On April 13, 2012 and January 8, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) proposed new regulations that amounted to a prohibition on the Best Technologies Currently Available for constructing new coal fired power plants. USEPA first proposed in 2012, that new coal power plants must not produce more carbon dioxide (CO2) than a natural gas power plant. Then in 2014, it revised the standard to require that unless a coal fired power plant met the same CO2 emission levels as achievable with power plants utilizing Integrated Gas Combined Cycle (IGCC) combustion technology and in addition provide permanent sequestion of at least 25% of the CO produced, it could not be built. This effectively changes the proposed standard from 454 to 499 grams/kilowatt-hour of CO2 emissions in order to construct a new coal fired power plant. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), however has calculated the construction cost for such technology at $6,599/kW which is signifcantly more costly that the construction of a nuclear power plant at $5,530/kW and not remotely affordable compared to a natural gas power plant at $971/kW. This prohibition, like the historic prohibition of alcohol, is more likely to have negative rather than positive consequences. This paper focuses on facts concerning fossil fuel utilization and its impacts upon global climate, the global economy, and the world population. It contrasts the impacts of current popular notions in the media and the regulations that govern our nation, that fossil fuels are an evil that must be stopped, versus the utilization of common sense to assess how to best use and advance currently available science and technology. It highlights best available control technology (BACT) that could reduce the man made contribution of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in a way that does not bankrupt the global economy and jeopardize the global population. It will assess the growth of renewable energy and project the number of generations that would be required to have them replace fossil fuel as an energy source. 2015 World of Coal Ash (WOCA) Conference in Nasvhille, TN May 5-7, 2015 http://www.flyash.info/
{"title":"COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS FOR MANAGEMENT OF GLOBAL CARBON EMISSIONS","authors":"K. Vories","doi":"10.21000/JASMR14020064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21000/JASMR14020064","url":null,"abstract":"On April 13, 2012 and January 8, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) proposed new regulations that amounted to a prohibition on the Best Technologies Currently Available for constructing new coal fired power plants. USEPA first proposed in 2012, that new coal power plants must not produce more carbon dioxide (CO2) than a natural gas power plant. Then in 2014, it revised the standard to require that unless a coal fired power plant met the same CO2 emission levels as achievable with power plants utilizing Integrated Gas Combined Cycle (IGCC) combustion technology and in addition provide permanent sequestion of at least 25% of the CO produced, it could not be built. This effectively changes the proposed standard from 454 to 499 grams/kilowatt-hour of CO2 emissions in order to construct a new coal fired power plant. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), however has calculated the construction cost for such technology at $6,599/kW which is signifcantly more costly that the construction of a nuclear power plant at $5,530/kW and not remotely affordable compared to a natural gas power plant at $971/kW. This prohibition, like the historic prohibition of alcohol, is more likely to have negative rather than positive consequences. This paper focuses on facts concerning fossil fuel utilization and its impacts upon global climate, the global economy, and the world population. It contrasts the impacts of current popular notions in the media and the regulations that govern our nation, that fossil fuels are an evil that must be stopped, versus the utilization of common sense to assess how to best use and advance currently available science and technology. It highlights best available control technology (BACT) that could reduce the man made contribution of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in a way that does not bankrupt the global economy and jeopardize the global population. It will assess the growth of renewable energy and project the number of generations that would be required to have them replace fossil fuel as an energy source. 2015 World of Coal Ash (WOCA) Conference in Nasvhille, TN May 5-7, 2015 http://www.flyash.info/","PeriodicalId":17230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation","volume":"13 1","pages":"64-83"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74800350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C. W. Nelson, Adrian Unc, K. Lombard, M. Lucero, S. Perkins
