ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS IN ENERGY PRODUCTION EDITED BY JOHN R. CRAYNON Published by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. © 2013 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. All rights reserved. Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME) 12999 E. Adam Aircraft Circle Englewood, Colorado, USA 80112 (303) 948-4200 / (800) 763-3132 www.smenet.org SME advances the worldwide mining and minerals community through information exchange and professional development. SME is the world’s largest association of mining and minerals professionals. Copyright © 2013 Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. Electronic edition published 2013. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Information contained in this work has been obtained by SME from sources believed to be reliable. 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Cover photo credit: Leigh-Anne Krometis ISBN 978-0-87335-380-9 Ebook 978-0-87335-381-6 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Cataloging-in-publication data has been applied for. ii © 2013 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. All rights reserved. Preface The Environmental Considerations in Energy why particular comments were not accepted. As Production symposium provides an avenue for the editor, I had the final say as to whether the researchers to present their reviews and findings author’s rationale was adequate or whether fur- for a wide variety of topics on how coal mining, ther changes were necessary. oil and gas production, electricity generation, and I extend my thanks to Brad Kelley and Rita other related activities impact the environment Caldwell of the Virginia Center for Coal and and the communities in which we live and work. Energy Research for their critical assistance in This proceedings volume contains not only editing and compiling the papers in this volume. complete papers, but also abstracts for presenta- The SME staff was also of immense and essential tions where the presenters do not feel that a full assistance in pulling this work together. Michael paper is currently warranted. These abstracts are Karmis provided wise and experienced oversight included to provide a resource to readers who of this effort, and I am honored to learn from and may be interested in contacting those individu- work with him. als. It is hoped this book will give you a flavor To the nearly 100 brave souls, both long- of the breadth and depth of this symposium time professional colleagues and respected new and the topics that come under the umbrella of acquaintances who provided peer reviews, I give such a meeting. The papers and presentations my humble gratitude. Your dedication and time range from reviews of work previously completed showed in the thoughtful and thorough reviews and discussions of preliminary investigations to you provided. Through your efforts, we together thorough reports of research and recommended continue to advance science and engineering to changes in how things are done. address real and sometimes difficult challenges. The full papers in this volume (not the And finally, to the authors and presenters abstracts) were subjected to a double-blind of the works contained herein, I give my hearty peer-review process, wherein neither the review- congratulations for a job well done. It has been ers nor authors were identified. Each paper was a privilege to work with each of you and to read reviewed by at least two experts in the fields of these papers and abstracts. I am encouraged that, work related to the topic. After the reviewer com- as a society, we can successfully address the issues ments were received, authors were provided with we face in energy production as a result of your those remarks to make changes to their papers. work. Authors were encouraged to accept reviewer comments but were also given the opportunity to John R. Craynon disagree with the reviewers and provide reasons Editor vii © 2013 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. All rights reserved. Contents Preface ............................................................................... vii 1.1 WATERSHEDS Water Quality and Appalachian Mining: Analysis of Watershed-Based Conclusions ............. 2 A Value of Information Study Examining the Effectiveness of Spatial Datasets for Modeling Landscape to Water Quality Relationships .................................... 3 Water Quality Permitting Under Managed Discharge......................................... 4 Scenario Analysis and the Watershed Futures Planner: Predicting Future Aquatic Conditions in an Intensively Mined Appalachian Watershed.............................. 5 The Mine Land Stewardship Initiative..................................................... 20 2.1 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS IN COAL PREPARATION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT Application of Electronic Sorting Technology for Reducing Environmental Impacts of Coal Processing ................................................................... 22 Stabilization of Fine Coal Waste as an Alternative Disposal Technique ........................ 32 Application of a Pilot-Scale Plate Filter Press in Dewatering Coal Slurries..................... 42 Diesel Range Organics In Coal Preparation................................................ 51 Minimizing the Environmental Impacts of Coal Waste Disposal............................... 