This work is developing reforestation methods that can be used by coal-mining operators during mine reclamation. Project goals are to develop reforestation practices that are cost-efficient for the mining operators, effective in producing productive timber lands, and compliant with environmental regulations governing the coal industry; and to assist land owners and mine operators in application of these properties. Reforestation guidelines developed by this research have been recognized in regulatory program amendments in Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Current work is extending reforestation guidelines developed for pines to native hardwood species such as the oaks, ash, and tulip poplar, and developing data on the carbon sequestration potential of forests grown on reclaimed mine soils.

Mine Reforestation Field Trials. J.A. Burger, Forestry, and C. Zipper, Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences.

Powell River Project is developing a trial program for mine operators who wish to determine whether PRP’s mine reforestation guidelines are appropriate for their use. PRP personnel are willing work closely with participating firms, and with regulatory agencies in an effort to help assure that the reclamation reforestation practices are both effective and comply with regulatory policies. A number of firms are currently using PRP reforestation guidelines successfully. Interested firms may contact PRP personnel or link to a description of the field trial program. Three demonstration sites have been or are currently being installed.

The Protective Role of Settling Pond Ecology In Headwater Streams Influenced By Hollow Fill Drainages in Virginia/West Virginia. Donald S. Cherry, and Rebecca J. Currie, Department of Biology; and Carl Zipper, Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences.

The research is comparing macroinvertebrate assemblages below hollow fills to those in areas not affected by hollow fills. Monitoring points were located at various distances below the fills, to determine how any observed effects may be mitigated by distance. The researchers worked with fills of various ages, to determine how any observed effects are mitigated by time. Study sites are located in Virginia and West Virginia. During the first two years of research, the investigators monitored 11 fills at 6 locations and noted distinct differences. During the program's third and final year, they will seek to determine factors responsible for those differences.

In Lieu Fee Systems under Nationwide Permit 21: Analysis of Restoration Costs and Alternatives. Kurt Stephenson, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics; and Carl Zipper, Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences.

The Clean Water Act Section 404 requires that permits be obtained by parties discharging dredge or fill materials into waterways. Under Nationwide Permit (NWP) 21, the Army Corps of Engineers authorizes issuance of such permits but requires permittees to perform “compensatory mitigation” to offset ecological services lost due to such filling activities. Under NWP 21, the mining industry must provide compensatory mitigation for fills of ephemeral, intermittent, and permanent stream channels that accompany mining activities. In-lieu fee programs are increasingly being accepted as a way for parties to fulfill this regulatory requirement. In an in-lieu fee program, the permittee provides funds to an in-lieu sponsor to provide the compensation. In concept, the in-lieu fee is set so as to cover the full cost of compensatory stream restoration projects. This project will evaluate whether current in-lieu fees reasonably reflect the cost of stream restoration projects.

Properties and Potential Water Quality Effects of Post-2000 Coal Combustion Products. W. Lee Daniels, Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences.

Current Virginia DEQ/VDMLR CCP reuse regulations allow for the utilization of various coal combustion products (CCP’s) within permitted coal mining areas. Previous research results clearly indicated that bulk-blended fly ash has the potential to ameliorate acid drainage production in coal refuse as long as acid-base balance concerns are met. Coal fly ash can also serve as a beneficial mine soil amendment if soluble salt concerns are met. Significant benefits may also be realized via a drastic decrease in internal permeability due to coal refuse void filling by ash. However, the type and nature of CCP’s produced by coal-fired utilities is rapidly changing, and more flue gas desulfurization (FGD) wastes and ammoniated fly ash CCP’s are being generated in increasing abundance. In this research effort, we will conduct an intensive chemical characterization study of all elements of current environmental/water quality concern in a large (10 to 15) representative sample set of CCP’s generated from Virginia coals. Activities will include sequential fractionations, geochemical modeling, column leaching studies, and greenhouse plant growth bioassays.

Soil Attributes at the Powell River Education Center . Peggy Barber, Southwest Virginia Community College.