Remediation of land following surface mining requires the re- establishment of critical soil, plant, and microbial interactions on which the long- term sustainability of the site hinges. Current surface mine remediation practices may utilize topsoil with or without shredded plant material to overlay spoil. We evaluated whether the presence of such plant material may affect initial plant fitness and thus plant establishment. Tests were carried out in a greenhouse under controlled, replicated conditions common during early stages of remediation. Responses to seed exposure to plant material were species dependent. Plant growth parameters were linked to properties associated with the seed hull and seed surface and to functions associated with shredded plant material added to topsoil. Confirming the nature of these properties, hypothesized as microbial in origin, will be important for understanding factors critical to reclamation and management of disturbed sites, where native biological functions have been suppressed or fragmented. In degraded arid environments, such functions may govern micro-scale interactions that influence macro-scale processes. Additional Keywords: land remediation, surface mine, plant fitness, non-specific inoculation
{"title":"IMPACT OF SEED EXPOSURE TO PLANT MATERIAL ON PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT ON REMEDIATED ARID LANDS 1","authors":"C. W. Nelson, Adrian Unc, K. Lombard, M. Lucero, S. Perkins","doi":"10.21000/JASMR14010041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21000/JASMR14010041","url":null,"abstract":"Remediation of land following surface mining requires the re- establishment of critical soil, plant, and microbial interactions on which the long- term sustainability of the site hinges. Current surface mine remediation practices may utilize topsoil with or without shredded plant material to overlay spoil. We evaluated whether the presence of such plant material may affect initial plant fitness and thus plant establishment. Tests were carried out in a greenhouse under controlled, replicated conditions common during early stages of remediation. Responses to seed exposure to plant material were species dependent. Plant growth parameters were linked to properties associated with the seed hull and seed surface and to functions associated with shredded plant material added to topsoil. Confirming the nature of these properties, hypothesized as microbial in origin, will be important for understanding factors critical to reclamation and management of disturbed sites, where native biological functions have been suppressed or fragmented. In degraded arid environments, such functions may govern micro-scale interactions that influence macro-scale processes. Additional Keywords: land remediation, surface mine, plant fitness, non-specific inoculation","PeriodicalId":17230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation","volume":"1 1","pages":"41-69"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90249129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Coal combustion byproducts (CCBs) disposed of in unlined landfills can affect the quality of adjacent water resources. In previous studies, CCBs have been found to leach toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, and lead into groundwater. CCBs include fly ash, bottom ash, and flue-gas desulfurization product (FGD gypsum). Within a landfill, CCBs may be present at different densities associated with depth, compacted primarily from the weight of above materials. This investigation focused on determination of the unsaturated and saturated hydraulic properties of fly ash and bottom ash as a function of density and thus a function of depth within a landfill. Ash samples from a power plant in northern New Mexico were collected for laboratory analysis. Compressibility curves were developed in order to determine what densities may be experienced at a range of pressures. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was determined using falling head tests for multiple densities of each material. Moisture characteristic curves were developed from hanging column tests, pressure plate tests, dew point potentiometer measurements, and relative humidity measurements. The moisture characteristic curves were also measured at a range of densities for each material. Results indicated that the fly ash saturated hydraulic conductivity varied as a function of density for the materials tested and the density could be reasonably predicted using an equation presented. Fly ash unsaturated properties also show trends with variations in density with the variability decreasing as density increases. Fly ash in a landfill can have estimated density, unsaturated and saturated hydraulic properties as a function of depth using the methods in this paper. Bottom ash showed similar trends in compressibility with less variability with respect to the fly ash. The unsaturated and saturated hydraulic properties show some trends, though with high amounts of variability. The density of bottom ash materials in a landfill may be reasonably estimated using methods proposed in this study while unsaturated and saturated hydraulic properties have greater uncertainty.