60 2.2 COMMUNITY WELL-BEING Decision Tools for Integrating Sustainability Considerations in Large Capital Projects........... 78 The Mining Industry and Community Poverty Across Appalachia............................. 86 Edgework and Boundary Crossings: Assessing Foundations for Public Ecology in the Appalachian Region................................................................ 99 Determinants of Local Community Acceptance of Energy Resources and Materials Mining..... 111 Ethics and Community Well-Being....................................................... 121 3.1 COAL, GAS, AND ENERGY PRODUCTION Appalachian Coal: Past, Present, and Future ............................................. 124 Environmental Considerations and Operational Parameters of Underground Coal Gasification.................................................................. 125 The Marcellus Shale Gas Play and the Gas Migration/Stray Gas Problem..................... 137 Experiences in Reservoir Model Calibration for Coal Bed Methane Production in Deep Coal Seams in Russell County, Virginia ......................................... 140 Sustainable Degasification Strategies: A Case Study in the Qinshui Basin of China ............ 153 iii © 2013 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. All rights reserved. iv Contents 3.2 PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENERGY PRODUCTION Evaluation of Research Addressing Chronic Health in Coal-Dependent Communities in Central Appalachia................................................................ 172 Comparison of Mortality Rates Between Appalachian Coal Mining Counties with Non-Coal Mining.................................................................. 189 Population and Exposure Characteristics of Coal Mining and Non-Coal Mining Counties in West Virginia..................................................................... 202 Inventory of Bacterial Impairments in Central Appalachia .................................. 214 Identification of Toxic Agents and Potential Exposure Routes to Appalachian Coal Mining Communities.......................................................... 229 4.1 TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 1 Comparison of Groundwater Seepage Modeling in Conventional and Geomorphic Valley Fill Design.................................................................. 246 Predicting Total Dissolved Solids Release from Overburden in Appalachian Coal Fields ........ 255 Natural Attenuation of TDS in Mountaintop Mines......................................... 265 Predicting TDS Release from Appalachian Mine Spoils..................................... 275 Long-Term Trends of Electrical Conductivity in Streams Flowing Out of Headwater Valley Fills in Virginia.............................................................. 286 4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS IN UNDERGROUND MINING Event Tree Failure Mode Development for Mining Near Bodies of Water ..................... 288 Applications of Subsurface Subsidence Model to Study Longwall Subsidence Influences on Overburden Hydrological System....................................... 297 Addressing the Effect of Sloping Terrain on Ground Movements Due to Underground Mining... 308 Application of Subsidence Prediction Methodologies for Sizing Barrier Pillars for Stream Protection in Appalachia.................................................... 319 Preliminary Assessment of Factors Affecting Springs Undermined by Longwall Mines in Pennsylvania..................................................................... 336 5.1 STREAM BIOTA IMPACTS Methods for Evaluating the Effects of a Simulated Mine Effluent with Elevated Ionic Concentration to Field Collected Benthic Macroinvertebrates.......................... 348 Exploring Benthic Impairment and Total Dissolved Solids in the Dumps Creek Watershed ...... 362 Benthic Macroinvertebrate Response to Total Dissolved Solids in Coal Mine Streams.......... 371 How Well Does Electrical Conductivity Predict Stream Impairment? ......................... 372 Evaluation of Current Measures of Aquatic Biological Integrity in the Central Appalachian Coalfields: Efficacy and Implications..................................... 381 5.2 LANDFORMS AND GEOMORPHIC RECLAMATION Sustainable Landform Construction on Coal Mining Operations That Require Valley Fills........ 396 Methodology for Geomorphic Landform Design of Valley Fills in Appalachia Surface Mine Reclamation................................................................. 397 © 2013 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. All rights reserved. Contents v Investigating Regional Design Parameters in the Design of West Virginia Valley Fills to Support Application of Geomorphic Landform Design Principles........................ 405 Slope Stability Analysis of Geomorphic Landform Profiles Versus Approximate Original Contour Applied to Valley Fill Designs................................................ 415 6.1 SELENIUM IN THE ENVIRONMENT Subsurface Sequestration of Leached Waste-Rock Selenium in Reactive Ferrihydrite Beds..... 426 Selenium Concentrations and Solid-State Chemical Speciation in Black Shale Associated with a West Virginia Coal Seam.......................................... 438 Selenium Treatment for Mine Water Discharge Compliance ................................ 443 Strategies for Remediation of Selenium-Laden Waters..................................... 