An Investigation of How Surface Coal Mining Affects Water Quality

Surface coal mining has become the ideal method for extracting coal from the Appalachia Mountains. However, surface coal mining generates large amounts of waste which may decrease the water quality in central Appalachia. This research is an attempt to determine whether surface coal mining negatively impacts water quality. This research consists of a literature review in addition to an analysis of data obtained through the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. This data was analyzed at three separate locations along the Clinch River, VA to determine trends and cycles in pH, temperature, total hardness, and chloride, sulfate and metal concentrations. After analysis of data, it was concluded surface mining did not negatively impact water quality at these three locations. In addition, more research must be done to make a more accurate, concise conclusion between water quality and surface mining. Introduction and Background: Vaccines refrigerated at a local clinic, traffic lights regulating the flow of traffic, and computers in a classroom all are powered by electricity. Electricity is a vital component of the American lifestyle. How is electricity so affordable and available for Americans? A vital natural resource, coal, generates enough energy to power more than 25 million American homes (). Coal mining has been an acceptable means of extracting the resource needed to power America for centuries, morphing from underground mining to the now popular, surface mining. The coal industry has been especially significant in central Appalachia which includes Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, where residents are impacted economically, socially, and environmentally by coal mining. Although there are benefits to surface coal mining like electricity, the hazards to human health, safety and the degradation to the environment are slowly being recognized and brought to the public’s attention. This research is an effort to understand the impact of surface coal mining on water quality and associated degradation of human health and environment. History: There are two types of mining underground and surface mining. In the past, in the Central Appalachia regions, underground mining was used to extract the coal from inside the mountains. However, the ridgelines of central Appalachia are comprised of peaks and low gaps, which do not allow enough area for deep mining (Kitts, 2010). Therefore a new way of mining became increasingly popular. In 1967, West Virginia became one of the first states to adopt the surface mining technique because it was a cheaper, “safer” and a more efficient way of extracting resources (Block, Thurston, and Dang 28-29). However economical surface mining might be, it still results in land disturbances at the reclamation site and at the processing and waste disposal facilities (Block, Thurston, and Dang 2829). The most common problem with surface mining is the mining waste, also labeled “fill material.” Throughout the history of surface coal mining, waste this has been handled in a variety of ways. Before surface coal mining, the waste rock, or spoil was left in pile around the mined out area. In hilly areas it was common to dispose of waste by dumping it down the outslope. This led to problems in the reclamation process, made revegetation nearly impossible and in some cases led to hazardous instances such as landslides (Block, Thurston, and Dang 28-29). Today, during the mountain top removal process, the waste is placed in a valley adjacent to the mining site. This fill material buries streams that the coal companies have labeled “intermittent” because they do not sustain an ecosystem and they only carry water when it rains. Why Surface Coal Mining Surface mining is necessary according to Kitts, the Senior Vice President of Mining Services, “Coal is surfaced mined because that is the method necessary to recover the resource” (Kitts). Surface Mining is necessary, especially in Appalachia because of the topography of the landscape. Central Appalachia is comprised of peaks and gaps that make underground mining impossible but provide coal beneath a ridge top that may only measure 400 to 500 feet from one side of the mountain to the other (Kitts). This narrow coal seam of 400 to 500 feet, is to narrow for deep coal mining. Often, coal seams in Appalachia are to thin or to close together for deep coal mining. Kitts goes on to explain, “Frequently, the rock overlying the coal seams higher when a mountain is broken or unconsolidated, making the roof too weak to allow safe underground mining.” Although there is much stigma associated with surface coal mining, especially mountain top removal, coal companies do not ‘jump’ at the opportunity to surface mine. Mining companies determine if the land should surface mined according to the topography. Most mining companies use a combination of surface mining techniques including mountaintop removal, contour and area mining. Once mining companies decide to surface mine there are several economic factors to consider: 1. How many cubic yards of earth must be moved to expose the coal 2. What is the cost of moving this material 3. What is the price of coal (Kitts) According to Kitts, surface mining is also more productive when compared to underground mining. This was determined using the Mine Safety and Health Administration Data for the first three months of 2009, WV surface miners produced 3.99 tons per employee-hour of coal compared to the 2.94 tons per employee-hour for WV deep miners (cited in Kitts). In other words, 