{"title":"CHARACTERIZING THE UNSATURATED AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES OF COAL COMBUSTION BY-PRODUCTS IN LANDFILLS OF NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO 1","authors":"R. Webb, J. Stormont, M. Stone, B. Thomson","doi":"10.21000/JASMR14010070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21000/JASMR14010070","url":null,"abstract":"Coal combustion byproducts (CCBs) disposed of in unlined landfills can affect the quality of adjacent water resources. In previous studies, CCBs have been found to leach toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, and lead into groundwater. CCBs include fly ash, bottom ash, and flue-gas desulfurization product (FGD gypsum). Within a landfill, CCBs may be present at different densities associated with depth, compacted primarily from the weight of above materials. This investigation focused on determination of the unsaturated and saturated hydraulic properties of fly ash and bottom ash as a function of density and thus a function of depth within a landfill. Ash samples from a power plant in northern New Mexico were collected for laboratory analysis. Compressibility curves were developed in order to determine what densities may be experienced at a range of pressures. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was determined using falling head tests for multiple densities of each material. Moisture characteristic curves were developed from hanging column tests, pressure plate tests, dew point potentiometer measurements, and relative humidity measurements. The moisture characteristic curves were also measured at a range of densities for each material. Results indicated that the fly ash saturated hydraulic conductivity varied as a function of density for the materials tested and the density could be reasonably predicted using an equation presented. Fly ash unsaturated properties also show trends with variations in density with the variability decreasing as density increases. Fly ash in a landfill can have estimated density, unsaturated and saturated hydraulic properties as a function of depth using the methods in this paper. Bottom ash showed similar trends in compressibility with less variability with respect to the fly ash. The unsaturated and saturated hydraulic properties show some trends, though with high amounts of variability. The density of bottom ash materials in a landfill may be reasonably estimated using methods proposed in this study while unsaturated and saturated hydraulic properties have greater uncertainty.","PeriodicalId":17230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation","volume":"36 1","pages":"70-99"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83650240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract: Biomass crops are being grown on agricultural and marginal lands to provide feedstock for co-firing in power plants and conversion to transportation fuels. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), Miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus), and giant cane (Arundo donax L.) are three biofuel feedstocks that have been planted on reclaimed surface-mined land to determine their establishment and potential for biomass production. This study documents the establishment and dry matter (DM) yield of these biomass crops on several mined sites in West Virginia. The Alton site has all three species planted, and DM yield after the fourth growing season averaged 5,200 kg ha for switchgrass (Kanlow and Bomaster varieties) and 9,000 kg ha for two varieties of Miscanthus. Giant cane had less than 1,000 kg ha. Cave-In-Rock switchgrass was planted on 8 ha at the MeadWestvaco (MWV), WV, site and at The Wilds, OH, site in 2013. After the first growing season, switchgrass production was 752 kg ha at MWV and 1,045 kg ha at The Wilds site. Miscanthus was also planted on these two latter sites, and biomass production after one year was 200 and 600 kg ha, respectively. These biomass averages at The Wilds and MWV were lower than averages produced at Alton after the first growing season. At the Coal Mac site, an average of 10,000 kg ha of Arundo was produced after the third growing season. As demonstrated in these and other studies, two to three years are required for these bioenergy plants to establish and expand to produce suitable amounts of biomass.
摘要:生物质作物正在农业和边缘土地上种植，为发电厂共烧和转化为运输燃料提供原料。柳枝稷(Panicum virgatum L.)、芒草(Miscanthus x giganteus)和巨型甘蔗(Arundo donax L.)是三种生物燃料原料，已在开垦的地表开采土地上种植，以确定其生物量生产的建立和潜力。本研究记录了这些生物质作物在西弗吉尼亚州几个矿区的建立和干物质(DM)产量。奥尔顿基地种植了这三种植物，第四个生长季节后，柳枝稷(Kanlow和Bomaster品种)的DM产量平均为5200公斤公顷，两种芒草品种的DM产量平均为9000公斤公顷。巨型甘蔗的产量不到1000公斤公顷。2013年，在WV的MeadWestvaco (MWV)场地和俄亥俄州的Wilds场地种植了8公顷的岩洞柳枝稷。在第一个生长季节后，MWV的柳枝稷产量为752公斤公顷，Wilds的产量为1,045公斤公顷。后两个地点也种植芒草，1年后生物量产量分别为200和600 kg hm2。在第一个生长季节之后，The Wilds和MWV的生物量平均值低于Alton的平均值。在Coal Mac基地，在第三个生长季节之后，平均每公顷生产10,000公斤的Arundo。正如这些研究和其他研究所表明的那样，这些生物能源工厂需要两到三年的时间来建立和扩大以生产适当数量的生物质。
