The Octavia Church Refuse AML Enhancement Rule Project consisted of reclaiming a sidehill refuse area (approximately 5.8 acres), situated near Octavia Freewill Baptist Church, that threatened motorists on Pinson Fork Road in eastern Pike County. During heavy rains, coal refuse washed into and blocked the roadside stream, causing sediment and water to flow onto the road surface. This increased the risk of vehicle accidents, as well as increased road surface and road ditch line maintenance by the county or state road crews. In addition, the sediment increased maintenance costs at downstream culverts and bridges, and was an environmental problem. There was estimated to be as much as 700,000 tons of raw refuse on site. If washing the refuse produced 25 percent clean coal, this would produce 175,000 tons of usable coal.
Initial work consisted of installing drainage controls, including cleaning out an existing sediment pond within the project area and repairing the existing dam spillway. Coal refuse was removed from the creek banks. A berm along the edge of the creek and diversion ditches lined with rock or erosion control blankets were constructed to route runoff to the sediment pond.
Coal refuse was removed at the bottom of the slope at the access road for three purposes: 1) to develop a staging area for refuse loading for truck transport to a Title V approved coal processing plant; 2) to develop a burial area for refuse that was not marketable; and 3) to develop a stockpile area for storing all nontoxic topsoil available within the project area. After all marketable coal refuse was removed, the remaining refuse was covered with topsoil at least 2-feet deep. Drainage was controlled with hay bales, berm and diversion ditches, and prompt revegetation with agricultural limestone and mulch.
