Research

Powell River Project guidelines for reclaiming coal refuse are based on extensive research conducted in cooperation with a number of coal-mining firms, including Pittston Coal, Consolidation Coal, Westmoreland Coal, and the former United Coal Company.  A 1992 article in Journal of Environmental Quality summarizes early research findings, and is available in most university libraries.

Powell River Project guidelines include revegetation strategies such as direct seeding of the refuse, lime application, and topsoil covers of specified thicknesses. Specific strategies are recommended for a given refuse based on the refuse material's physical and chemical characteristics. Mining firms that use Powell River Project guidelines generally find them to be more cost-effective than conventional refuse-reclamation practices. The guidelines have been demonstrated to be capable of meeting or exceeding regulatory standards for refuse reclamation on permitted refuse-diposal facilities.

Powell River Project coal refuse-reclamation guidelines are described in Virginia Cooperative Extension publication 460-131, Reclamation of Coal Refuse Disposal Areas.

Photo

Publications:

Daniels, W.L. 2005. Effects of soil cover thickness on revegetation of acidic Appalachian coal refuse. In: Proceedings, 2005 National Meeting of the American Society for Mining and Reclamation.

Daniels, W.L., and B.R. Stewart. 2000. Reclamation of Appalachian coal refuse disposal areas. Chapter 17, in: R. Barnhisle, W.L. Daniels, and R. Darmody (eds).  Reclamation of Drastically Lands. American Society of Agronomy. Madison, WI.

Daniels, W.L., Barry Stewart, and Dennis Dove. 1995. Reclamation of Coal Refuse Disposal Areas. Virginia Cooperative Extension publication 460-131.

Daniels, W.L., and B.R. Stewart. 1993. Reclamation and closure of coal refuse disposal facilities in the Appalachians. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, February 15-18. SME preprint 93-169.

Stewart, B.R., and W.L. Daniels. 1992. Physical and chemical properties of coal refuse from southwest Virginia. Journal of Environmental Quality 21:635-642.

Dove, D.C., W.L. Daniels, and D.J. Parrish. 1990. Importance of indigenous VAM fungi for the reclamation of coal refuse piles. p. 299 - 305, In: Proceedings, 1990 Mining and Reclamation Conference and Exhibition. Charleston, West Virginia. National meeting of the American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation.

Stewart, Barry. 1990. Physical and Chemical Properties of Coarse Coal Refuse from Southwest Virginia. M.S. Thesis. Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences.

Daniels, W.L., K. Haering, and D. Dove. 1989. Long-term strategies for reclaiming coal refuse disposal areas. Virginia Coal and Energy Journal 1:45-60.

Stewart, Barry R., and W.L. Daniels. 1989. Physical and chemical characteristics of coal prep plant wastes from Southwest Virginia. In: Proceedings, 1989 National Meeting of the American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation.

Daniels, W. L., and D. C. Dove. 1987. Revegetation strategies for coal refuse areas. p. F 1-13. In: Proc. Eighth Annual WV Surface Mine Drain. Task Force Sym., Morgantown, WV, 4/17-4/19, 1987.

Dove, D. C., W. L. Daniels and J. Bell. 1987. Reclamation of coal wastes with reduced soil depth and other amendments. p. L1 1-9. In: Proc. Fourth Annual Meeting of the American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation, Billings, MT, 3/17-3/19, 1987.