{"title":"ESTABLISHMENT AND GROWTH OF SWITCHGRASS AND OTHER BIOMASS CROPS ON SURFACE MINES","authors":"J. Skousen, Carol A. Brown","doi":"10.21000/JASMR14010136","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21000/JASMR14010136","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Biomass crops are being grown on agricultural and marginal lands to provide feedstock for co-firing in power plants and conversion to transportation fuels. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), Miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus), and giant cane (Arundo donax L.) are three biofuel feedstocks that have been planted on reclaimed surface-mined land to determine their establishment and potential for biomass production. This study documents the establishment and dry matter (DM) yield of these biomass crops on several mined sites in West Virginia. The Alton site has all three species planted, and DM yield after the fourth growing season averaged 5,200 kg ha for switchgrass (Kanlow and Bomaster varieties) and 9,000 kg ha for two varieties of Miscanthus. Giant cane had less than 1,000 kg ha. Cave-In-Rock switchgrass was planted on 8 ha at the MeadWestvaco (MWV), WV, site and at The Wilds, OH, site in 2013. After the first growing season, switchgrass production was 752 kg ha at MWV and 1,045 kg ha at The Wilds site. Miscanthus was also planted on these two latter sites, and biomass production after one year was 200 and 600 kg ha, respectively. These biomass averages at The Wilds and MWV were lower than averages produced at Alton after the first growing season. At the Coal Mac site, an average of 10,000 kg ha of Arundo was produced after the third growing season. As demonstrated in these and other studies, two to three years are required for these bioenergy plants to establish and expand to produce suitable amounts of biomass.","PeriodicalId":17230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation","volume":"43 1","pages":"136-156"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87103534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Abandoned Mined Land Program has built and is operating the Eveline Mine Drainage Treatment Vault near Silverton, CO to investigate innovative passive treatment technologies for acid mine drainage (AMD) in high alpine environments. Column tests of several materials were conducted to determine treatment media to use in the vault. This case study examines the potential of combining Bauxsol TM Acid B Extra™ (an alumina refining by-product) with biochar, pea-gravel, and porous concrete to reduce AMD metal concentrations. The objective of the trial was to create a passive treatment system that (1) reduces metal concentrations in effluent waters, (2) reduces operational costs, (3) utilizes waste streams from industry, and (4) operates in cold weather climates with limited space for infrastructure. Results suggest that the combination of Acid B Extra™ and biochar achieved optimal near term results with >95% removal of Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn, and >60% removal of Al, while not clogging the pilot test columns.
美国土地管理局(BLM)废弃矿区项目已经在科罗拉多州西尔弗顿附近建造并正在运营Eveline矿山排水处理库，以研究高高山环境中酸性矿山排水(AMD)的创新被动处理技术。对几种材料进行了柱试验，以确定在拱顶中使用的处理介质。本案例研究探讨了将Bauxsol TM Acid B Extra™(氧化铝精炼副产物)与生物炭、豌豆砾石和多孔混凝土结合使用以降低AMD金属浓度的潜力。试验的目的是创建一种被动处理系统，该系统可以(1)降低废水中的金属浓度，(2)降低运营成本，(3)利用工业废水，(4)在基础设施空间有限的寒冷气候下运行。结果表明，Acid B Extra™与生物炭的组合获得了最佳的近期效果，Cd、Cu、Fe、Mn和Zn去除率>95%，Al去除率>60%，同时不会堵塞中试柱。
{"title":"A COMBINATION OF ACID B EXTRA ™ AND BIOCHAR TO REDUCE METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN ACID MINE DRAINAGE 1","authors":"C. Peltz, C. Zillich, Kirstin L. Brown","doi":"10.21000/JASMR14010100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21000/JASMR14010100","url":null,"abstract":"The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Abandoned Mined Land Program has built and is operating the Eveline Mine Drainage Treatment Vault near Silverton, CO to investigate innovative passive treatment technologies for acid mine drainage (AMD) in high alpine environments. Column tests of several materials were conducted to determine treatment media to use in the vault. This case study examines the potential of combining Bauxsol TM Acid B Extra™ (an alumina refining by-product) with biochar, pea-gravel, and porous concrete to reduce AMD metal concentrations. The objective of the trial was to create a passive treatment system that (1) reduces metal concentrations in effluent waters, (2) reduces operational costs, (3) utilizes waste streams from industry, and (4) operates in cold weather climates with limited space for infrastructure. Results suggest that the combination of Acid B Extra™ and biochar achieved optimal near term results with >95% removal of Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn, and >60% removal of Al, while not clogging the pilot test columns.","PeriodicalId":17230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation","volume":"58 1","pages":"100-116"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84009440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant-microbe community dynamics influence the natural succession of plant species where pioneer vegetation facilitates the establishment of a distantly related, later successional plant species. This has been observed in the case of restoration of the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) on abandoned mine land where Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) facilitated the establishment of chestnut seedlings. This was apparently due to the natural mycorrhizal networks of pine, which aided the survival and growth of chestnut seedlings. In this study, we assessed the survival