INTEGRATION OF BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS PRODUCTION INTO FOREST PRODUCTS SUPPLY CHAINS USING MODULAR BIOMASS GASIFICATION AND CARBON ACTIVATI

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: TERMINATED
• Funding Source: OTHER GRANTS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0225135
• Grant No.: 2011-10006-30357
• Project No.: MONW-2010-05325
• Proposal No.: 2010-05325
• Program Code: BRDI
• Project Start Date: May 1, 2011
• Project End Date: Apr 30, 2016
• Grant Year: 2011

Project Director
Anderson, N.

Recipient Organization
FOREST SERVICE
201 14TH ST SW YATES BLDG
WASHINGTON,DC 20002-6405

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
Forest biomass is a promising feedstock for the production of biofuels and bioproducts because it is widely available as a byproduct of timber harvests and forest restoration and fuel treatments, is renewable, and has lower impacts on food production and land use than some agricultural feedstocks. Furthermore, widespread commercial production of biofuels and bioproducts from forest biomass has great potential to address many of the social, economic and ecological challenges facing forests and forest-dependent communities in the United States. Expanding forest biomass utilization would contribute to achieving the broad national energy objectives of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and improving energy security. This expansion also has the potential to revive the declining industrial base in rural communities that have experienced economic decline due to global restructuring in the forest industry. In addition, robust demand for biomass from advanced conversion facilities would help public and private land managers achieve management objectives by improving the financial feasibility of restoration treatments that reduce risks associated with catastrophic fire, insect and disease outbreaks, and invasive species. Obstacles that have hindered progress of new conversion technologies in the forest sector include: uncertainties related to feedstock costs and logistics; the technical and financial feasibility of integrating new conversion technologies into existing operations; the performance, marketing and substitutability of bioproducts; and the environmental and economic impacts of biomass utilization on forests and rural communities. This project will work to evaluate and overcome many of these obstacles. The components of this research are: 1) experimental forest operations research to develop advanced feedstock logistics and improve feedstock supply chains, 2) development of new trucking and processing systems to reduce feedstock costs by improving access to dispersed forest treatment residues, 3) development of multi-facility spatial models of forest biomass feedstock flow, 4) research and development of a gasification system for forest industry deployment, 5) product development focused on biochar soil amendments, activated carbon, and liquid fuels from synthesis gas, 6) consequential cradle-to-grave life cycle analysis of all system products, 7) field research and modeling to evaluate the effects of biomass harvest on water resources, soil resources and forest ecosystems, 8) financial models for the gasification system co-located at sawmills, and 9) market and non-market economics research to quantify the costs, benefits, and tradeoffs of this conversion technology deployed in the forest sector. This study leverages ongoing collaborative research among fourteen project principal investigators and six commercial partners to address the most critical knowledge gaps limiting the progress of advanced conversion technologies in the forest sector.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

60%

Developmental

40%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
402	0650	2020	40%
511	0650	2020	60%

Knowledge Area
402 - Engineering Systems and Equipment; 511 - New and Improved Non-Food Products and Processes;

Subject Of Investigation
0650 - Wood and wood products;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering;

Keywords

bioenergy

woody biomass

biomass utilization

forest residue utilization

mill residue utilization

bioenergy economics

pyrolysis

gasification

emissions

energy returns

harvesting effects

soil impacts

water impacts

biomass harvesting

biomass supply chain logistics

biomass costs

biochar

synthesis gas

life cycle analysis

greenhouse gas emissions

Goals / Objectives
Feedstocks Development: 1) Evaluate existing and new systems of harvesting, processing, and transporting forest biomass feedstock to biomass conversion facilities to minimize costs and product loss. 2) Develop new trucking and processing equipment with improved capabilities and efficiency. 3) Produce next-generation landscape-level spatial feedstock supply models that integrate improved supply chain logistics for predicting the sustainable biomass quantities that can be delivered to specified facility locations at various costs. Biofuels and Bio-based Products Development: 1) Research, develop and improve the performance of the 20 dry ton per day modular Tucker biomass gasification system, with an emphasis on deployment to mid-sized forest industry facilities. 2) Develop technologies and processes to improve the chemical and physical characteristics of the primary products of the gasification system, including heat, synthesis gas, and biochar. 3) Evaluate the suitability of the gas produced by this technology for production of liquid fuels, and develop new processing technology to improve gas chemical characteristics for this purpose. 4) Evaluate the suitability of biochar outputs for the production of activated carbon and develop appropriately-scaled downstream technology to improve the activation level. 5) Develop and test pelletizing processes that can be used to improve the transport and storage characteristics of the carbon output, as well as its suitability for filtering and soil amendment applications. 6) Research and develop equipment and methods of spreading biochar on forest and agricultural sites. Biofuels Development Analysis: 1) Evaluate net life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and energy balance of the modular gasification system products using consequential life cycle assessment. 2) Evaluate the impacts of forest biomass utilization, including collection of residues from treated stands, on water resources, forest development and site productivity, and develop decision tools for biomass residue recovery that incorporate the results of this research. 3) Develop financial models for biomass gasification that span a range of feedstocks and mill operations, with an emphasis on economic conditions in the US West. 4) Develop an economic synthesis of modular gasification at forest industry facilities that includes nonmarket benefits and costs and tradeoffs among alternative scenarios, as well as quantifying the potential rural economic development impacts of these systems. This project will develop and test products and methods for improving feedstock logistics; test and improve a 20 dry ton per day gasification system and analyze the chemical and physical characteristics of the products produced, and test methods for enhancing the value of products; and provide an evaluation of the integrated production system in terms of financial feasibility, economic benefits, and greenhouse gas and particulate matter emissions. It will also generate new knowledge, and associated decision tools, focused on evaluating the sustainability and environmental impacts of forest biomass utilization, with an emphasis on soil and water resources.

Project Methods
Feedstocks Development: Productivity and cost analysis of current and innovative methods for biomass collection and transportation will be performed on industry, Tribal, and National Forest sites. Plots will be installed to evaluate actual amounts of biomass removal using various harvesting systems and silvicultural methods and develop Above Ground Biomass equations for various tree species. Established engineering methods will be used to design and fabricate prototype equipment for testing. Landscape-level spatial feedstock supply models will be based on current remote sensing imagery, variable treatment regimes and associated measured biomass quantities, management trends by ownership category, and transportation optimization through road networks that include forest roads. Biofuels and Bio-based Products Development: Research and development will focus on completing construction of the Tucker gasification system design for forest biomass applications and testing various feedstocks under variable conversion conditions with the objective of producing high value gas and biochar outputs. Synthesis gas will be sampled and its characteristics determined using gas chromatography, trace gas analysis, and mass spectrometry. Commercial rotary calciners as well as steam activation will be tested for producing activated carbon from the biochar. Activation levels and suitability for filtering applications will be characterized by the iodine adsorption index, multi-point surface area, adsorption isotherms, and pore distribution determined by nitrogen gas adsorption analysis. Pelletizing methods and equipment will be developed and tested for improving handling qualities of the fine-grained biochar for soil enhancement applications. Biofuels Development Analysis: Cradle to grave carbon and energy analysis for gasification product outputs (synthesis gas electricity, biochar, and activated carbon) will be conducted using consequential LCA according to ISO 14040 and 14044 standards. Established field research methods will measure and analyze the impacts of biomass harvesting on water resources, soils, and forest development. Results of field research will be incorporated in the WEPP model for predicting water resource effects. Soils analysis will measure changes in bulk density and nutrient and other characteristics that can affect post-treatment site recovery and long-term productivity. The financial feasibility of integrating wood gasification technology will be quantified using discounted cash flow analysis. Cost estimates will be based on both observed and estimated from other components of this study. Product values will be based on the measured characteristics of products produced by the gasification tests. The non-market valuation technique called choice modeling will be employed to estimate effects on social welfare of changes in natural forest management to supply woody biomass for energy. Regional economic impacts will be predicted using IMPLAN. Results will be communicated to target audiences using a variety of methods, including workshops, web-based information, and peer-reviewed publications.