450 Analysis of Low-Level Selenium in Coal Mine Discharges .................................. 451 6.2 STREAM RESTORATION Natural Streams: Biological Effects of Natural Channel Design for Aquatic Habitat  Restoration....................................................................... 454 Hydrologic Assessment of the Guy Cove Stream Restoration Project......................... 463 Guy Cove Stream Restoration Project: Recreating a Headwater Stream System on a Head-of-Hollow Fill................................................................ 464 Leaf Litter Breakdown as a Functional Assessment Tool for Appalachian Coal Mine Stream Restorations............................................................... 465 Substrate and Seeding Treatment Effects on Native Tree Establishment and Herbaceous Cover on an Appalachian Coal Mine: First Growing Season Results ..................... 467 7.1 TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 2 Conductivity Sensor Accuracy and Temporal Stability: A Laboratory and Field Study........... 470 Screening-Level Specific Conductivity Testing of Drill Core Strata........................... 471 Field Data and Regulatory Aquatic Life Criteria............................................ 472 Chronic Toxicity Testing in Mining Influenced Streams of West Virginia ...................... 474 7.2 ENVIRONMENT, COAL MINING, AND SUSTAINABILITY Surface Coal Mine Blasting Optimization and Mitigation of Environmental Impacts: Mine to Fill....................................................................... 476 Production, Cost, and Environmental Impact of Loading Equipment in Surface Coal Mining in Appalachia.............................................................. 490 NOx Emission of Equipment and Blasting Agents in Surface Coal Mining..................... 501 Micro-Hydroelectric Power Generation Utilizing Mine Drainage............................. 512 Minepool Geothermal in Pennsylvania ................................................... 520 Sustainability in Surface Coal Mine Operations: The Importance of Good Geotechnical Design.............................................................. 529 Ethics in Energy Sustainability .......................................................... 530 Index................................................................................. 531 © 2013 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. All rights reserved. 1.1 Watersheds Water Quality and Appalachian Mining: Analysis of Watershed-Based Conclusions 2 A Value of Information Study Examining the Effectiveness of Spatial Datasets for Modeling Landscape to Water Quality Relationships 3 Water Quality Permitting Under Managed Discharge 4 Scenario Analysis and the Watershed Futures Planner: Predicting Future Aquatic Conditions in an Intensively Mined Appalachian Watershed 5 The Mine Land Stewardship Initiative 20 1 © 2013 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. All rights reserved. Water Quality and Appalachian Mining: Analysis of Watershed-Based Conclusions Steven Gardner ECSI, LLC, Lexington, Kentucky ABSTRACT Act, National Environmental Policy Act and the Surface coal mining operations in central Environmental Justice.” These recent actions by Appalachia are coming under increasing scrutiny the Corps and by the EPA have been challenged and regulation as operators attempt to obtain per- in the federal courts because of their alleged fail- mits for pollutant discharge or hollow fills. Well- ure to follow the notice and comment process in publicized studies, such as those by Gregory Pond adopting rules and regulations. and others, have raised questions about the long- This paper is a metastudy of the primary term impact of Appalachian mining on aquatic research on which the EPA and others base their life in mountain streams. Recent summary work evaluation of mining’s impact. The paper will such as that by Palmer and others and the EPA’s evaluate the methodology and assumptions of evaluation of mountaintop mining draw broad those studies with particular emphasis on how the conclusions about mining’s impact on water extent of mining is characterized. For example, quality, but the conclusions are based on stud- the paper will consider whether the mining at ies with varied methodologies. The variation is issue was conducted before the adoption of the particularly evident when the studies attempt to Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act quantify the extent of mining and other changes versus more modern, highly regulated mining. It in land use. will also evaluate the extent to which other land State regulatory authorities, the U. S. Army use patterns have been included for consideration. Corps of Engineers, and the U. S. Environmental Finally, the studies will be evaluated regarding Protection Agency are making critical deci- whether or how they included consideration of sions on water discharge permits issued under the distinctive geological, geomorphological, and Section 402 of the Clean Water Act and dredge biogeographical characteristics of the affected and fill permits issued under Section 404 of the watersheds. The analysis in the proposed paper Clean Water Act. In connection with evalua- will provide valuable insights and a framework for tion of these permits, EPA and the Corps entered meaningful public comment when the regulatory into a Memorandum of Understanding to con- actions under consideration are presented for the duct “Enhanced Surface Coal Mining Pending notice and comment. Permit Coordination Procedures.” The EPA also ACKNOWLEDGMENT issued an executive order, “Detailed Guidance: Improving EPA Review of Appalachian Surface The author thanks W. Blaine Early III and Douglas Coal Mining Operations under the Clean Water Mynear for their contributions to this paper. 