120 surface miners could mine 100 tons per year while 163 underground miners would be required to mine the same amount (Kitts ). It has been argued that the coal extracted from surface coal mining in central Appalachia only accounts for a small percentage of the nation’s coal productivity. However, Kitts goes on to explain why surface coal mining in central Appalachia is especially important, “In 2008 central Appalachian surface mining produced almost 131 million tons of coal” (Kitts). Of the 131 tons produced in Central Appalachia, 69 tons of it came directly from West Virginia, which sold for roughly 50 dollars per ton (Kitts, 3). Mountaintop Removal Process Mountaintop mining, a method of surface mining, involves the removal of the mountaintop to expose coal seams and disposing of mining overburden in adjacent valleys (http://www.epa.gov/region03/mtntop/index.htm#what). Surface mining, including mountaintop removal has five major steps: 1. Layers of rock and dirt above the coal (called overburden) are removed (http://www.epa.gov/region03/mtntop/process.htm) 2. The upper seams of coal are removed with spoils placed in an adjacent valley (http://www.epa.gov/region03/mtntop/process.htm ). 3.Draglines excavate lower layers of coal with spoils placed in spoil piles (http://www.epa.gov/region03/mtntop/process.htm ). 4.Regrading begins as coal excavation continues (http://www.epa.gov/region03/mtntop/process.htm ). 5. Once coal removal is complete, final regrading takes place and the area is revegetated (http://www.epa.gov/region03/mtntop/process.). The surface mining process greatly disturbs the land at both the mined sites and nearby valleys where the overburden is dumped. This disturbance adversely affects human health and the health of the environment. In the instance the reclamation process is not complete or is not completed properly surface mining can accelerate erosion, pollute water, damage property, promote flooding and diminish the value of the land (Block, Thurston, and Dang 1981). To reduce or eliminate these problems, federal regulations and requirements have been set including the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act and the Clean Water Act. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) regulates surface mining and reclamation activities by establishing mandatory standards. SMCRA includes purposes such as: To establish a nationwide program to protect society and the environment from the adverse effects of surface coal mining operations. establish a nationwide program to protect society and the environment from the adverse effects of surface coal mining operations; assure that surface mining operations are not conducted where reclamation is not feasible and are conducted so as to protect the environment; assure that adequate procedures are undertaken to reclaim surface areas as contemporaneously as possible with the surface coal mining operations; strike a balance between protection of the environment and agricultural productivity and the nation's need for coal as an essential source of energy; assist the states in developing and implementing a program to achieve the purposes of the Act; promote the reclamation of mined areas left without adequate reclamation prior to August 3, 1977 (15). SMCRA also established an Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement, which is comprised of professionals of varying degrees of study. The office has several important positions including the director and the secretary. The director is appointed by the president and has responsibilities such as ensuring the health and safety of miners. The secretary has a plethora of responsibilities including, assisting states develop programs that meet SMCRA’s criteria for surface coal mining, deciding what state areas are and are not suitable for coal mining, attempting to eliminate adverse social and environmental impacts, and administering the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund (Surface Mining and Reclamation Act 1993). SMCRA also created an Abandoned Mine Reclamation fund, which is administered by the secretary. This fund should be used by coal companies to properly reclaim the land and water that was disturbed during mining practices, prevent and control water pollution, and fill voids, shafts and tunnels created during the mining process. SMCRA was developed to improve the health of the people and the environment closest to mining activities. However, due to vagueness, loopholes have been found and problems have occurred. For example, there are general provisions for excess spoil resulting from mining in flat or rolling terrain, but there are strict, detailed standards for excess soil disposal for steep-slope or mountaintop mining. The problem is, SMCRA applies uniform regulations to mining which do not consider the difference in terrain, climate and geology (Block, Thurston, and Dang 1981). The guidelines set by SMCRA leave numerous gaps and inadequacies in scientific data. The collection of data from specific sites over a long period of time is important to establish trends, cycles, and ranges. “ To plan and carry out a program of data collection that will effectively serve the Office of Surface Mining (OSM), coal operators, and the public, it will be necessary to consult and coordinate with other federal and state agencies regional research organizations (such as universities), mining companies and associations, and interested technically oriented individuals” (Block, Thurston, and Dang 1981). Areas where data is lacking include basin studies, watersheds, precipitation, surface and underground water.