Progress 05/01/15 to 04/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:This project is disseminating new information, knowledge and applications developed from a wide range of studies to many different stakeholders. Science-based assessments of forest biomass feedstock production and new bioenergy technologies and associated co-products are essential tools for all stakeholders who are working to expand bio-based renewable energy production, including production of biofuels from biomass. Results generated in Technical Area 1, Feedstocks Development, will be especially relevant to land owners and managers, forest engineers and contractors, managers of power plants and other conversion facilities, investors, biomass contractors, energy specialists, researchers and policy makers. Supervisors of U.S. National Forests are especially interested in high-resolution, individual-forest scale supply analysis and associated geospatial methods to facilitate continued monitoring and analysis. Results in Technical Area 2, Conversion Technology Research and Development, are most relevant to pyrolysis and gasification entrepreneurs and investors, public and private researchers working on technology and product development, and those interested in biochar, specifically its use as a soil amendment and as a precursor in the manufacture of industrial sorbents and other carbon products. Technical Area 3, is focused on Biofuels Development Analysis, specifically sustainability. Life cycle assessments developed in this area of research will be useful to companies interested in manufacturing low carbon products and generating RIN/REC energy credits, policy makers looking to support such efforts, and individuals and firms evaluating the environmental impacts of the products they consume. Understanding the environmental impacts of biomass harvest is especially important to private and public landowners, foresters and other natural resource managers, policy makers, environmental NGOs, concerned citizens, and the scientific community. Quantifying soil, water and ecological impacts of biomass removal is explicitly important in meeting commitments to sustainable public lands stewardship and in following legal guidelines for such management. Economic and social science research will be particularly useful to local, state and national officials and agencies in understanding the potential impacts of expanding biomass utilization and associated industry expansion in their communities, but will also be useful to entrepreneurs and investors looking for communities in which to locate facilities, as well as land managers looking for markets for biomass to offset the cost of forest treatments. Other important audiences directly engaged by the project include regulatory agencies like the EPA, Indian tribes and Native American resource managers, students from high school to graduate level, and visitors to research sites and technology demonstrations. Changes/Problems:CHANGES Based on need and market and budget constraints, Jump Trucking, Inc. developed a long reach, telescoping boom grapple to pair with a single nested truck and trailer and the high speed mobile grinder. This is a change from the original configuration of two truck and trailer systems with the mobile grinder (and no new grapple system). The MTDC biochar spreader team made some design changes in Year 5. Improvements were identified and incorporated into the prototype biochar spreader based on field tests at the Lubrecht Experimental Forest in November 2014. These improvements consisted of an improved spinner disk, improved tarp system, addition of a hopper vibrator, addition of a back-up video camera, and development of a custom hook ladder. Making several additions to their scope of work, the LCA team explored the carbon benefits of sequestering the biochar in soil while generating electricity from the syngas, estimated manufacturing GHG emissions of field-applying biochar pellets relative to carbon sequestration effect of biochar in the forest, and worked with Arvos Raymond-Bartlett-Snow to develop an engineering scale-up of the pilot carbon activation of the Tucker RNG unit biochar, along with an associated emissions profile. LCA work with Arvos RBS was in conjunction with carbon activation trials in 2015, which incorporated three different biochars from three cooperating companies, rather than the single Tucker RNG biochar originally planned. No other significant changes to report. PROBLEMS Jump Trucking, Inc., continued to struggle to complete fabrication work and field testing on time and on budget in year 5 due to a combination of market conditions for biomass (limiting associated fieldwork on forest sites and resources), changes in subcontractors, and ongoing business challenges. Despite these challenges, fabrication and testing was completed on the mobile grinder in 2015, and the truck and trailer and grapple system fabrication and testing is well under way and scheduled to be complete by April 30, 2016. For the LCA team, production run data from a planned continuous 1000-hour production run were not available from Tucker RNG, because, after a successful demonstration phase, the Tucker RNG system was taken offline at ReVenture Park for a combination of business and technical reasons. The water resources team, led by Bill Elliot (RMRS) reported ongoing challenges to get the net radiation meters to work correctly on the snow pack study. They replaced Campbell CR10 with CR3000 data loggers and have had extended discussions with manufacturer to reprogram the CR3000 for the radiation meters for ongoing reserach. No other problems to report this period. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This year, across all teams, the project has provided formal training, education and professional development opportunities for at least 6 graduate students, 2 post docs, 17 technical professionals and 2 undergraduate students who were supported directly by the grant. In addition, project principal investigators and graduate students have been engaged in a wide range of teaching, outreach and dissemination activities (see other sections of this report). Specific examples of these activities include: a PhD student learning to characterize catalysts and carry out Fischer-Tropsch reaction and presenting results at the 251st ACS national meeting; mentoring a junior scientist and providing training through professional conferences; mentoring graduate students on life-cycle analysis and associated methods and software; a variety of presentations and webinars targeted at students and practitioner-oriented audiences; providing recent graduates in environmental science with training in field research methods, data analysis, and GIS applications; training a new PhD student to work on new processing equipment in WSU Composite Materials & Engineering Center and present results at professional conferences; developing course materials and teaching students in a new courses related to the project, including FE440 Forest Operations Analysis, FE555 Forest Supply Chain Optimization; and mentoring a Ph.D. student at Colorado State University on economic analyses of woody biomass removal and utilization, experimental design, survey design and implementation, and data analyses. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Project status reports were given by all research teams at the final annual BRDI meeting and research symposium in Missoula, MT, April 20-22, 2016. Dissemination this year was focused mainly on presentations to academic, scientific, land management, and industry stakeholders at diverse conferences and meetings, and on the writing and publication of scientific manuscripts and other articles (see products list). Dissemination includes 18 scientific journal articles, 4 book chapters, publications and videos for practitioners, 18 oral and 15 poster conference, 3 proceedings papers, 7 other oral presentations, several theses, 2 dissertations, and updated web-based resources, including a new project website. Specific efforts of note this year include; three chapters prepared for a Cambridge University Press book on biochar supply chains, uses of biochar and life cycle assessment of woody biomass energy conversion; several presentations at the 2015 Council of Forest Engineering (COFE) Conference; a presentation at the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) meeting; an RMRS Science You Can Use Bulletin for resource managers and stakeholders; and a number of invited presentations at international conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The project ended April 30, 2016. In addition to completing all reporting requirements and closing out all existing research agreements, the team will continue to disseminate results through publications, presentations, outreach activities and other means. In addition, many co-investigators have already leveraged this work into new projects and collaborations that will allow continued activity on many of the core research and development areas addressed by this project.