Ecosystem Management Ecosystem Restoration: Coal Mining

Coal Mining  Coal is the primary source of electric E. in US (and world except France and some Baltic’s)  ASU uses equivalent of 7-9 tons/day  Two main types of coal in eastern US

Anthracite (hard coal)  Mined by deep mining (deep pit or underground)  Dig tunnel leaving pillars of coal in place to hold up ceiling  Go until reach end of coal vein (usually tapers down)  “Back out”, remove pillars as leave  collapse 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)  Remove topsoil, store on site to put back after done (contemporaneous reclamation)  Blast bedrock to reach coal seams (50 to 500 feet deep)  Remove coal, load on trucks to take to processing plant  Put back bedrock, topsoil to approximate original contour

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 Industry Booms Start of WW II Oil shortage (OPEC) in mid-70’s Rising fear of nuclear power plants Iraq wars and Hurricane Katrina Busts Great US Depression Decrease in home/railroad use Development of nuclear power plants Acid rain

Control of Environmental Impacts of Mining

Legislation Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) 1. G oals (mutually exclusive?) a.R educe environmental impact of mining b.I ncrease amount of coal mined (reduce need for foreign oil) 2. B onding – 2,00 to 5,000/acre put up by miner depending on depth Note: land use patterns before mining = land use after mining unless “higher and better uses” Note: Usually forest > forest (deciduous) (coniferous) because cheaper and easier to establish

Legislation - Bonding (con’t) Legislation - Bonding (con’t) Wetland ----> wetland (usually not done because of complexity of restoration) Agriculture  agriculture Yield before = yield after

Legislation – Bonding process a. Bond held by DEQ – used for reclamation if miner fails to do so b. Mining/reclamation must be contemporaneous – reclaim mine as move along c. Money released back to miner based on certain criteria (sliding scale)

Sliding scale of bond release  Regrading to approximate original contour = 40% bond release  Planting and sediment control = another 40%  Final planting growing well after 5 years, sediment control removal = last 20% (miners think 5 yrs too long, environmentalists too short)

Deciduous forest before mining Photo by R. Grippo

Coniferous “forest” after mining reclamation, near Clearfield, PA Photo by R. Grippo

Water quality Each mine required to have an NPDES permit (but limits may not be based on biological effects  instead on amount which stains clothing washed 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!

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