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Project Details

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Project Information Sheet 1999-05

Hydrologic suitability of mine spoil as a medium for septic-tank absorption fields

Funding Source:	Indiana Department of Environmental Management and Indiana Geological Survey
Period of Contract:	1 Apr 1998 to 31 Dec 2000
Status:	completed — Definition of status type
Project Director:	Denver Harper

Issue

Extensive areas of southwestern Indiana have been surface-mined for coal. At the time of the investigation, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) did not have standard procedures for permitting installation of on-site residential sewage systems in such areas.

Objective

The goal of this project was to provide the Indiana State Department of Health with tools to expeditiously process applications for septic-field permits on reclaimed coal mine lands.

Approach

A two-phase investigation was conducted: 1) Maps from the most intensively mined county in southwestern Indiana were gathered and organized, and a geographic information system (GIS) was created that showed the distribution of graded and ungraded spoil, with and without soil covers. 2) Hydrologic conditions were monitored within the immediate vicinity of active septic fields in three of the major categories of reclaimed land. During 1998-1999, a GIS was created, showing the distribution of graded and ungraded spoil, with and without soil covers, together with layers showing infrastructure, sources of geologic data, aerial photographs, and so on. Monitoring equipment was installed at three sites.

Products

A report on the project is available on an IGS Web site: http://igs.indiana.edu/survey/projects/mineSpoilSeptic/index.cfm.

Benefits

This study provides environmentally compatible standards for septic system development in mined areas.

Locations Affected:

Warrick

Indiana House Districts Affected:

74

75

78

Indiana Senate Districts Affected:

47

50

Indiana Congressional Districts Affected:

Information Updated February 1, 2007

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