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? ALL TECHNICAL AREAS The project held its final meeting and symposium April 20-22, 2016, in Missoula, MT. All research groups presented final results at this event, which included a field trip to research sites in Lolo National Forest. The group also worked with the RMRS Science Application and Communications Program to develop a resource bulletin focused on disseminating the results of the project to stakeholders and practitioners and to develop and publish a booklet for stakeholders that describes the project and its outcomes and accomplishments. FEEDSTOCKS DEVELOPMENT In year 5 the logistics team continued to focus on dissemination, including preparing new manuscripts for publication, revising submitted manuscripts, and delivering presentations. Among the year 5 accomplishments, they: determined the recoverable amount of biomass from ground-based and cable logged whole-tree harvesting systems, developed allometric equations to estimate the amount of total above ground biomass for second growth redwood, and developed additional equations for estimating height, volume, foliage, bole and branch weight. The logistics team also modelled the following elements of the biomass supply chain: secondary transportation from points of production to biomass facilities, feasible cost zones associated with transporting woody biomass from timberlands and sawmills, and work plan logistics for centralized biomass recovery operations. The equipment development team deployed the high-speed mobile grinder prototype for continued field testing. Jump Trucking was also engaged in forwarder modifications and field tests of the biochar spreading equipment. Jump Trucking experienced continued delays in fabricating the nested truck prototype (see Challenges), but moved forward on the fabrication of a long reach biomass loader. Both pieces of equipment will be completed and in the field by the end of May. The spatial biomass analysis team continued to focus on dissemination, including preparing manuscripts for publication and delivering presentations. A peer-reviewed journal article was published in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research, and a Mixed-Integer Programming (MIP) model was developed to optimize feedstock logistics, and presented in the 2015 Council on Forest Engineering Conference Proceedings. Continuing their work on the Montana study area, the team developed detailed feedstock cost models and supply curves based on previously developed above ground biomass models and feedstock supply surfaces. Additional statistical, spatial, and GIS modeling tools and improvements were added to the ArcGIS RMRS Raster Utility add-in tool bar. CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY R&D Following a successful demonstration phase in year 4, the Tucker RNG system has been offline at ReVenture Park in year 5 for a combination of business and technical reasons. Generators are currently producing power for the grid using biogas rather than gas from the Tucker RNG system. Biochar from the Montana feedstock produced by project partner Tricon Timber, LLC, and processed with the Tucker RNG system was shipped to Arvos Raymond-Bartlett-Snow (RBS) for activation trials, which were completed in November 2015. In addition to Tucker RNG biochar, this team worked with Confluence Energy and Biochar Solutions Incorporated (BSI) to test two other wood-feedstock biochars for activation performance. Activation trials were a success, with all three chars activated to commercial specifications with steam. Tucker RNG char was activated from a starting BET surface area and iodine number of 2.0 m2g-1 and 220 mg g-1 I, to 1093 m2g-1 and 1218 mg g-1 I, which is comparable to commercial activated carbon from coconut shell (776 m2g-1 and 1223 mg g-1 I). Catalyst development for liquid fuel production also continued in year 5, with the team designing and developing specific catalysts using different methods for carrying out Fischer-Tropsch synthesis with unconventional biomass-derived syngas. New formulations improved selectivity to liquid fuels by injecting water into the syngas, with novel methods and results presented in new publications and conference presentations. The biochar pelletization team reported several findings this year: that the Kawakita model provides the best-fit model for biochar pellet formulations; leaf material provides a good binder for pellet durability and also minimizes the energy required to process the pellets; and the single pelleter unit can be utilized to predict the specific energy consumption of single biomass pelletization to the industrial pellet mill. The team produced two tons of biochar pellets for large-scale forest application and soil study on Lolo National Forest. Based on field tests in year 4, the biochar spreader team made a wide variety of improvements to the spreader, before the work in Lolo National forest. Both pelletized and bulk biochar performed well in the spreader system and evaluation of the machine's slope limitations and soil impacts confirmed that it is a viable option for spreading biochar on forested sites at commercial scale. The team created a short video of the field test and posted it USDA's YouTube site, and also contributed to a variety of reports, publications and presentations. Study plots have been established in the forest to measure and monitor the short and long-term impacts of biochar application to the study sites. BIOFUELS DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS AND SUSTAINABILITY The LCA team compared the environmental impacts of using syngas for electricity to coal and natural gas electricity, with special emphasis on the net GHG balance using life-cycle assessment. They also estimated the direct carbon benefits of sequestering biochar in soil to energy consumed to pelletize, transport, and spread the biochar pellet back at the original harvest site. Carbon sequestrationby the biochar outweighed the global warming impact associated with processing the biochar pellets by over 30 times, even when considering the decay of the field-applied biochar pellets over time. The team evaluating impacts of biomass harvest on water resources completed the field study of erosion impacts on three sites, summarized the data, and drafted a technical paper for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. They also completed a second year of snow impacts data collection, and will continue for one more year supported by other sources of funding. In collaboration with Campbell Scientific, they are continuing to develop radiation sensor control software and developing an evapotranspiration estimation algorithm for a newly released data logger. All field data have been collected and all lab analyses are completed for forest productivity field sites in Montana. The team was focused on writing peer-reviewed and technical papers, and revising and publishing papers already submitted. Work at the Lick Creek site culminated in a successful Master's thesis defense in April 2016. Work at the Coram Experimental Forest site was the basis of a PhD dissertation, which was successfully defended and published in 2015. Publications include: one synthesis technical report, three peer reviewed journal articles, one peer reviewed journal article accepted with revisions, and two peer reviewed journal article manuscripts in review. The economics and social science team made considerable progress in year 5 with three studies: 1) a new choice experiment to evaluate public preferences for increased forest biomass removal, and for moving residual material off-site and converting it to biochar, 2) the three state bi-modal, bi-lingual choice modeling survey focused on forest bioenergy, and 3) financial analysis of the Tucker RNG system using HOMER microgrid software. Accomplishments include: a dissertation complete, a thesis to be defended in summer 2016, one publication accepted with revisions, and two others in preparation. The manuscript focused on science needs in forest planning is also in review.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Kizha, A.R. and H.-S. Han. Predicting aboveground biomass in second growth coast redwood: Comparing localized with generic algometric models. Forests 7(5):96.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Kizha, A. R., H.-S. Han, T.D. Montgomery, and A. Hohl. 2015. Determining cost zones and hot spots for procuring feedstock for woody biomass-based power plants in northern California. California Agriculture Journal 69(3):184-190.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Montgomery T. D., H.-S Han, and A. R. Kizha. 2015. Modeling work plan logistics for centralized biomass recovery operations in mountainous terrain. Biomass and Bioenergy 85:262-270.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Scott, D.A. and D.S. Page-Dumroese. 2016. Wood bioenergy and soil productivity research. Bioenergy Research 9(2):507-517.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Wells, L., W. Chung, N. Anderson, and J. Hogland. 2016. Spatial and temporal quantification of forest residue volumes and delivered costs. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 46: 832-843.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Williams, M.I., R.K. Dumroese, D.S. Page-Dumroese, and S.P. Hardegree SP. 2015. Can biochar be used as a seed coating to improve native plant germination and growth in arid conditions? Journal of Arid Environments 125:8-15.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Anderson, Nathaniel, and Dana Mitchell. 2016. Forest Operations and Woody Biomass Logistics to Improve Efficiency, Value, and Sustainability. Bioenergy Research (2016) 9:518533.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Page-Dumroese D. S., M.D. Coleman, and S.C. Thomas. 2016. Opportunities and uses of biochar on forest sites in North America. In: Biochar A regional supply chain approach in view of climate change mitigation (V. Bruckman, editor). Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, United Kingdom.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Anderson N., R. Bergman, and D.S. Page-Dumroese. 2016. A supply chain approach of a biochar system. In: Biochar: A regional supply chain approach in view of climate change mitigation. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, United Kingdom.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Bergman R., H. Gu, D.S. Page-Dumroese, and N. Anderson. 2016. Life cycle analysis of biochar. In: Biochar: A regional supply chain approach in view of climate change mitigation (V. Bruckman, editor). Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, United Kingdom.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Campbell, R. 2016. Evaluation of Social Preferences for Woody Biomass Energy in the US Mountain West. PhD Dissertation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Clyatt, K.A. 29 Apr 2016. Long-Term Impacts of Fuel Treatments on Tree Growth and Aboveground Biomass Accumulation in Ponderosa Pine Forests of the Northern Rocky Mountains. MS Thesis, University of Montana, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gu H. and R. Bergman. 2016. Comparative life cycle assessment of bio-based activated carbon and synthesis gas electricity to commercially available alternatives. Gen Tech Rep FPL-GTR-xxx. Madison, WI: USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gu H. and R. Bergman. 2016. Life-cycle assessment of a distributed-scale thermochemical bioenergy conversion system. Wood and Fiber Science (accepted March 15, 2016).