2 © 2013 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. All rights reserved. A Value of Information Study Examining the Effectiveness of Spatial Datasets for Modeling Landscape to Water Quality Relationships Michael P. Strager Division of Resource Management, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia J. Todd Petty West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia Paul Ziemkiewicz West Virginia Water Research Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia ABSTRACT water relationship. Statistical models provided A critical part of building landscape to water qual- a basis to evaluate the analyzed spatial data to ity relationships involves the timely and accurate both water quality and benthic macro inverte- mapping of landscape features at a scale, resolu- brate endpoints. The decision analysis approach tion, and detail necessary to meet the modeling called “value of information” provided the theo- needs. There are many imagery choices available retical framework for analyzing the problem and to classify and map landscape features. Each tends matching a desired set of research questions to to differ temporally, by positional accuracy, by the the needed inputs and classification approach. attributes that can be derived, and by cost. As part The study provides a decision tree matrix for how of our ongoing work to develop and maintain a best to assemble spatial data to match the research regional spatial database for the ARIES project, questions being asked regarding the landscape to our goal was to compare the utility of different receiving water interaction. imagery and their potentially derived cover types ACKOWLEDGMENT in the statistical modeling for stream conditions. We wanted to answer the question of which imag- This study was sponsored by the Appalachian ery dataset and classes are most effective in statis- Research Initiative for Environmental Science tically modeling stream conditions. We assessed (ARIES). The views, opinions and recommen- the imagery inputs in terms of classes that can dations expressed herein are solely those of the be obtained, cost to obtain end product, time to authors and do not imply any endorsement acquire, final thematic map accuracy, goodness of by ARIES employees, other ARIES-affiliated model fits, and the significance of input variable researchers or industrial members. Information coefficients in a boosted regression tree model. about ARIES can be found at http://www.energy The importance of asking the most appropriate .vt.edu/ARIES. questions was critical to match the geospatial data The authors thank Aaron E. Maxwell for his collection to describing the landscape to receiving contribution to this paper. 3 © 2013 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. All rights reserved. Water Quality Permitting Under Managed Discharge P.F. Ziemkiewicz West Virginia Water Research Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia ABSTRACT operations. As a result in order to bring a stream The Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) recognizes into compliance with narrative standards, fur- pollutants as either toxic or non-toxic. Non-toxic ther restriction of point sources is often the only pollutants, while not hazardous to humans, may option exercised by the regulatory agencies. This impair designated stream uses such as: fishery, approach often imposes significant burdens on public water supply and recreation. Impairment the holders of ‘point source’ discharges and, since is defined through numeric standards or narra- other development activities and abandoned tive water quality standards. Narrative standards mines are often significant causes of impairment such as the West Virginia Stream Condition it often fails to improve the stream’s condition. Index (WVSCI) rely on the composition of the A process is needed that yields greater benefits stream’s insect population to indicate stream to the stream. The challenge is finding a way to health. These stream condition indices are then ensure regulatory compliance accountability and assigned a critical value below which a stream is measurable environmental benefits. deemed impaired. Regulatory agencies are faced This paper discusses a case study in which with developing discharge limits for regulated a voluntary, managed program has maintained discharges such that streams will not be impaired. stream water quality at predetermined levels This normally involves estimating the effects of through modulation of point source discharge a proposed discharge on stream water quality rates. Implications for other water quality chal- then an estimation of how it will affect numeric lenges are discussed. standards. Often the effect is estimated by deter- ACKNOWLEDGMENT mining the effect of maximum discharge load at minimum stream flow. The CWA, however, only The author thanks R.G. McLusky for his contri- regulates point source discharges from active bution to this paper. 4 © 2013 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. All rights reserved.