and propensity of introduced mycorrhizal fungi on Virginia pine to colonize pure American and backcrossed American chestnut. Seedlings were planted in Perry State Forest located in southeastern Ohio. This area was mined for coal in the 1950s and had very little reclamation done aside from experimental tree plantings. The selected site, with little topsoil or organic matter, was characterized by high concentrations of Al, high soil temperatures, and a pH of 3.6. Virginia pine seedlings were inoculated using ectomycorrhizal (ECM) cultures of Amanita rubescens, Laccaria laccata, and Pisolithus tinctorius via liquid media. After three months, roots were tested for the presence of mycorrhizae. They were then transplanted and grown for two years in the greenhouse. After verifying mycorrhizal colonization, 600 pines were out planted in May of 2005. Chestnut seedlings (100 one-year-old seedlings) inoculated with P. tinctorius by the Ohio state tree nursery had been planted by other researchers at the same time. After eight growing seasons, pines and chestnuts were measured and sampled for ECM colonization. Growth measurements showed that pines and hybrid chestnuts had significantly more aboveground biomass compared to pure American chestnut (P = 0.01). Eleven fungal species were detected using DNA sequencing. With the exception of Amanita, the inoculum that were out planted with both chestnut and Virginia pine were replaced after 8 field seasons by fungi native to the site. More fungal species were sampled from the Virginia pines than from chestnut roots, which contributed to the significant differences in ECM fungal community composition between the two species (P = 0.005).
{"title":"Native mycorrhizal fungi replace introduced fungal species on Virginia pine and American chestnut planted on reclaimed mine sites of Ohio","authors":"S. Hiremath, K. Lehtoma, Jenise M. Bauman","doi":"10.21000/JASMR14010001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21000/JASMR14010001","url":null,"abstract":"Plant-microbe community dynamics influence the natural succession of plant species where pioneer vegetation facilitates the establishment of a distantly related, later successional plant species. This has been observed in the case of restoration of the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) on abandoned mine land where Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) facilitated the establishment of chestnut seedlings. This was apparently due to the natural mycorrhizal networks of pine, which aided the survival and growth of chestnut seedlings. In this study, we assessed the survival and propensity of introduced mycorrhizal fungi on Virginia pine to colonize pure American and backcrossed American chestnut. Seedlings were planted in Perry State Forest located in southeastern Ohio. This area was mined for coal in the 1950s and had very little reclamation done aside from experimental tree plantings. The selected site, with little topsoil or organic matter, was characterized by high concentrations of Al, high soil temperatures, and a pH of 3.6. Virginia pine seedlings were inoculated using ectomycorrhizal (ECM) cultures of Amanita rubescens, Laccaria laccata, and Pisolithus tinctorius via liquid media. After three months, roots were tested for the presence of mycorrhizae. They were then transplanted and grown for two years in the greenhouse. After verifying mycorrhizal colonization, 600 pines were out planted in May of 2005. Chestnut seedlings (100 one-year-old seedlings) inoculated with P. tinctorius by the Ohio state tree nursery had been planted by other researchers at the same time. After eight growing seasons, pines and chestnuts were measured and sampled for ECM colonization. Growth measurements showed that pines and hybrid chestnuts had significantly more aboveground biomass compared to pure American chestnut (P = 0.01). Eleven fungal species were detected using DNA sequencing. With the exception of Amanita, the inoculum that were out planted with both chestnut and Virginia pine were replaced after 8 field seasons by fungi native to the site. More fungal species were sampled from the Virginia pines than from chestnut roots, which contributed to the significant differences in ECM fungal community composition between the two species (P = 0.005).","PeriodicalId":17230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation","volume":"19 1","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82718536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Steep topography and thin native soils characterize the coal mining regions of southern West Virginia. State and federal regulations require replacement of native topsoil during reclamation for re-establishment of a vegetative cover. Due to hazards and expense associated with collecting this thin layer of soil before mining, regulators have allowed mine operators to use substitute topsoil materials, including weathered (brown) and unweathered (gray) geologic materials for growth media. For pasture and hayland post-mining land uses, substitute materials provide suitable physical and chemical properties for establishment and growth of forages with fertilization and liming. When reforestation is the post-mining land use, regulations in West Virginia require a 1.2 m layer of native topsoil and brown