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jang W., C.R. Keyes, and D.S. Page-Dumroese. 2015. Impact of biomass harvesting on forest soil productivity in the northern Rocky Mountains. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-341. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 35 p.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jang, W. 12 May 2015. Consequences of Biomass Harvesting on Forest Condition and Productivity in the Northern Rocky Mountains. PhD Dissertation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Miller, S., M. Essen, N. Anderson, D. Page-Dumroese, D. McCollum, R. Bergman, and T. Elder. 2015. Burgeoning biomass: Creating efficient and sustainable forest biomass supply chains in the Rockies, Part II. Science You Can Use Bulletin, Issue 17. Fort Collins, CO: Rocky Mountain Research Station. 10 p.
• Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Page-Dumroese, D.S, N. Anderson, K. Windell, and K. Jump. 2016. Development and Use of a Commercial Scale Biochar Spreader. General Technical Report. RMRS-GTR-xx. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.
• Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Windell, K. and J. Halbrook 2016. Forest biochar spreader system: From concept to working prototype. Tech. Rep. MTDC-16242810. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Montana Technology and Development Center, Missoula, Montana. xx p.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Bergman R., H. Zhang, K. Englund, K. Windell, and H. Gu, 2016. Estimating manufacturing GHG emissions of field-applying biochar pellets. In: Proceedings, Society of Wood Science and Technology 59th International Convention. March 6-11, 2016. Curitiba, Brazil: 139-149.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Coleman M., T. Shaw, M. Kimsey, M. Jurgensen, S. Cook, D.S. Page-Dumroese, D. Lindner, A. Talhem, J. Sarauer, and L. Sherman. 2015. Tree growth, soil quality, and biodiversity response to forest biomass removal. IN: Symposium  Advances in understanding impacts of organic matter removal on soils and forest productivity. SSSA National Convention. Minneapolis, MN
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gu H, and R. Bergman. 2016. Gate-to-gate GHG emissions for carbon activation of biochar. Society of Wood Science and Technology 59th International Convention. March 6-11, 2016. Curitiba, Brazil.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Elliot, B. 2016. WEPP Update and Overview. Region 4 Soil, Water and Aquatics Workshop, 26 April, Twin Falls, ID.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gu H., R. Bergman. 2016. Comparative life cycle assessment of bio-based activated carbon and synthesis gas electricity to commercially available alternatives. International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Regional Congress for Asia and Oceania 2016. October 24-27, 2016.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gu H, and R. Bergman. 2016. Cradle-to-grave life-cycle assessment of manufacturing activated carbon from biochar. Life Cycle Assessment XVI Conference. September 27-29, 2016. Charleston, SC.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Gu H., and R. Bergman. 2015. Life-cycle GHG emissions of electricity from syngas by pyrolyzing woody biomass. In: Proceedings, Society of Wood Science and Technology 58th International Convention. June 7-12, 2015. Jackson Hole, Wyoming: 376-389.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Han, H., W. Chung, and L. Wells. 2015. A Mathematical Approach to Biomass Feedstock Logistics Problems. Presented at the 2015 Council on Forest Engineering, July 19-22, 2015, Lexington, KY.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Han, S.-K., H.-S. Han, and J. A. Bisson. 2015. Effects of grate size on grinding productivity, fuel consumption, and particle size distribution. Forest Products Journal, 65(5/6), 209-216.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Kizha, A.R., H.-S. Han, and N. Anderson. 2016. Machine activities and interaction at the landing in a cable yarding operation. Forest Products Society International Convention, June 27-29, Portland, Oregon.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: McCollum, D. W., M. Tabatabaei, and J. B. Loomis. Social Acceptability of Biomass Removal and Utilization. Paper presented at Western Forest Economists Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, May 2-4, 2016.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Wells, L., W. Chung, N. Anderson, and J. Hogland. 2015. Estimating Bioenergy Feedstock Supply and Delivered Costs. Presented at the 2015 Council on Forest Engineering, July 19-22, 2015, Lexington, KY.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Z. Wang , K. Mai, T. Elder, L.H. Groom and J.J. Spivey, Effect of water over iron-based catalysts for Fischer Tropsch synthesis using biomass-derived syngas. 251st ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 12-17, 2016
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: McCollum, D. W., N. M. Anderson, and J. Levine. Economic Development Potential Resulting from Woody Biomass Utilization: a Pyrolysis-Based Production Facility in a Rural County. Poster presented at: Western Forest Economists Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, May 24, 2016.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Zhang, H.W. and K. R. Englund. 2015. Use of energetic parameters to understand the consolidation behavior of biochar and Douglas fir slash, Poster at 49th International Wood Composite Symposium, Seattle, WA, April 21-22, 2015.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Anderson, N. 2015. Cutting edge production and supply systems for biomass for energy in North America. In Forest Residue (INFRES) Conference, Rome, Italy.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Anderson, N., D. Page-Dumroese, H-S Han, and J. Hogland. 2015 (all presented). Burgeoning biomass: Creating efficient and sustainable forest biomass supply chains in the Rockies. RMRS Science You Can Use Webinar, December 5, 2014.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Anderson, N. 2015 (POSTER). Integration of sustainable biofuels and bioproducts production into forest industry supply chains using modular biomass gasification and carbon activation. 2015 Project Directors Meeting, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Denver, CO.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Anderson, N., and J. Hogland. 2016 (abstract submitted). Efficient, high-resolution resource mapping and logistics optimization for procurement planning. Modelling Wood Quality, Supply and Value Chain Networks (Wood QC), 8th International Conference of IUFRO Wood Quality Monitoring and Supply Chain Working Parties, Quebec City, Canada.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Anderson, N. 2016 (abstract submitted). Production of activated carbon from wood char bioenergy co-products. 70th International Convention of the Forest Products Society, Portland, OR.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Anderson, N. 2016 (abstract accepted). Production of activated carbon from biochar. Third Asia Pacific Biochar Conference, Gangwon, Republic of Korea.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Anderson, N., D. Page-Dumroese and K. Windell. 2016 (abstract accepted). Application of biochar to forested sites using a forwarder-mounted biochar spreader. Third Asia Pacific Biochar Conference, Gangwon, Republic of Korea.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Bisson, J. A., S.-K. Han, and H.-S. Han. 2016. Evaluating the system logistics of a biomass recovery operation in northern California. Forest Products Journal 66(1/2):8896.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Anderson, N., J. Hogland and W. Chung. 2016 (in review). Methods to prioritize and coordinate forest restoration treatments with sustainable biomass recovery over large landscapes at high resolution. IUFRO Regional Congress for Asia and Oceania 2016, Beijing, China.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Thompson, M., and N. Anderson. 2015. Modeling fuel treatment impacts on suppression cost savings: State-of-the-art. California Agriculture, special issue on Forests and Bioenergy, 69(3):164-170.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Campbell, R., T. Venn and N. Anderson. 2015. Quantifying social preferences toward woody biomass energy generation in Montana, USA. Proceedings of the 2015 Combined Annual Meeting of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association and Western Agricultural Economics Association, July 26-28, 2015, San Francisco, CA.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gu H., and R. Bergman. In press. Life-cycle GHG emissions of electricity from syngas by pyrolyzing woody biomass. Wood and Fiber Science.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and D.S. Page-Dumroese. 2015. Long-term effects on distribution of forest biomass following different harvesting methods in the northern Rocky Mountains. Forest Ecology and Management 358:281-290.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and J.M. Graham. 2016. Evaluation of predictive models for Douglas-fir bark thickness at breast height following 12 biomass harvest treatments. Biomass and Bioenergy 84:118-123.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jang, W., D.S. Page-Dumroese, and C.R. Keyes. 2016. Long-term soil changes from forest harvesting and residue management in the northern Rocky Mountains. Soil Science Society of America Journal. In press.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and D.S. Page-Dumroese. Accepted; in revision. Recovery and diversity of the forest shrub community 38 years after biomass harvesting in the northern Rocky Mountains. Biomass and Bioenergy.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Kizha, A.R. and H.-S. Han. 2015. Forest residues recovered from whole-tree harvest operations. European Journal of Forest Engineering. 1(2): 46-55

