Project Profile: Mitigate Abandoned Mine Drainage and Close Open Mine Portals at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Areas

Acid mine drainage at a coal mine in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Kentucky/Tennessee.

NPS Photo

Inflation Reduction Act
Restoration | FY24-27 $2,916,000

The National Park Service (NPS) will streamline coordination for existing acid mine remediation efforts within the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (NRRA). The project will develop a comprehensive mitigation plan and coordinate the implementation of proposed actions.

Why? Big South Fork NRRA houses the largest concentration of mine sites in the region. Ongoing and new projects, including assessments and remediations, reduce visitors' exposure to the drainage of acidic water from metal and coal mines and open mining portals. In addition, the coordinated effort seeks to enhance water quality in streams, particularly those supporting federally listed species.

What Else? Existing assessment and remediation projects lay the groundwork for this initiative, contributing to improved water quality, restoration of natural stream function, and the removal of heavy metal precipitates.

About the Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act provides the National Park Service with an historic opportunity to address critical ecosystem resilience, restoration, and environmental planning needs. Projects funded in national parks represent broad-scale and impactful resource investments across every corner of our nation—from Alaska to Florida to Maine.