Answer:
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AMD (Abandoned Mine Drainage or Acid Mine Drainage) is water contaminated when pyrite (an iron sulfide) is exposed and reacts with air and water to form sulfuric acid and dissolved iron. Some or all of this iron can precipitate to form the red, orange, or yellow sediments in the bottom of streams containing mine drainage. The acid runoff further dissolves heavy metals such as copper, lead, and mercury into ground or surface water. About half of the coal-mine discharges in Pennsylvania are acidic, with a pH greater than 5. There are a number of major environmental problems caused by AMD. It disrupts growth and reproduction of aquatic plants and animals, diminishes valued recreational fish species, degrades outdoor recreation and tourism, contaminates surface and groundwater drinking supplies, and causes acid corrosion of infrastructure like wastewater pipes.
It is estimated that the acid leached from abandoned coal mines contributed to the degradation of more than 3,000 miles of streams and associated ground waters. In Pennsylvania it is the most extensive water-pollution problem affecting four of its major river basins. Because coal-mine drainage can contain toxic concentrations of acid, metals, and sediment, many of the mining impacted streams are lacking aquatic life. Consequently, states lose millions of dollars annually that could be generated if sport fishing were restored in the affected streams. The estimated taxpayer cost for restoring the damaged watersheds is many billions of dollars. Pennsylvania taxpayers have to date, invested millions of dollars to construct acid mine drainage treatment plants to treat AMD discharges
Non tax payer efforts include the coal refuse to alternative energy industry that work in conjunction with various environmentally concerned hands-on volunteer groups and state/federal environmental agencies to help convert polluted streams to clean and usable waterways. This working relationship helps to significantly reduce the taxpayer costs and the voluntary community efforts that are needed to reduce or eliminate acid mine drainage.
An example of this cost reduction is the Big Gorilla Project (a massive acid mine drainage site located in northeast Pennsylvania). Taxpayer costs as paid through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to help eliminate this AMD site totaled $4.5 million in 2004. PADEP estimated taxpayer costs would have been $80 million without the direct aid and assistance the coal refuse to alternative energy industry provided to the elimination project.