Progress 05/01/11 to 04/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:This project disseminated new information, knowledge and applications developed from a wide range of studies to many different stakeholders. Science-based assessments of forest biomass feedstock production and new bioenergy technologies and associated co-products are essential tools for all stakeholders who are working to expand bio-based renewable energy production, including production of biofuels from biomass. Results generated in Technical Area 1, Feedstocks Development, are especially relevant to land owners and managers, forest engineers and contractors, managers of power plants and other conversion facilities, investors, biomass contractors, energy specialists, researchers and policy makers. Supervisors of U.S. National Forests are especially interested in high-resolution, landscape scale supply analysis and associated geospatial methods to facilitate continued monitoring and analysis. Results in Technical Area 2, Conversion Technology Research and Development, are most relevant to pyrolysis and gasification entrepreneurs and investors, public and private researchers working on technology and product development, and those interested in biochar, specifically its use as a soil amendment and as a precursor in the manufacture of industrial sorbents and other carbon products. Technical Area 3, is focused on Biofuels Development Analysis, specifically sustainability. Life cycle assessments developed in this area of research will be useful to companies interested in manufacturing low carbon products and generating RIN/REC energy credits, policy makers looking to support such efforts, and individuals and firms evaluating the environmental impacts of the products they consume. Understanding the environmental impacts of biomass harvest is especially important to private and public landowners, foresters and other natural resource managers, policy makers, environmental NGOs, concerned citizens, and the scientific community. Quantifying soil, water and ecological impacts of biomass removal is explicitly important in meeting commitments to sustainable public lands stewardship and in following legal guidelines for such management. Economic and social science research will be particularly useful to local, state and national officials and agencies in understanding the potential impacts of expanding biomass utilization and associated industry expansion in their communities, but will also be useful to entrepreneurs and investors looking for communities in which to locate facilities, as well as land managers looking for markets for biomass to offset the cost of forest treatments. Other important audiences directly engaged by the project include regulatory agencies like the EPA, Indian tribes and Native American resource managers, students from high school to graduate level, and visitors to research sites and technology demonstrations. Changes/Problems:Changes Major personnel and staff changes included the 2012 retirement of the Project Director, Dr. J. Greg Jones and transition of the Project Director position to Dr. Nathaniel Anderson, as well as the change in university affiliations by Dr. Woodam Chung and Dr. Tyron Venn, changes in research staff, and personnel recruitment and training in all technical areas. A significant budget modification was made to the Tucker Engineering Associates sub-award and approved by USDA-NIFA in year 1. Due to need, market, and budget constraints, the original mobile grinder configuration by Jump Trucking Inc. was altered to included one grinder, one loader and one nested-truck and trailer prototype (instead of the two nested truck and trailer units described in the proposal). After preliminary assessment of gas quality and the R&D timeline for Tucker RNG, the emphasis for liquid fuel production was changed to more broadly address catalysts for liquid fuel production from wood syngas, rather than focus on the Tucker RNG system specifically. Other relevant changes in research focus and emphasis included the decision to quantify the energy consumption of the pelletizing process in greater detail, the LCA team's focus on gas output used for electricity and heat co-generation (as well as activated carbon made from biochar), the additions to the carbon activation team's scope of work to incorporate three different biochars from three cooperating companies, the economics team's decision to conduct a single woody biomass energy survey including questions intended to provide a preference ranking of energy feedstocks rather than two separate surveys, the new line of research by the feedstocks development team to include optimization models for woody biomass grinding operations using mixed-integer programming, and the change of the econometric analysis focus to biomass thermal systems instead of gasification and pyrolysis systems. Challenges and Problems One of the most important lessons learned on the project was the impact of market conditions on integrated research. Shortly before the team came together to write the pre-proposal, a large Smurfit-Stone pulp and paper (linerboard) plant in Frenchtown, MT, was fully operational and consuming up to 1.1 million tons of pulpwood and biomass per year, offering both some market stability for residues and byproducts, and many opportunities for research and experimentation in the study region. Its closure in 2010 had major business implications for our industry partners, coming on the heels of an extremely difficult wood products market as a result of the Great Recession, and this negatively impacted the project. Similarly, low demand for hog fuel in Oregon disrupted operations research there, which had effects on research in multiple technical areas. Expiration of the US-Canada softwood lumber agreement put additional downward pressure on the industry in the study region. Another major challenge was difficulty in commercialization of biochar due to lack of consistent markets, and the fracking boom and other structural changes in the energy sector had significant impacts on fuel and energy prices, making the economic climate for biofuels and bioenergy technology less favorable. Overall, the team reacted and adjusted well to these challenges (see previous sections), but this was not without difficulty. Integrated projects like this one are hit especially hard by such conditions because industry partners are major contributor of expertise, investment and cost match. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project supported the training and professional development of 27 undergraduate students, graduate students and post-docs in 6 disciplines at 7 universities. Students gained experience in proposal writing, field research, survey techniques and online software development, completed outreach to high school students, and published journal articles and technical reports. Beyond direct support of advanced degrees and training, one additional postdoc was mentored in life-cycle analyses. Both students and other project personnel participated in national and international professional meetings, giving a wide variety of poster and oral presentations and invited lectures. Personnel were trained in the use of new equipment and several webinars series were also attended, including those organized by the American Center for Life Cycle Assessment, International Biochar Initiative, Waste to Wisdom, and the RMRS Science Application and Communication Program. Several faculty members working on the project, including Han and Chung, developed new courses and curricula elements. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Dissemination throughout the project life cycle was focused mainly on in-person presentations to academic, scientific, land management, and industry stakeholders at diverse conferences and meetings, and on the writing and publication of scientific manuscripts and other articles (see products list, section 10). Dissemination includes 47 journal articles, 4 book chapters, 135 conference papers and presentations, 6 theses and dissertations, 9 practitioner-oriented publications, 4 websites, 1 YouTube video, and over a dozen other outreach and extension activities. Project personnel gave poster and oral presentations at professional and scientific meetings in a wide variety of project related disciplines in and outside the US. Research results and project updates were published in peer-reviewed literature as well as literature designed for decision makers, forest managers and industry. Webinars were held to share project findings with public land managers and others. Project personnel engaged in numerous consultations with private and public forest managers and private industry. College and high school students were also targeted with specially designed curricula. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Summary This project developed new technologies necessary for abundant commercial production of bioenergy, biofuels, and bioproducts from biomass, and facilitated the development of economically and environmentally sustainable sources of biomass feedstocks. Direct impacts including many new products and processes, direct employment of 58 people in 78.3 FTE, and direct environmental benefits New Products and Processes New biomass handling, chipping and grinding system to produce wood chips New biomass harvesting processes and equipment An ESRI ArcGIS add-in to facilitate landscape scale biomass estimation and analysis Commercial scale Tucker RNG system Renewable heat, electricity and biochar generated a over project period Biochar pellets produced for better handling and application properties A new biochar spreader system for forest sites Activated carbon produced from biochar using steam activation Liquid fuels produced from Fischer-Tropsch synthesis using two types of catalysts Online tool to estimate erosion effects from biomass removal Social science and economic analysis to guide bioenergy investment Contributions to widely used LCI and LCA databases Analysis of the environmental impacts of biomass harvesting Project Accomplishments Accomplishments are detailed by technical area and principal investigator in a publicly available long-form final report. Highlights include: Feedstock logistics (Han) Actual amounts of biomass recovered from both ground-based and cable logged whole-tree harvesting systems were determined and allometric equations to more accurately estimate the amount of total above ground biomass for second growth coniferous species were developed. Additional equations estimating height, volume, foliage, stem, and branch weight from diameter (DBH) were also established. New equipment (Jump Trucking) The equipment development team deployed the high-speed mobile grinder prototype and long reach grapple for continued field testing. Jump Trucking was also engaged in forwarder modifications and field tests of the in-woods biochar spreading equipment. Whole log microchipping (Tricon Timber) Tricon Timber, LLC, completed the design and installation of a small diameter, whole-tree chipping line and integrated screening system at their St. Regis sawmill and produced wood chips for various applications, including wood microchips for Tucker RNG trials. Spatial analysis (Chung) A new methodology and modeling framework that integrates supply chain logistics, remote sensing imagery, variable treatment regimes, and transportation optimization was developed to assess the feasibility of biomass utilization, assist in making silvicultrural decisions, and facilitate informed biomass supply chain planning. The tools are packaged in a free ArcGIS add-in with tutorials and documentation. Tucker RNG System thermal conversion (Tucker) Tucker RNG successfully demonstrated the use of the Tucker RNG System at ReVenture Park, Charlotte, NC. The system was connected to the grid and produced electricity under a renewable power purchase agreement for six months. Following this successful demonstration phase, the Tucker RNG team packaged and shipped biochar from ReVenture Park to RMRS in Moscow, ID, for use in activation trials. Liquid fuel and catalyst development (Spivey/Elder) Two different types of catalysts were tested for their effectiveness in converting woody biomass synthesis gas into liquid fuels. Both the co-precipitated and impregnated experimental catalysts were successful at completing the conversion, but results showed that the co-precipitated catalyst yielded a slightly higher carbon conversion rate. Biochar pelletizaton (Englund) Pelletization of biochar was successful. Over 3,000 pounds of biochar-based pellets for soil amendment studies were produced using an industrial-scale pellet mill. The manufacture of these pellets included the in-woods chipping of over 1,000 pounds of slash and biochar produced from the Tucker RNG technology. Carbon activation (Anderson/Elder) Biochar from three different conversion systems were activated using an industrial system. All biochars were produced from a similar mix of western U.S. coniferous tree species under relatively high temperature pyrolysis, including the Tucker RNG system. Each sample compared favorably to commercial AC. Biochar spreader (Windell/ Page-Dumroese) A new forwarder-mounted biochar spreader was developed and deployed at field sites. To our knowledge, this is the first use of a commercial scale, high capacity system to spread biochar on a forested site. Results showed soil compaction attributable to the spreading on roads without a forest floor (i.e. leaf litter, down woody debris) but negligible negative effects on skid trails with forest floor intact. Monumentation is in place to revisit these sites to evaluate biochar effects on soil bulk density, carbon content and other characteristics. Life Cycle Assessment (Bergman) LCA shows significant positive environmental outcomes of the Tucker RNG system compared to fossil fuel alternatives. The team categorized the environmental outputs and cumulative energy consumption for the products and then generated corresponding life-cycle impact assessment data. Syngas electricity from the Tucker RNG unit has a favorable GHG profile on a kilowatt-hour basis (0.142 kg CO2-eq kWh-1) when considering carbon sequestration of the biochar. Carbon sequestration of the biochar outweighed the global warming impact associated with processing the biochar pellets by over 30 times, even considering the decay of the field-applied biochar pellets. Watershed impacts (Elliot) Three multi-year field studies were completed to measure the impacts of wood biomass removal on key watershed properties. An online interface was developed to aid managers and others in predicting watershed impacts of biomass utilization. A study was initiated, and will continue for one more year, on the likely impacts of biomass utilization on snow accumulation and melt. Vegetation and Soil Impacts (Keyes and Page-Dumroese) Long term studies conducted as part of this project showed that there were no long-term detrimental consequences of biomass harvesting in site productivity or vegetation on studied sites. Assessment included evaluation of forest productivity, including soil productivity, understory composition and structure, individual tree growth and stand level biomass production, 40 years after forest biomass utilization treatment among different utilization levels in the Northern Rockies. Rural development (McCollum) A framework was constructed to evaluate the potential contribution of woody biomass utilization to rural economic development. A choice experiment was conducted evaluating public preferences for increased forest biomass removal - moving residual material off-site and converting it to biochar. Results showed the respondents perceive excess woody biomass in the forest to be a problem and are tolerant of forest thinning and removing dead and dying material address the issue. Survey participants also expressed a willingness to pay 14% more to move residual material off-site for conversion to biochar rather than burn it on-site, which is the current practice. Socioeconomic analysis (Venn) The choice modeling method was employed in Arizona, Colorado, and Montana, to examine marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) for woody biomass energy produced from treatments in public forests. Positive and statistically significant MWTP is found for woody biomass energy generation, improving forest health, reducing risk of large wildfires, and improving air quality. Results from a latent class model reveal that sociodemographic and attitudinal characteristics are significant determinants of preferences about public forestland management for woody biomass energy generation.

