Run is a tributary of Beech Creek that is impacted with acid rock containing fill material and clay during the construction of I-80 in central Pennsylvania. The acidic discharge of Jonathan Run contains white aluminum precipitates resulting in surface water quality degradation. Based on field research and subsurface investigations, preliminary suggestions are made for passive and active treatment systems involving flow elimination, mitigation and treatment. The active treatment alternative was selected for the major discharge while passive treatment was used for the less contaminated discharges. A conceptual design is presented consisting of a NaOH reactor, vertical flow wetlands for excess wet weather flow management, a sludge disposal pond, and constructed wetlands for residual flows located on the opposing side of I-80. A Power Point file print out of the presentation made to the Beech Creek watershed association on January 15, 2007 is included.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Pittsburgh

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Pittsburgh, PA  United States  15261-2294

  Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Planning and Research, 400 North Street, 6th Floor
  Harrisburg, PA  United States  17120-0064

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Neufeld, Ronald D
  • Gray, Thomas A
  • Monnell, Jason
  • Smoke, Jordan
  • Hedin, Robert
• Publication Date: 2007-3-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: v.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Degradation (Hydrology); Flow; Groundwater; Sludge (Deposit); Water quality; Wetlands
• Uncontrolled Terms: Acid rock drainage; Mitigation strategies
• Subject Areas: Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01049445
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-PA-2007-010-040111, UPGH-CEE-EWR-2007-4
• Contract Numbers: 040111
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 29 2007 9:48PM