weathered sandstone, but unweathered materials may be used if native topsoil quantities are insufficient. This study examined tree growth on areas where brown and gray sandstone materials were applied to the surface as growth media at the Samples Mine in West Virginia. In a study already published at this site, we found significant differences in tree growth on brown and gray sandstone plots. For this study, we selected two additional gray sandstone plots for comparison to the original brown and gray plots. The two original sites were brown sandstone compacted and gray sandstone compacted, and we added nearby plots of gray sandstone slightly compacted and gray sandstone compacted and then ripped. Average pH ranged from 7.3 to 7.9 on the gray plots compared to 5.4 on the brown plot. Tree growth on brown sandstone was more than triple that of tree growth on all of the gray sandstone plots. Mean tree volume index on the brown compacted plot was 3108 cm 3 while mean tree volume index was significantly lower on the gray compacted plot (909 cm³), the gray slightly compacted plot (407 cm 3 ), and the gray ripped plot (885 cm³). Eight years after reclamation, the gray sandstone plots, whether slightly compacted, compacted, or ripped, showed poor tree growth compared to brown sandstone. Gray sandstone has proven to be an inferior topsoil substitute for reforestation on this site.
{"title":"TREE GROWTH ON RIPPED, COMPACTED, AND SLIGHTLY COMPACTED GRAY SANDSTONE TOPSOIL SUBSTITUTE ON A SURFACE COAL MINE IN WEST VIRGINIA 1","authors":"L. Wilson-Kokes, J. Skousen","doi":"10.21000/JASMR14010117","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21000/JASMR14010117","url":null,"abstract":"Steep topography and thin native soils characterize the coal mining regions of southern West Virginia. State and federal regulations require replacement of native topsoil during reclamation for re-establishment of a vegetative cover. Due to hazards and expense associated with collecting this thin layer of soil before mining, regulators have allowed mine operators to use substitute topsoil materials, including weathered (brown) and unweathered (gray) geologic materials for growth media. For pasture and hayland post-mining land uses, substitute materials provide suitable physical and chemical properties for establishment and growth of forages with fertilization and liming. When reforestation is the post-mining land use, regulations in West Virginia require a 1.2 m layer of native topsoil and brown weathered sandstone, but unweathered materials may be used if native topsoil quantities are insufficient. This study examined tree growth on areas where brown and gray sandstone materials were applied to the surface as growth media at the Samples Mine in West Virginia. In a study already published at this site, we found significant differences in tree growth on brown and gray sandstone plots. For this study, we selected two additional gray sandstone plots for comparison to the original brown and gray plots. The two original sites were brown sandstone compacted and gray sandstone compacted, and we added nearby plots of gray sandstone slightly compacted and gray sandstone compacted and then ripped. Average pH ranged from 7.3 to 7.9 on the gray plots compared to 5.4 on the brown plot. Tree growth on brown sandstone was more than triple that of tree growth on all of the gray sandstone plots. Mean tree volume index on the brown compacted plot was 3108 cm 3 while mean tree volume index was significantly lower on the gray compacted plot (909 cm³), the gray slightly compacted plot (407 cm 3 ), and the gray ripped plot (885 cm³). Eight years after reclamation, the gray sandstone plots, whether slightly compacted, compacted, or ripped, showed poor tree growth compared to brown sandstone. Gray sandstone has proven to be an inferior topsoil substitute for reforestation on this site.","PeriodicalId":17230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation","volume":"175 1","pages":"117-135"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79706824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R. Musselman, W. Shepperd, F. Smith, L. A. Asherin
Abstract: Difficulty in re-establishing native vegetation on surface mined lands in the semi-arid western U.S. prompted this study to determine the effectiveness of landscape fabric and supplemental irrigation on survival and growth of the woody perennials aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem.) at a high elevation reclaimed surface coal mine site in Colorado. The study compared growth and survival of container-grown aspen and serviceberry planted with or without landscape fabric for control of competing vegetation, and with or without biweekly supplemental irrigation during the first growing season. Response after three years indicated that the landscape fabric was particularly crucial in survival and growth of aspen on sites with heavy competing vegetative cover. Serviceberry plants grew better with landscape fabric but the fabric did not increase survival. Supplemental irrigation provided only limited advantage compared to the landscape fabric. Photosynthesis and pre-dawn moisture stress measurements on the aspen indicated that they were more stressed without landscape fabric. Soil moisture was higher under the landscape fabric.
