In a nutshell, acid mine drainage is a form of water pollution that happens when rain, runoff, or streams come in contact with rock that is rich in sulfur. As a result, the water becomes very acidic and damages downstream aquatic ecosystems. In some regions it is the most common form of stream and river pollution.
Probate in Washington typically takes six months to a year, depending on some choices the executor makes (discussed below). It can take much longer there is a court fight over the will (which is rare) or unusual assets or debts that complicate matters. Unless there is a dispute, it's mainly a matter of filing paperwork.
Once your US patent application is on file, you have one year to claim the priority of your US filing date in foreign countries. That is, if you file in a foreign country within one year of filing in the USA, you are considered to have filed in the foreign country on the same day as you filed in the US.