Geomorphic Landform Design Principles Applied to an Abandoned Coal Refuse Pile in Central Appalachia

Hopkinson, Leslie; Lorimer, Jeffrey T.; Stevens, Jeffrey R.; Russell, Harold; Hause, Jennifer; Quaranta, John D.; Ziemkiewicz, Paul

doi:10.21000/jasmr17020019

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The ongoing energy transition may drive further geomorphic impacts of surface mining due to increased demand for critical minerals (Vidal et al, 2013;Sonter et al, 2018;Sovacool et al, 2020;International Energy Agency, 2022;Shobe, 2022). Cascading environmental and human health e↵ects of surface mining (e.g., Wickham et al, 2007;Palmer et al, 2010;Bernhardt and Palmer, 2011;Giam et al, 2018;Ross et al, 2021;Phillips, 2016;Patra et al, 2016;Fitzpatrick, 2018;Hendryx, 2015) make it essential to understand how mining a↵ects geomorphic process dynamics, the trajectory of post-mining landscape evolution, and the relative merits of di↵erent reclamation strategies (e.g., Hancock, 2004;DePriest et al, 2015;Hopkinson et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The uncertain future of mountaintop-removal-mined landscapes 1: How mining changes erosion processes and variables

Shobe,

Bower,

Maxwell

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Surface mining may be humanity's most tangible impact on Earth's surface, and will become more prevalent globally as the energy transition progresses. Prediction of post-mining landscape change can help mitigate environmental damage and allow effective reuse of mined lands, but requires understanding how mining changes geomorphic processes and variables. Here we investigate surface mining's complex influence on surface processes in a case study of mountaintop removal (MTR) coal mining in the Appalachian Coalfields, USA. The future evolution of MTR-influenced landscapes is unclear, largely because the ways that human changes to the landscape affect geomorphic processes are poorly understood. Here we use geospatial analysis—leveraging the existence of pre- and post-MTR elevation models—and synthesis of literature to ask how MTR alters topography, hydrology, and land-surface erodibility and how these changes could be incorporated into numerical models of post-MTR landscape evolution. MTR mining reduces slope and slope–area product, and dramatically rearranges drainage divides. Creation of large numbers of closed depressions alters flow routing and casts doubt on the utility, especially over human timescales, of models that assume steady, uniform flow. MTR mining creates two contrasting hydrologic domains, one in which overland flow is generated efficiently due to a lack of infiltration capacity, and one in which waste rock deposits act as extensive subsurface reservoirs. This dichotomy creates localized hotspots of overland flow and erosion. Loss of forest cover probably reduces cohesion in near-surface soils for at least the timescale of vegetation recovery, while human-made VFs and mine soils also likely experience reduced erosion resistance. Our analysis suggests three necessary—though potentially not sufficient—ingredients for numerical modeling of post-MTR landscape change in the Appalachians: 1) accurate routing and accumulation of unsteady, nonuniform overland flow across low-gradient, engineered landscapes, 2) separation of the landscape into cut, filled, and unmined regions, and 3) incorporation of vegetation recovery trajectories. Our companion paper explores this final ingredient in detail. Improved modeling of post-mining landscapes will mitigate environmental degradation from past mining and reduce the impacts of future mining that supports the energy transition.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The uncertain future of mountaintop-removal-mined landscapes 1: How mining changes erosion processes and variables

Shobe,

Bower,

Maxwell

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…The design of the small scale reclamation is based on the full scale geomorphic land design of the full reclamation completed by WVU (i.e., Lorimer, 2016;Hopkinson et al, 2017).…”

Section: Features Of Full-scale Design Under Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pilot Testing of a Geomorphic Landform Design Reclamation Using a Vegetative Layer with Short Paper Fiber Amendment on an Abandoned Coal Refuse Pile in Appalachia