{"title":"SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF ASPEN AND SERVICEBERRY PLANTED ON RECLAIMED SURFACE MINED LAND WITH LANDSCAPE FABRIC AND IRRIGATION","authors":"R. Musselman, W. Shepperd, F. Smith, L. A. Asherin","doi":"10.21000/JASMR14010016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21000/JASMR14010016","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Difficulty in re-establishing native vegetation on surface mined lands in the semi-arid western U.S. prompted this study to determine the effectiveness of landscape fabric and supplemental irrigation on survival and growth of the woody perennials aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem.) at a high elevation reclaimed surface coal mine site in Colorado. The study compared growth and survival of container-grown aspen and serviceberry planted with or without landscape fabric for control of competing vegetation, and with or without biweekly supplemental irrigation during the first growing season. Response after three years indicated that the landscape fabric was particularly crucial in survival and growth of aspen on sites with heavy competing vegetative cover. Serviceberry plants grew better with landscape fabric but the fabric did not increase survival. Supplemental irrigation provided only limited advantage compared to the landscape fabric. Photosynthesis and pre-dawn moisture stress measurements on the aspen indicated that they were more stressed without landscape fabric. Soil moisture was higher under the landscape fabric.","PeriodicalId":17230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation","volume":"80 1","pages":"16-40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90976418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a fast growing tree native to China. Introduced as an ornamental plant, A. altissima has spread throughout North American landscapes, imposing a threat to the biodiversity of native ecosystems. Recommended control methods include basal bark treatments using herbicide with an oil-based carrier around the base of Ailanthus stems. Land managers value application methods that maximize efficiency while also reducing environmental impacts when applied over landscape scales. The focus of this study was to assess the efficiency of herbicide concentrations and carriers on the mortality of A. altissima. This study was conducted in a 105 ha hardwood forest at the Wilds Conservation Center in Cumberland, OH. The forest is directly adjacent to areas mined for coal and reclaimed in the 1980s. Twenty-five plots were established consisting of 732 target trees. Two carriers (AX-IT basal oil and diesel fuel) mixed with Garlon 4 Ultra herbicide were tested at two different concentrations: 1) 10% Garlon in 90% diesel fuel carrier, 2) 20% Garlon with 80% diesel carrier, 3) 10% Garlon with 90% AX-IT carrier, and 4) 20% Garlon with 80% AX-IT carrier. Basal bark treatments were applied using a backpack sprayer. After one year, treatments were similar (89-100% mortality) with one exception, the 10% Garlon in 90% diesel treatment was least effective (69% mortality; P< 0.0001). This was more apparent as the diameter at breast height (DBH) increased (P < 0.0001). When canopy dieback was compared across treatments, AX-IT basal oil remained more effective regardless of the DBH or concentration. Cost comparisons show 10% Garlon solution in AX-IT oil base can be the most economically and ecologically beneficial treatment when applied on a large scale. Long-term monitoring will determine the occurrence of re-sprouts (via seed and root sprouting) and the impact each treatment has on the plant communities within this forest system. Additional
{"title":"CASE STUDY: Restoring Remnant Hardwood Forest Impacted by Invasive Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)","authors":"Corine M. Peugh, Jenise M. Bauman, S. Byrd","doi":"10.21000/JASMR13020099","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21000/JASMR13020099","url":null,"abstract":"Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a fast growing tree native to China. Introduced as an ornamental plant, A. altissima has spread throughout North American landscapes, imposing a threat to the biodiversity of native ecosystems. Recommended control methods include basal bark treatments using herbicide with an oil-based carrier around the base of Ailanthus stems. Land managers value application methods that maximize efficiency while also reducing environmental impacts when applied over landscape scales. The focus of this study was to assess the efficiency of herbicide concentrations and carriers on the mortality of A. altissima. This study was conducted in a 105 ha hardwood forest at the Wilds Conservation Center in Cumberland, OH. The forest is directly adjacent to