Ecosystem Ecosystem ManagementManagement

Ecosystem Ecosystem Restoration:Restoration:Coal MiningCoal Mining

Coal MiningCoal Mining

Coal is the primary source of electric E. in US (and Coal is the primary source of electric E. in US (and world except France and some Baltic’s)world except France and some Baltic’s)

ASU uses equivalent of 7-9 tons/dayASU uses equivalent of 7-9 tons/day

Two main types of coal in eastern USTwo main types of coal in eastern US

Anthracite (hard coal)Anthracite (hard coal)Mined by deep mining (deep pit or Mined by deep mining (deep pit or

underground)underground)

Dig tunnel leaving pillars of coal in place to Dig tunnel leaving pillars of coal in place to hold up ceilinghold up ceiling

Go until reach end of coal vein (usually tapers Go until reach end of coal vein (usually tapers down)down)

““Back out”, remove pillars as leave Back out”, remove pillars as leave collapse collapse behind (hopefully)behind (hopefully)

Coal mining drag line working an anthracite mine in eastern PA

Photo by R. Grippo

Anthracite coal mine near Coshocton, PA

Photo by R. Grippo

Bituminous (soft coal)Bituminous (soft coal)

Remove topsoil, store on site to put back after Remove topsoil, store on site to put back after done (contemporaneous reclamation)done (contemporaneous reclamation)

Blast bedrock to reach coal seams (50 to 500 feet Blast bedrock to reach coal seams (50 to 500 feet deep)deep)

Remove coal, load on trucks to take to processing Remove coal, load on trucks to take to processing plantplant

Put back bedrock, topsoil to approximate original Put back bedrock, topsoil to approximate original contourcontour

Drilling a blow hole and uncovering coal seam

Photo by R. Grippo

Exposed coal seam in high wall and spoil piles

Photo by R. Grippo

Dragline depositing mine spoils on low wall

Photo by R. Grippo

Coal IndustryCoal Industry

BoomsBoomsStart of WW IIStart of WW II

Oil shortage (OPEC) in Oil shortage (OPEC) in mid-70’smid-70’s

Rising fear of nuclear Rising fear of nuclear power plantspower plants

Iraq wars and Hurricane Iraq wars and Hurricane KatrinaKatrina

BustsBustsGreat US DepressionGreat US Depression

Decrease in Decrease in home/railroad usehome/railroad use

Development of nuclear Development of nuclear power plantspower plants

Acid rainAcid rain

Control of Environmental Control of Environmental Impacts of MiningImpacts of Mining

LegislationLegislationSurface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

(SMCRA)(SMCRA)1.1. Goals (mutually exclusive?)Goals (mutually exclusive?)

a.a. Reduce environmental impact of miningReduce environmental impact of miningb.b. Increase amount of coal mined (reduce need for Increase amount of coal mined (reduce need for

foreign oil)foreign oil)

2.2. Bonding – 2,00 to 5,000/acre put up by miner Bonding – 2,00 to 5,000/acre put up by miner depending on depthdepending on depth

Note: land use patterns before mining = land use Note: land use patterns before mining = land use after mining unless “higher and better uses”after mining unless “higher and better uses”

Note: Usually forest -------> forest Note: Usually forest -------> forest (deciduous) (coniferous)(deciduous) (coniferous)because cheaper and easier to establishbecause cheaper and easier to establish

Legislation - Legislation - Bonding (con’t)Bonding (con’t)

Wetland ----> wetland Wetland ----> wetland (usually not done (usually not done

because of complexity because of complexity of restoration)of restoration)

Agriculture agricultureYield before = yield after

Legislation – Legislation – Bonding process Bonding process

a.a. Bond held by DEQ – used for Bond held by DEQ – used for reclamation if miner fails to do soreclamation if miner fails to do so

b.b. Mining/reclamation must be Mining/reclamation must be contemporaneous – reclaim mine as contemporaneous – reclaim mine as move alongmove along

c.c. Money released back to miner Money released back to miner based on certain criteria (sliding based on certain criteria (sliding scale)scale)

Sliding scale of bond releaseSliding scale of bond release

Regrading to approximate original Regrading to approximate original contour = 40% bond releasecontour = 40% bond release

Planting and sediment control = Planting and sediment control = another 40%another 40%

Final planting growing well after 5 Final planting growing well after 5 years, sediment control removal = years, sediment control removal = last 20%last 20%

(miners think 5 yrs too long, (miners think 5 yrs too long, environmentalists too short)environmentalists too short)

Deciduous forest before mining

Photo by R. Grippo

Coniferous “forest” after mining reclamation, near Clearfield, PA

Photo by R. Grippo

Water qualityWater quality

Each mine required to have an NPDES Each mine required to have an NPDES permit (but limits may not be based permit (but limits may not be based on biological effects on biological effects instead on instead on amount which stains clothing washed amount which stains clothing washed in receiving stream)in receiving stream)

Treatment ponds for coal mine effluent

Photo by R. Grippo

Coal mining treatment pond sludge

Photo by R. Grippo

What a

mess!

SummarySummary

Mining Mining alwaysalways causes severe causes severe environmental effectenvironmental effect

Impossible to effect complete Impossible to effect complete recovery under current economic recovery under current economic conditions (too expensive -> no one conditions (too expensive -> no one willing to pay $1/day for electric willing to pay $1/day for electric lights (usually what we pay for lights (usually what we pay for refrigerator, electric water heater)refrigerator, electric water heater)