Case Study as part of a Web-based Technical and Regulatory Guidance

Cottonwood Creek Site
Bates County, Missouri

1. Site Information
1.1 Contacts
Mike Larsen
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
1101 Riverside Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65101
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 573-751-4041

1.2 Name, Location, and Description
The Cottonwood Creek Mine Site, located in Butler, Missouri, is a 500-acre active, open-pit surface coal mine. There are 10 acres of open pit at any one time. Acidity is the only primary contaminant of concern, with affected media including soil, surface water and sediment, and groundwater.

2. Remedial Action and Technologies
Reclamation of the site is regulated under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. Mitigation of human health and ecologic risk are driving the cleanup goals. The site is currently 95% reclaimed. Since 2003, backfilling and capping/covers and grading are the treatment technologies being used at the site. Upon coal extraction, the open pit is backfilled immediately. Grading and soil cover are accomplished with top- and subsoils.

3. Performance
Water geochemistry is evaluated with field parameters to ensure the effectiveness of the backfilling and covering. The overall goal of the reclamation is to reestablish the soil productivity while preventing any negative impacts to surface or groundwater as a result of the surface coal mining.

4. Costs
Cost of backfilling and covering is reported at $2,500 per acre with operation and maintenance also costing $2,500 per acre.

5. Regulatory Challenges
None reported.

6. Stakeholder Challenges
None reported.

7. Other Challenges and Lessons Learned
None reported.

8. References
No information available.