Publications

• Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Windell, K., and J. Halbrook. 2016. Forest biochar spreader system: From concept to working prototype. Tech. Rep. MTDC-16242810. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Montana Technology and Development Center, Missoula, Montana. xx p.
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Elliot, W.J., and H. Rhee. 2014. Updates. WEPP BIOMASS, Biomass utilization impacts on soil erosion analysis. Online erosion prediction tool. Available online at http://forest.moscowfsl.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/fswepp/biomass/biomass.pl.
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Elliot, W.J., and H. Rhee. 2015. WEPP Biomass: Biomass utilization impacts on soil erosion analysis. Available online at http://forest.moscowfsl.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/. Accessed 1 May, 2015.
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Elliot, W.J., and H. Rhee. 2016. WEPP Biomass: Biomass Utilization Impacts on Soil Erosion Analysis. Available online at http://forest.moscowfsl.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/. Accessed 1 May, 2016.
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hogland, J., N. Anderson, and J.G. Jones. 2014. Updates. RMRS Raster Utility for Geospatial Analysis. Online suite of GIS tools for spatial analysis of natural resources. http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/raster-utility/
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: RMRS (2014). RMRS Raster Utility code repository, Accessed online: https://collab.firelab.org/software/projects/rmrsraster, last accessed 5/6/2014.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Anderson, N., and D. Mitchell. 2016. Forest biomass operations and logistics to improve efficiency, value and sustainability. BioEnergy Research 9: 518-533.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, N., J.G. Jones, D.S. Page-Dumroese, D. McCollum , S. Baker, D. Loeffler, and W. Chung. 2013. A comparison of producer gas, biochar, and activated carbon from two distributed scale thermochemical conversion systems used to process forest biomass. Energies 6: 164-183.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Bisson, J.A., S.-K. Han, and H.-S. Han. 2016. Evaluating the system logistics of a biomass recovery operation in northern California. Forest Products Journal 66(1/2):8896.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Clement, J., N. Anderson, T. Cheng, and P. Motley. In review. Framing the discourse of forest restoration and biomass utilization in Colorado using Q-methodology. Journal of Forestry.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Elliot, W.J. and I.S. Miller. 2016. In preparation. Effects of biomass reduction and utilization on forested sites in the Northwestern United States. Western Journal of Applied Forestry.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gu, H., and R. Bergman. 2016. Life-cycle assessment of a distributed-scale thermochemical bioenergy conversion system. Wood and Fiber Science 48(2): 1-13.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gu, H., and R. Bergman. In preparation. Cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of an advanced pyrolysis unit. In preparation for submission to Wood and Fiber Science.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gu, H., and R. Bergman. In press. Life-cycle GHG emissions of electricity from syngas by pyrolyzing woody biomass. Wood and Fiber Science.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Han, S.-K., H.-S. Han, and J. A. Bisson. 2015. Effects of grate size on grinding productivity, fuel consumption, and particle size distribution. Forest Products Journal, 65(5/6), 209-216.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hogland, J., and N. Anderson. In review. Bringing images to a common radiometric scale using Aggregate No Change Regression: An accurate and easy to use technique. Remote Sensing and Environment.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hogland, J., N. Billor, and N. Anderson. 2013. A comparison of standard maximum likelihood classification techniques and polytomous logistic regression. European Journal of Remote Sensing 46: 623-640.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jang, W., and C.R. Keyes. Segmented polynomial regression provides best predictive model for Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir bark thickness following four biomass harvest utilization treatments. Unpublished manuscript.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and D.S. Page-Dumroese. 2015. Long-term effects on distribution of forest biomass following different harvesting methods in the northern Rocky Mountains. Forest Ecology and Management 358: 281-290.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and D.S. Page-Dumroese. Accepted; in revision. Recovery and diversity of the forest shrub community 38 years after biomass harvesting in the northern Rocky Mountains. Biomass and Bioenergy.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and D.S. Page-Dumroese. In review. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga Menziesii Mirb. Franco) tree response to increased forest biomass removal in the northern Rocky Mountains. New Forests.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and D.S. Page-Dumroese. In review. Long-term regeneration responses to overstory retention and understory vegetation treatments in the northern Rocky Mountains. Forest Science.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and J.M. Graham. 2016. Evaluation of predictive models for Douglas-fir bark thickness at breast height following 12 biomass harvest treatments. Biomass and Bioenergy 84:118-123.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jang, W., D.S. Page-Dumroese, and C.R. Keyes. 2016. Long-term soil changes from forest harvesting and residue management in the northern Rocky Mountains. Soil Science Society of America Journal. In press.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Jarvis, J., D.S. Page-Dumroese, N. Anderson, Y. Corillo, and R.P. Rodgers. 2014. Characterization of fast pyrolysis products generated from several western USA woody species. Energy & Fuels 28: 6438-6446.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Kim, D., N. Anderson and W. Chung. 2015. Financial performance of a mobile pyrolysis system used to produce biochar from sawmill residues. Forest Products Journal 65(5/6):189197.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Kizha, A.R., and H.-S. Han. 2015. Forest residues recovered from whole-tree harvest operations. European Journal of Forest Engineering 1(2): 46-55.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Kizha, A.R., and H.-S. Han. Developing allometric equation for Coastal Redwood. Journal of Forestry (Manuscript#: FS-14-227 under review).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Kizha, A.R., and H.-S. Han. In review. Actual biomass recovered: Comparing whole-tree and tree-length harvesting methods. Biomass and Bioenergy (Manuscript #: JBB-S-15-00046).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Kizha, A.R., and H.-S. Han. 2016. Predicting aboveground biomass in second growth coast redwood: Comparing localized with generic algometric models. Forests 7(5): 96.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Kizha, A.R., H.-S. Han, and N. Anderson. 2016. Machine activities and interaction at the landing in a cable yarding operation. In preparation for the International Journal of Forest Engineering.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Kizha, A.R., H.-S. Han, T.D. Montgomery, and A. Hohl. 2015. Determining cost zones and hot spots for procuring feedstock for woody biomass-based power plants in northern California. California Agriculture Journal 69(3):184-190.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Loeffler, D., and N. Anderson. 2014. Emissions tradeoffs associated with cofiring forest biomass with coal: A case study in Colorado, USA. Applied Energy 113: 67-77.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Loeffler, D., N. Anderson, T. Morgan, and C. Sorenson. 2016. Onsite energy consumption at softwood sawmills in Montana. Forest Products Journal 66(3/4):155-162.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Mai, K., T. Elder, L. Groom, and J. Spivey. 2015. Fe-based Fischer Tropsch synthesis of biomass-derived syngas: Effect of synthesis method. Catalysis Communications 65: 76-80.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: McCollum, D.W., M. Tabatabaei, and J.B. Loomis. In preparation. Social acceptability of biomass removal and utilization. Forest Economics.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Montgomery T.D., H.-S. Han, and A.R. Kizha. 2015. Modeling work plan logistics for centralized biomass recovery operations in mountainous terrain. Biomass and Bioenergy 85: 262-270.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Page-Dumroese D.S., P. Robichaud, R. Brown, and J. Tirocke. 2015. Water repellency of two forest soils after biochar additions. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Journal 58: 1-8.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Scott, D.A., and D.S. Page-Dumroese. 2016. Wood bioenergy and soil productivity research. Bioenergy Research 9(2): 507-517.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Sharma, P., T. Elder, L. Groom, and J.J. Spivey. 2014. Effect of structural promoters on Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis of biomass derived syngas. Topics in Catalysis. 57: 526-537.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Wells, L.A., W. Chung, N. Anderson, and J. Hogland. 2016. Spatial and temporal quantification of forest residue volumes and delivered costs. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 46: 832-843.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Montgomery, T.D., H.-S. Han, and A. Kizha. In preparation. A GIS-based Method for Locating and Planning Centralized Biomass Grinding Operations. In preparation for submission to Biomass and Bioenergy.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Tabatabaei, M., J. Loomis, and D.W. McCollum. 2015. Non-market benefits of reducing environmental effects of potential wildfires in beetle-killed trees: A contingent valuation study. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, DOI: 10.1080/10549811.2015.1034282