This project will provide the opportunity for a joint educational venture between the Region V Governor’s School for Science and Technology at Southwest Virginia Community College (SVCC) and the Powell River Project. Fifteen of the sixty students selected for the Governor’s School will conduct this research project. The study will concentrate on soil attributes as compared to optimum soil characteristics for an assortment of post-mining land uses to determine whether mine spoil soil quality is suitable for distinct post-mining activities without application of agrichemical or other land treatments. Three soil pits for sampling and horizon identification will be developed. Soil sampling will be across the various identified horizons, with sampling techniques applied to each horizon and a mix of the horizon soils from each soil pit established. One pit will be constructed within an undisturbed forest stand as a control. Further, soil characteristics will be compared/contrasted with optimum soil nutrient levels customary for various land uses. All results will be compiled by students and documented in a technical report format. The research by the Governor’s School students will establish soil data for comparison purposes for future years of investigation.

Beef Cattle Production on Reclaimed Surface Mined Land.
W. D. Whittier, College of Veterinary Medicine, and John Hall, Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences.

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate efficient and profitable production of beef cattle on surface mined land in southwestern Virginia. A herd of forty-two beef cows and ten replacement heifers will be maintained on a mined-land site. The owners will provide pasture, day to day care and management, supplemental feed as needed, and labor to care for the cattle. Virginia Tech, through the co-investigators, will provide advice and assistance with breeding and health management, marketing, maintenance of pasture productivity, record keeping, selection of sires as needed and strategies for obtaining replacements over time. Virginia Tech will use the information obtained in published reports, demonstrations, field days and in other ways to inform beef cattle produces in the region and elsewhere of the results on a regular basis. The overriding goal is sustainable beef cattle production with minimum inputs so that costs can be kept low enough to generate profit.

The Effects of Two Cultural Treatments on Four Christmas Tree Species Grown on Reclaimed Mined Land. Chuks Ogbannaya and Jay Blevins, Mountain Empire Community College.

This multi-phase project is conducted by Mountain Empire Community College students under the direction of Drs. Ogbannaya and Blevins at Powell River Project Education Center. The students are analyzing the effects of two cultural treatments -- brush blankets and fertilizer tablets -- of five species of Christmas trees: white pine, Norway spruce, douglas fir, blue spruce, and scotch pine. Students will collect data on annual survival rates,diameter at breast height, and tree height. The student research will take place over a five-year period.

Plant Materials for Mined Land Reclamation.
A. O. Abaye, Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences.

Virginia Tech students enrolled in Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences (CSES) 3644, "Plant Materials for Environmental Restoration," visit Powell River Project Education Center each year. During this field trip, students measure ground cover and biomass production on research plots estabished in 1990. The data produced by these measurements are analyzed by the students. The activities at Powell River Project Education Center are essential to CSES 3644 learning objectives.

Summer Internship Program

Powell River Project is offering one or two paid summer internships to Virginia Tech students. The internships are available to undergraduate and incoming graduate students. The internship period is late May - early August, 2004. The intern will live and work at Powell River Project Education Center. Housing is available on-site at no cost, but the student will be expected to supply food and transportation. Internship responsibilities are:

Assist with site maintenance at the Education Center.
Conduct research on a topic of interest under the direction of a Virginia Tech faculty member.

Interested students should contact Carl E. Zipper, Powell River Project Director, czip@vt.edu, or Jon Rockett, Extension Agent - Mined Land Development, jrockett@vt.edu

Teaching Environmental Issues, from Coal to Electricity.
John Burton and Mary Quillen, Department of Teaching and Learning.

This program has been in operation since 1997. During summer, 2003, 15 Virginia classroom teachers participated in a two-week summer instruction program. One week of instruction at Virginia Tech involved presentations by Virginia Tech faculty, and representatives of public agencies and southwest Virginia's industry. During the second week, teachers visited coal mines, reclamation sites, and power plants. Participating teachers gain knowledge that will help them integrate Virginia energy concepts into their classroom teaching programs. A similar program will be conducted during the summer of 2004. Co-sponsors include American Electric Power, Center for Energy and Economic Development, CSX Corporation, Norfolk Southern, Pittston Coal, and Virginia Power. For further information, see http://www.energyeducation.ed.vt.edu/