?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fd-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu%2F21061%2F&rft.title=Factors+Influencing+the+Effects+of+Underground+Bituminous+Coal+Mining+on+Water+Resources+in+Western+Pennsylvania&rft.creator=Keener%2C+Michael&rft.description=Coal+mining+in+Pennsylvania+has+been+fundamental+to+the+commonwealth%E2%80%99s+economy+for+over+150+years.++Since+that+time%2C+over+1.2+million+acres+of+bituminous+coal+have+been+mined+using+underground+mining+methods.++Pennsylvania+is+also+estimated+to+have+over+one+million+domestic+water+wells+over+its+29+million+acres+area.++From+2003+to+2008%2C+2%2C789+water+supplies+were+undermined+with+about+24.5%25+having+reported+impacts.++However%2C+not+all+reported+impacts+are+related+to+mining.++The+effects+of+underground+coal+mining+on+the+utility+of+these+wells+and+other+water+resources+have+only+been+studied+systematically+within+the+past+20+years+and+are+still+not+completely+understood.%0D%0APennsylvania+amended+its+Bituminous+Mine+Subsidence+and+Land+Conservation+Act+(Act+54)+in+1994.++The+amended+act+requires+that+a+report+be+submitted+every+five+years+that+assesses+the+impacts+on+water+resources+and+structures+due+to+underground+coal+mining.++Well+and+spring+effects+can+be+classified+into+two+categories%3A++water+loss+(diminution+or+total+loss+of+water)+and+water+contamination+(reduced+quality%2C+increased+metals%2C+gas%2C+etc.).+++Once+these+types+of+effects+are+identified%2C+they+are+analyzed+to+determine+the+relationship+between+underground+coal+mining+and+water+resource+quality+and+quantity.%0D%0AThis+study+investigates+the+factors+associated+with+water+loss+and+water+contamination+due+to+underground+coal+mining.++The+study+area+includes+all+underground+bituminous+coal+mining+activity+in+Pennsylvania+from+August+21%2C+2008+to+August+20%2C+2013.++The+area+encompasses+10+counties+in+western+Pennsylvania+providing+a+diverse+sample+of+water+resource+data%2C+mining+methods%2C+and+local+conditions.++Mining+activity+was+conducted+by+6+companies+with+a+total+of+7+longwall+mines+and+39+room-and-pillar+mines.++Factors+include+mining+method%2C+mining+depth%2C+proximity+to+mining%2C+hydrogeological+setting%2C+topographical+setting%2C+climate%2C+and+more.++A+statistical+analysis+of+these+factors+is+used+to+determine+the+most+important+factors+driving+water+resource+impacts.++Greater+study+is+then+conducted+on+the+most+significant+factors+using+geographic+information+systems+(GIS)+and+modeling+software+to+better+understand+how+effects+are+caused+and+how+they+can+be+mitigated+or+eliminated.%0D%0A&rft.date=2014-06-16&rft.type=University+of+Pittsburgh+ETD&rft.type=PeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fd-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu%2F21061%2F1%2FKeenerM_Pitt2014_2.pdf&rft.identifier=++Keener%2C+Michael++(2014)+Factors+Influencing+the+Effects+of+Underground+Bituminous+Coal+Mining+on+Water+Resources+in+Western+Pennsylvania.++Master's+Thesis%2C+University+of+Pittsburgh.++++(Unpublished)++