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Airgas Inc: A Valued Corporate Partner |
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The Augusta Lake AMD remediation project is well underway by
Indiana's Patoka South Fork Watershed Steering Committee with the inclusion of
corporate partner Airgas,
Inc. Direct neutralization of the 52 acre acid lake, in
addition to the ongoing work of Boy
Scout Troop 151, Boy
Scout Troop 182, and Girl Scout Troop 411, with liquid calcium
hydroxide from Airgas' Mid-America plant in Evansville Indiana began September
1, 1999. Up to eight tanker loads per week, of 5,000 gallons per tanker, is
being added to the lake. Airgas is donating the calcium hydroxide, an excellent
source of alkalinity, to the Patoka South Fork Watershed Steering Committee. For
more info on this project contact Mike Kalagian.
For more information on the Patoka Southfork Watershed Steering
Committee contact Tom Mosley at psfwsc@sigecom.net
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This small lake, looking east from the edge of the highwall,
is part of Augusta Lake which encompasses 52 acres. Augusta Lake has a pH
of 3.2, with an acidity of 400 milligrams per liter as calcium carbonate.
In the background, surface water enters at approximately 92 gallons
per minute, having a pH of 2.6, and an acidity of 460 milligrams per liter
as calcium carbonate. |
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Erik Peterson, Regional Vice President of
Airgas
Mid-America, of Evansville Indiana, stands next to the company's
tanker truck that delivers calcium hydroxide to the Augusta Lake acid mine
remediation project. |
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View of the 5,000 gallon tanker containing calcium
hydroxide. One-hundred five loads were hauled to Augusta Lake in
1999. |
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A four inch line is attached to the back end of the tanker.
The other end is draped over the edge of a highwall. The all weather
road was constructed by the Patoka South Fork Watershed Steering
Committee. It was laid on the bed of a former rail line. |
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5,000 gallons of calcium hydroxide (per tanker load)
cascades over the highwall into the adjoining acid lake. The process is
strictly gravity feed, with a 35 to 40 foot drop into the lake. |
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Looking over the edge of the highwall, following the calcium
hydroxide into the lake. Each tanker load is 5,000 gallons, with
approximately 30 percent solids, or 9.9 pounds per gallon of liquid. |
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Water level view of the highwall
showing accumulation of calcium hydroxide. |
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The source of the liquid calcium hydroxide. This retaining
basin collects spent discharge during the production of acetylene gas by
Airgas Mid-America. The tanker truck draws 5,000 gallons from the bottom
of the basin. |
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