Cyphers¹

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Pilot testing of a Geomorphic Landform Design reclamation using a vegetative layer with short paper fiber amendment on an abandoned coal refuse pile in Appalachia Levi J. Cyphers Over 3,000 abandoned mine lands in the Appalachian regions of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky and are in need of reclamation. This research tested an alternative cap and cover reclamation design using short paper fiber as a soil amendment in a coarse coal refuse vegetation layer. Short paper fiber is the solid residuals extracted from the paper manufacturing process, and treated as waste. Short paper fiber is a nutrient dense material that has been successfully tested as a soil amendment in soils. The intent of the vegetation layer was to support grass growth and persistence, stabilize the site, and reduce acid mine drainage (AMD). First, a 0.28 acre field site was designed to demonstrate and test geomorphic reclamation features in Appalachia. The field site was composed of three test plots (60% refuse with 40% paper fiber, 80% refuse with 20% paper fiber, 100% refuse) that centrally drained into a geomorphic channel. A hydraulic barrier composed of compacted refuse and slopes up to 2H:1V were included. Construction was completed September 2017 and the site was monitored (i.e. vegetation ground cover, infiltration of vegetation layer and hydraulic barrier, compaction, surface runoff water quality, and surface temperature). The constructability of the site was also studied to identify suitable construction methods during the final reclamation of the full site. Vegetation ground cover reached a maximum of 29.4% in the plot with 20% paper fiber. Infiltration of the refuse was reduced 30.5% in the hydraulic barrier of the plots containing paper fiber from the in situ material, despite not meeting the 95% required compaction density. Surface temperature varied 11°C across the plots, affecting grass germination. Though a longer duration of monitoring is needed, preliminary findings show that the mixture ratio containing 20% short paper fiber outperformed the mixture ratio containing 40% paper fiber. Reducing short paper fiber for the growth layer means additional savings in the cost of the final reclamation. I would like to take a second to show thanks for the support I have received while completing this master's program. I am appreciative of the help Dr. Leslie Hopkinson, Dr. John Quaranta, and Dr. Seung Ho Hong for the research advising received while serving on my committee. To Iuri, for his help in many days of data collection and hours spent driving, and willingness to help out in any way. To Justin and Russell, for endless advice and assistance on any task. To my family, who provided encouragement when needed, and always made sure I never went without. Thank you to Nathan Parks and Jeff Johnson, and the rest of the WVDEP for providing this opportunity for research, and their cooperation throughout the duration of this project. v

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“…It is generally composed of a coal refused blended with other amendments. (Hopkinson et al, 2017;Lorimer, 2016;Stevens, 2016) • Hydraulic barrier: it primarily limits the precipitation infiltration into the refuse fill.…”

Section: Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth media alternatives for mine refuse cap and cover systems

Rabemanjakasoa¹

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Growth media alternatives for mine refuse cap and cover systems Sitraka Jean d'Annie Rabemanjakasoa In 1999, Royal Scot Minerals based in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, USA went bankrupt and abandoned a 47-acre coal refuse pile, which currently presents environmental and economic issues. The primary objective of this problem report is to identify an effective approach to create a growth layer that establishes a sustainable vegetation on this pile. Using available data in the relevant literature, this report evaluates topsoil substitutes using three materials: papermill sludge, sewage sludge and lumber mill waste application for coal refuse piles. Like papermill sludge, sewage sludge reduces erosion/sedimentation by improving the soil water holding capacity and decreases the surface runoff, to limit the acid mine drainage generation by lowering the soil pH, and to raise the soil organic matter, which is fundamental for revegetation. Although they present some similarities, sewage sludge offers greater advantages that may be more cost efficient given that the supply is located closer to the site and only requires additional lime/limestone for successful revegetation. Overall, when comparing these three substitutes in the context of the current conditions and objectives at the Royal Scot site, it appears that sewage sludge offers the best results, followed by the papermill sludge. Lumber mill waste also presents a potential material for coal refuse revegetation; however, further research is necessary to confirm its fitness.

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Geomorphic Landform Design Principles Applied to an Abandoned Coal Refuse Pile in Central Appalachia

Cited by 5 publications

References 9 publications

The uncertain future of mountaintop-removal-mined landscapes 1: How mining changes erosion processes and variables

The uncertain future of mountaintop-removal-mined landscapes 1: How mining changes erosion processes and variables

Pilot Testing of a Geomorphic Landform Design Reclamation Using a Vegetative Layer with Short Paper Fiber Amendment on an Abandoned Coal Refuse Pile in Appalachia

Growth media alternatives for mine refuse cap and cover systems

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