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Thompson, M., and N. Anderson. 2015. Modeling fuel treatment impacts on suppression cost savings: State-of-the-art. California Agriculture Journal, Special issue on Forests and Bioenergy 69(3): 164-170.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Wang, Z., N. Kumar, K. Mai, T. Elder, L. Groom, and J.J Spivey: Effect of steam during Fischer Tropsch synthesis of biomass-derived syngas. (To be submitted, Target Journal: Catalysis Letters).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Wells, L.A., W. Chung, N.M. Anderson, and J.S. Hogland. In preparation. Spatial distribution and quantification of forest treatment residues for bioenergy production. In preparation for submission to Forest Ecology and Management.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Zhang, H.W., and K.R. Englund. In development. Influences of temperature and feed constituents addition on the conversion process of biochar pelletization.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Williams, M.I., R.K. Dumroese, D.S. Page-Dumroese, and S.P. Hardegree. 2015. Influence of biochar seed coatings on germination and growth of four native plant species. Journal of Arid Environments.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Williams, M.I., R.K. Dumroese, D.S. Page-Dumroese, and S.P. Hardegree. 2015. Can biochar be used as a seed coating to improve native plant germination and growth in arid conditions? Journal of Arid Environments 125: 8-15.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Zhang, H.W., and K.R. Englund. In development. Comparing the specific energy consumption of biomass pelletizing from single pelleter to industrial pellet mill.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Zhang, H.W., and K.R. Englund. In development. Use of energetic parameters to understand the compaction behavior of biochar and Douglas fir residuals.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Zhang, H.W., and K.R. Englund. In preparation. Study the consolidation behavior of biochar with Douglas fir slash by several compaction equations.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Anderson, N., R. Bergman, and D.S. Page-Dumroese. 2016. A supply chain approach of a biochar system. In: Biochar: A regional supply chain approach in view of climate change mitigation. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, United Kingdom.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Bergman, R., H. Gu, D.S. Page-Dumroese, and N. Anderson. 2016. Life cycle analysis of biochar. In: Biochar: A regional supply chain approach in view of climate change mitigation (V. Bruckman, editor). Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, United Kingdom.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Keefe, R., N. Anderson, J. Hogland, and K. Muhlenfeld. 2014. Woody biomass logistics. Chapter 14 in Cellulosic Energy Cropping Systems (D.L. Karlen, Editor), John Wiley & Sons, West Sussex, UK.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Page-Dumroese D.S., M.D. Coleman, and S.C. Thomas. 2016. Opportunities and uses of biochar on forest sites in North America. In: A supply chain approach to biochar systems. Biochar A regional supply chain approach in view of climate change mitigation (V. Bruckman, editor). Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, United Kingdom.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Anderson, H.C., C.R. Keyes, D.S. Page-Dumroese, and M.D. Coleman. 2016. Ponderosa Pine Ecosystem Responses to Thinning, Biochar, Fertilization or Mastication in the Bitterroot National Forest: Impacts on Tree Growth and Soil Properties. Annual Biomass Research and Development Initiative Meeting, April 19, Missoula, MT. Poster presentation by H.C. Anderson.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Anderson, N. 2014. Efficient and sustainable forest biomass supply chains in the Rocky Mountain West. Bioenergy Alliance Network of the Rockies Webinar Series, Dec. 10.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Anderson, N. 2014. Empirical financial models to guide investment in distributed scale biomass conversion systems. Pyrolysis as a Waypoint on the Road to Higher Value Fuels and Chemicals, 2014 International Biomass Conference and Exposition, Orlando, FL.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Anderson, N. 2014. Forest biomass for bioenergy, biofuels and bioproducts: Logistics, conversion technology and sustainability. Invited research briefing to the USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment, Arthur "Butch" Blazer, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Anderson, H.C., C.R. Keyes, D.S. Page-Dumroese, and M.D. Coleman. 2015. Ponderosa Pine Responses to Biochar Treatments on the Bitterroot National Forest: Impacts on Tree Growth and Soil Properties. Society of American Foresters National Convention. Nov. 3-7, Baton Rouge, LA. Poster presentation by H.C. Anderson.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Anderson, H.C., C.R. Keyes, D.S. Page-Dumroese, and M.D. Coleman. 2016. Ponderosa Pine Ecosystem Responses to Thinning, Biochar, Fertilization or Mastication in the Bitterroot National Forest: Impacts on Tree Growth and Soil Properties. Annual Meeting of the Montana Society of American Foresters, Helena, MT. April 15. Poster presentation by H.C. Anderson.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Anderson, N. 2012. RMRS-HD biomass, bioenergy and biobased products research. Rocky Mountain Research Station, Human Dimensions Science Program Seminar Series, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Anderson, N. 2012. Using advanced thermochemical biomass conversion technologies to improve forest health and enhance the economic viability of forest enterprise. Invited presentation to the RMRS Leadership Team, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, N. 2013. Assessing the technical and financial feasibility of using distributed scale thermochemical conversion to process forest biomass. Targets of Opportunity: Densification Strategies to Capture Unutilized Biomass Potential, International Biomass Conference and Exposition, Minneapolis, MN.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Anderson, N. 2015. Solving real-world problems for forest bioenergy in the west. Oregon State University, College of Forestry Seminar, Sept. 29, Corvallis, OR.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Anderson, N. 2014. Six impossible things before breakfast: Solving real-world problems for forest bioenergy in the west. University of Montana, College of Forestry and Conservation, Graduate Seminar, Oct. 24, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Anderson, N. 2015. Cutting edge production and supply systems for biomass for energy in North America. In Forest Residue (INFRES) Conference, Rome, Italy.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Anderson, N. 2015. Forest biomass supply chains: The ultimate Rorschach test for the forest industry. International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), SP-14 Energy from trees: Technology, opportunities, and challenges Sub-Plenary Session, XXIV IUFRO World Congress, Oct. 5-11, Salt Lake City, UT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Anderson, N. et al. 2014. Integration of sustainable biofuels and bioproducts production into forest industry supply chains using modular biomass gasification and carbon activation. Northwest Wood-Based Biofuels + Co-Products Conference, Seattle, WA (Poster).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, N., D. Kim, and W. Chung. 2013. Financial analysis of a distributed scale pyrolysis conversion system used to produce biochar from forest biomass. International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Third Latin American Congress, San Jose, Costa Rica.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Anderson, N., D. Page-Dumroese, H-S Han, and J. Hogland. 2015. Burgeoning biomass: Creating efficient and sustainable forest biomass supply chains in the Rockies. RMRS Science You Can Use Webinar, December 5, 2014.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Anderson, N., J.G. Jones, et al. 2011. (Anderson and Jones presenting). RMRS integrated biomass research: Partnerships across government, academia and industry. Briefing for Niels Kock, President of the International Unition of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO). Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, N., J.G. Jones, W. Chung, D. Kim, D. Page-Dumroese, D. McCollum, D. Loeffler, C. Sorenson, and T. Venn. 2013. The technical and financial feasibility of using distributed scale thermochemical conversion to produce biochar from forest and range treatment residues. Fourth Annual Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference, Raleigh, NC.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, N., W. Chung, D. Page-Dumroese, W. Perez, Z. Gu, and D. McCollum. 2013. A comparison of biochar and activated carbon produced from forest biomass using distributed scale thermal conversion. International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Third Latin American Congress, San Jose, Costa Rica. (Poster)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, N., W. Chung, W. Perez, D. Page-Dumroese, and Z. Gu, 2013. An assessment of fuel, soil and industrial sorbent applications of biochar produced from woody biomass using distributed scale thermochemical conversion. Poster presented at the 3rd IUFRO Latin American Congress, June 12-15, San Jose, Costa Rica.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, N., W. Chung, W. Perez, D. Page-Dumroese, and Z. Gu. 2013. An assessment of fuel, soil and industrial sorbent applications of biochar produced from forest biomass using distributed scale thermochemical conversion. Forest Operations for a Changing Environment. Proceedings of the 2013 Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, July 7-10, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Anderson, N., J. Hogland, J.G. Jones, and W. Chung. 2012. (Invited). New methods for estimating National Forest biomass supply and delivered cost in developing markets. Timber Measurements Society, Central Meeting, Coeur dAlene, ID.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Anderson, N., J. Hogland, W. Chung, and J.G. Jones. 2012. Methods to predict and map economic flows of forest biomass. Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting, Spokane, WA.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2011 Citation: Anderson, N., J.G. Jones, D. McCollum, D. Page-Dumroese, and W. Hao. 2011. (Anderson presented). RMRS Human Dimensions Program Integrated Biomass Research. Briefing for the RMRS Station Director, Sam Foster, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Anderson, N., J.G. Jones, D. Page-Dumroese, D. McCollum, S. Baker, and D. Loeffler. 2012. Comparison of two thermochemical conversion technologies used to process forest biomass. Unique Thermal Pretreatment Steps to Biofuel Intermediates, International Biomass Conference and Exposition, Denver, CO.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Bergman, R. 2012. Consequential life-cycle assessment of products from modular biomass gasification to fossil fuel-equivalents. American Center for Life Cycle Assessment XII Conference. Sept. 25-27, Tacoma, WA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bergman, R. 2013. Using consequential life-cycle assessment to compare products from biomass pyrolysis to fossil fuel equivalents. LCA XII Conference. Tacoma, WA. Sept. 25-27, 2012.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bergman, R., and H. Gu. 2013. Life-cycle assessment of bio-products from advanced modular biomass pyrolysis system. Midwest Biochar Conference. June 14, Champaign, IL.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bisson, J.A., S.-K. Han, H.-S. Han, J. Zhang, and T. Montgomery. 