Geomorphic Landform Design Principles Applied to an Abandoned Coarse Coal Refuse Pile on Steep Terrain in Central Appalachia

Lorimer, Jeffrey T.

doi:10.33915/etd.6112

Cited by 4 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 9 publications

(11 reference statements)

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“…Rip Rap materials are going to be machined placed (can use the front end loaders used to fill the slopes) in the trenches. Grouting will be done with the grout characteristics described in the project at the confluence/merging points of ditches and side channels by a length of 15 feet (Lorimer, 2016). Before placing, the rocks have to be washed and in the moment of grouting application they have to be wet.…”

Section: Earthwork Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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3D Finite Element Seepage and Slope Stability Modeling of a Geomorphic Landform Reclamation

Santos¹

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The Royal Scot coal refuse pile in Greenbrier County, WV is being studied in order to reduce the Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) produced by this site. Two approaches to solve this problem were proposed: 1) a hydraulic barrier cover reclamation with a surface vegetative layer and 2) a land cover slope reclamation with a vegetative growth layer placement at the surface. This thesis evaluated seepage and slope stability of the two proposed designs with a finite element modeling software in a transient analysis under unsaturated soil mechanics. Results from the model analysis were evaluated and further utilized to compare and contrast the cost benefit of both reclamation approaches. The Soil-Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC) was calculated using the Fredlund and Xing (1994) equation and the parameters estimated by the Zapata (1999) and Torres (2011) estimations. The hydraulic barriers was modeled with 3 different soils: 1) in situ (as it is on site), 2) 60% coarse refuse and 40% fine refuse and 3) 80% coarse refuse and 20% fine refuse. Infiltration reduction averages of 26% for the 60/40 barrier and 35% for the 80/20 barrier were calculated. Although the 60/40 ratio had more fines in its composition, the aggregation of fines shifted the GSD curve to a larger particle size, consequently increasing the effective diameter and resulting in a higher hydraulic conductivity. Slope stability modeling showed that both proposals resist sliding failure with a Factor of Safety greater than 2.0. A cost estimation for the hydraulic barrier was developed and faced with the cost for the land cover reclamation. The estimated amount for the barrier cover was $2,959,493, while for the land cover reclamation was $2,288,385. The AMD treatment cost at the site is expected to be reduced by 35%, proportional to the reduction in infiltration by the 80/20 hydraulic barrier design. Cost assessment for the AMD treatment at this site was performed, predicting a reduction of $59,167 per year on chemicals from the land cover reclamation to the hydraulic barrier, which will represent a 10 year cost break-even from one design to the other after the beginning of the construction. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to gratefully acknowledge the enthusiastic supervision of Dr. John D. Quaranta, a great teacher, advisor and friend to who I will be always grateful for his invaluable assistance, support and guidance to accomplish this research project. His technical insight and life advising were priceless.

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Section: Earthwork Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The services for the road construction are excavation, backfilling and compaction, and their description are in the respective sections. Figure 37 -Access road profile (adapted from Lorimer, 2016).…”

Section: Temporary Access Roadsmentioning

confidence: 99%

3D Finite Element Seepage and Slope Stability Modeling of a Geomorphic Landform Reclamation

Santos¹

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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%

“…A diversion ditch would be placed upslope of the plots to avoid contamination of sediment moving into the plots during the study. The geomorphic channel downgrade of the plots would mimic that of the reclamation design by Lorimer (2016) to monitor performance of the channel, and to collect water leachate from the paper fiber for analysis.…”

Section: Versionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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

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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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 Coarse Coal Refuse Pile on Steep Terrain in Central Appalachia

Cited by 4 publications

References 9 publications

3D Finite Element Seepage and Slope Stability Modeling of a Geomorphic Landform Reclamation

3D Finite Element Seepage and Slope Stability Modeling of a Geomorphic Landform Reclamation

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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