areas mined for coal and reclaimed in the 1980s. Twenty-five plots were established consisting of 732 target trees. Two carriers (AX-IT basal oil and diesel fuel) mixed with Garlon 4 Ultra herbicide were tested at two different concentrations: 1) 10% Garlon in 90% diesel fuel carrier, 2) 20% Garlon with 80% diesel carrier, 3) 10% Garlon with 90% AX-IT carrier, and 4) 20% Garlon with 80% AX-IT carrier. Basal bark treatments were applied using a backpack sprayer. After one year, treatments were similar (89-100% mortality) with one exception, the 10% Garlon in 90% diesel treatment was least effective (69% mortality; P< 0.0001). This was more apparent as the diameter at breast height (DBH) increased (P < 0.0001). When canopy dieback was compared across treatments, AX-IT basal oil remained more effective regardless of the DBH or concentration. Cost comparisons show 10% Garlon solution in AX-IT oil base can be the most economically and ecologically beneficial treatment when applied on a large scale. Long-term monitoring will determine the occurrence of re-sprouts (via seed and root sprouting) and the impact each treatment has on the plant communities within this forest system. Additional","PeriodicalId":17230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation","volume":"31 1","pages":"99-112"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81271096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
With the full implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by 2020, surface mining and other industries in the UK will have to embrace the concept of ecosystems and ecosystem services, and be ready to deliver satisfactory schemes with all the necessary elements where important natural vegetation and habitats are involved. It is debatable whether there is sufficient understanding of the ecosystems being considered and clarity in what needs to be achieved leaving practitioners and regulators with little guidance when faced with designing or evaluating a mining proposal or the evaluation of the success of restoration schemes. This paper introduces and examines a measurable and workable methodology based on the Tansley concept of vegetation communities (being the basic unit of ecosystems) and the application of the national monitoring standards (CSM) for the key requisite ecosystem structural elements. These are encompassed in the proposed Canopy-Age-Regeneration-Genetic-Indicator-Exotic design and assessment model. It is argued that the Joint Nature Conservancy Council (JNCC) derived CARGIE Model is applicable to the restoration of ecosystems in the UK. It could enable better design and evaluation of the restoration of ecosystems and their services, and the mining industry to meet the challenges posed by CBD and the new and emerging legislation and policies.
{"title":"UNDERSTANDING AND DELIVERY OF THE COMPONENTS OF STRUCTURE, DIVERSITY, AND FUNCTION IN THE RESTORATION OF ECOSYSTEMS ON MINED LAND: WORKING TOWARDS A PRACTICAL METHODOLOGY 1","authors":"R. Humphries","doi":"10.21000/JASMR13020001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21000/JASMR13020001","url":null,"abstract":"With the full implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by 2020, surface mining and other industries in the UK will have to embrace the concept of ecosystems and ecosystem services, and be ready to deliver satisfactory schemes with all the necessary elements where important natural vegetation and habitats are involved. It is debatable whether there is sufficient understanding of the ecosystems being considered and clarity in what needs to be achieved leaving practitioners and regulators with little guidance when faced with designing or evaluating a mining proposal or the evaluation of the success of restoration schemes. This paper introduces and examines a measurable and workable methodology based on the Tansley concept of vegetation communities (being the basic unit of ecosystems) and the application of the national monitoring standards (CSM) for the key requisite ecosystem structural elements. These are encompassed in the proposed Canopy-Age-Regeneration-Genetic-Indicator-Exotic design and assessment model. It is argued that the Joint Nature Conservancy Council (JNCC) derived CARGIE Model is applicable to the restoration of ecosystems in the UK. It could enable better design and evaluation of the restoration of ecosystems and their services, and the mining industry to meet the challenges posed by CBD and the new and emerging legislation and policies.","PeriodicalId":17230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation","volume":"309 1","pages":"1-31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78361556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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