West Virginia University scholars will join other experts in the fields of mining and reclamation to provide the latest updates on regulations and practices during a symposium hosted by the West Virginia Mine Drainage Task Force and WVU.
The annual event will be held March 27-28 at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Morgantown.
“The Mine Drainage Task Force Symposium is where prominent experts in reclamation and mine drainage can present their findings,” said Jeff Skousen, professor of soil science in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design and WVU Extension land reclamation specialist. “The information presented here is applied to these issues throughout the nation, including active mines and those that have been abandoned. We have a special session on underground mine pools and the best management practices to control and treat those mine pools.”
Skousen is serving as the organizer of the event.
“It’s an honor for us at West Virginia University, the city of Morgantown and the state of West Virginia to host this symposium,” said Skousen, “Given the current attention to the state’s energy industry, this is the perfect time for scientists, regulators and the industry to share their knowledge.”
He estimates the meeting will draw over 300 attendees from across the United States and neighboring countries.
Presenters will include experts in industry, government and higher education. Scientists from the WVU Davis College, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, WVU Extension Service and the National Research Center for Coal and Energy will present results of studies ranging from mine drainage, surface and underground mining and reclamation techniques.
For more information on the conference, please contact Skousen at Jeff.Skousen@mail.wvu.edu. A detailed conference schedule is available http://wvmdtaskforce.com.
Photo caption: Jeff Skousen leads a field trip to a nearby surfaced mine with attendees from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, China and Poland during the 2017 symposium.
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