2013. Comparing whole tree to tree-length fuel reduction thinning operations: cost and actual amounts of biomass removal. Forest Operations for a Changing Environment. Proceedings of the Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, July 7-10, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bergman, R., and H. Gu. 2014. Life-cycle inventory analysis of bio-products from a modular advanced biomass pyrolysis system. In: Proceedings, Society of Wood Science and Technology 57th International Convention. June 23-27, Zvolen, Slovakia: 405-415.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bergman, R., and H. Gu. 2015. GHG profile of an advanced pyrolysis unit using woody biomass. XXIV IUFRO World Congress, Oct. 5-11, Salt Lake City, UT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bergman, R., and H. Gu. 2015. Life-cycle impacts of producing activated carbon from biochar. In: Proceedings from Life Cycle Assessment XV Conference. Oct. 6-8, Vancouver, BC.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Campbell, R., and T. Venn. 2013. Evaluation of social preferences for woody biomass energy. Conference Proceedings from the Western Forestry Graduate Research Symposium, April 22-23, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, p. 8.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Bergman, R., H. Gu, and N. Anderson. 2016. Comparative life cycle assessment of bio-based activated carbon and synthesis gas electricity to commercially available alternatives. Poster presented at BRDI Annual Project Meeting, April 20-21, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Bergman, R., H. Zhang, K. Englund, K. Windell, and H. Gu, 2016. Estimating manufacturing GHG emissions of field-applying biochar pellets. In: Proceedings, Society of Wood Science and Technology 59th International Convention. March 6-11, 2016. Curitiba, Brazil: 139-149.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Bergman, R., H. Zhang, K. Englund, K. Windell, and H. Gu. 2016. Estimating GHG emissions from the manufacturing of field-applied biochar pellets. In: Proceedings of the 59th International Convention of Society of Wood Science and Technology. March 6-10, Curitiba, Brazil.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bisson, J, S-K. Han, and H-S. Han. 2013. Evaluating the system logistics of a biomass recovery operation in northern California. Forest Operations for a Changing Environment. Proceedings of the 2013 Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, July 7-10, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bisson, J.A., S.K. Han, and H.-S. Han. 2014. Evaluating the system logistics of a biomass recovery operation in northern California. Conference Proceeding, 37th Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting. Moline, IL.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Chung, W. 2015. Woody biomass supply chain. Invited Special Lecture Series, Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb, March 18, Zagreb, Croatia.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Chung, W., and N. Anderson. 2012. Spatial modeling of potential woody biomass flow. Engineering New Solutions for Energy Supply and Demand. Proceedings of the 2012 Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, Sept. 9-12, New Bern, NC.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Chung, W., and N. Anderson. 2013. (Both presented). Improving the efficiency of woody biomass supply chains in the western United States. Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Montana Forest Products Retention Roundtable, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Chung, W., L. Wells, D.-W. Kim, E. Thompson, N. Anderson, and J. Hogland. 2012. Spatial modeling of potential woody biomass flow. BRDI Project Meeting, Oct. 10-12, Spokane, WA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Chung, W., N. Anderson, and G. Jones. 2012. Recent research projects in the western United States to improve the efficiency of woody biomass supply chains. Invited seminar presentation, Center for Energy and Environmental Studies, Boston University, April 20, Boston, MA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Chung, W., N. Anderson, D.-Y. Kim, and G. Jones. 2011. Recent research projects in the United States to improve the efficiency of woody biomass supply chains. Invited Presentation at the International Conference on Forest Technologies for Mitigating Climate Change, Seoul National University, October 4-6, Seoul, South Korea.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Chung, W., N. Anderson, G. Jones, and D. Kim. 2012. Recent research projects in the United States to improve the efficiency of woody biomass supply chains. Invited Presentation at the International Symposium on Supply Chain Management for the Forest Sector and its Contribution to Local Economy, Utsunomiya University, March 29, Utsunomiya, Japan.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Clyatt, K.A., C.R. Keyes, and D.S. Page-Dumroese. 2015. Ponderosa Pine Forest Restoration Treatments in the Northern Rocky Mountains: Long-Term Implications for Residual Biomass and Productivity. Montana Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting: Effective Forest Practices for Todays Resource Challenges, April 10-11, Whitefish, MT. Poster presentation by K.A. Clyatt.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Elder, T., and L. Groom. 2012. Gasification of woody biomass as a route to energy and fuels. 2012. International Wood Composites Symposium April 11-13, Seattle, WA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Clyatt, K.A., C.R. Keyes, D.S. Page-Dumroese, and S.M. Hood. 2015. Long-term Impacts of Fuel Treatments on Productivity and Biomass in Ponderosa Pine Forests of the Intermountain West. Society of American Foresters National Convention. Baton Rouge, LA. 3-7 Nov 2015. Poster presentation by K.A. Clyatt.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Clyatt, K.A., C.R. Keyes, D.S. Page-Dumroese, and S.M. Hood. 2016. Long-term Impacts of Fuel Treatments on Productivity and Biomass in Ponderosa Pine Forests of the Intermountain West. Annual Biomass Research and Development Initiative Meeting, April 19, Missoula, MT. Poster presentation by K.A. Clyatt.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Coleman, M., T. Shaw, M. Kimsey, M. Jurgensen, S. Cook, D.S. Page-Dumroese, D. Lindner, A. Talhem, J. Sarauer, and L. Sherman. 2015. Tree growth, soil quality, and biodiversity response to forest biomass removal. In: Symposium  Advances in understanding impacts of organic matter removal on soils and forest productivity. SSSA National Convention. Minneapolis, MN.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Elliot, B., I.S. Miller, and H. Rhee. 2016. Impacts of biomass harvesting on winter processes. Poster presented at BRDI Annual Project Meeting, April 20-21, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Elliot, B., S. Miller, and H. Rhee. 2014. Impacts of biomass harvesting on water resources. Presented at the Annual BRDI Meeting, Feb. 26-27, Charlotte, NC.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Elliot, W.J., I. S. Miller and H. Rhee. 2012. Biomass utilization sites: Investigating soil and watershed properties. Presented at the Annual BRDI Meeting, Oct. 10-12, Spokane, WA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Essen, M., N. Anderson, and A. Metcalf. 2014. Stakeholder outreach and social science research strategies for bioenergy and biofuels projects. Northwest Wood-Based Biofuels + Co-Products Conference, Seattle, WA (Poster).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Groom, L., M. Gupta, P. Sharma, A. Sharma, J. Spivey, and T. Elder. 2012. Pilot-scale gasification of woody biomass and production of liquid transportation fuel. 2012. 66th International Forest Products Society Meeting, June 3-5, Washington, DC.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gu H., and R. Bergman. 2016. Life cycle assessment of a distributed-scale thermochemical bioenergy conversion system. Poster presented at BRDI Annual Project Meeting, Missoula, MT, April 20-21, 2016.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Gu, H., and R. Bergman. 2014. Black Diamond, black char, (new) black gold. Illinois Biochar Group Spring Meeting. March 10, Champaign, IL
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Gu, H., and R. Bergman. 2015. Life-cycle GHG emissions of electricity from syngas by pyrolyzing woody biomass. In: Proceedings, Society of Wood Science and Technology 58th International Convention. June 7-12, 2015. Jackson Hole, Wyoming: 376-389.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gu, H., and R. Bergman. 2016. Cradle-to-grave life-cycle assessment of manufacturing activated carbon from biochar. Life Cycle Assessment XVI Conference. Sept. 27-29. Charleston, SC.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gu, H., and R. Bergman. 2016. Gate-to-gate GHG emissions for carbon activation of biochar. Society of Wood Science and Technology 59th International Convention. March 6-11. Curitiba, Brazil.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gu, H., and R. Bergman. 2016. Life-cycle GHG emissions of synthesis gas electricity. Poster presented at BRDI Annual Project Meeting, April 20-21, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gu. H., R. Bergman. 2016. Comparative life cycle assessment of bio-based activated carbon and synthesis gas electricity to commercially available alternatives. International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Regional Congress for Asia and Oceania, Oct. 24-27.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Han, H.-S., 2012. Biomass feedstock supply: costs and life cycle analysis. Forest Products Society International Convention, June 2-5, Washington D.C.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Han, H.-S., 2012. Collection and transportation of forest residues for energy production. International Wood Composite Symposium  Biomass Feedstock Supply Panel. April 11-3, Seattle, WA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Han, H.-S., 2012. Participated in a panel presentation at the International Wood Composite Symposium  Biomass Feedstock Supply Panel. April 11-13. Seattle, WA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Han, H.-S., 2014. Overview of characterizing approaches to collecting forest biomass. Northwest Wood-Based Biofuels + Co-Products Conference, Seattle, WA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Han, S.-K., H.-S. Han, J. Bisson, and T. Montgomery. 2013. Effects of grate size on grinding productivity, fuel consumption, and particle size distribution. Session 6A: Biomass Processing and Moisture Management. In Proceedings of the 36th Annual Meeting of the Council on Forest Engineering. July 8-10, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Han, H.-S., A.R. Kizha., J. Bisson, S.-K. Han, and T. Montgomery. 2016. Logistics of biomass recovery operations to utilize forest residues for energy production. Poster presented at BRDI Annual Project Meeting, April 20-21, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Han, H.-S., W. Chung, and L. Wells. 2015. A mathematical approach to biomass feedstock logistics problems. In Proceedings of the 2015 Council on Forest Engineering, July 19-22, Lexington, KY.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Han, H.-S., W. Chung, and L. Wells. 2016. Optimizing biomass feedstock logistics: Slash forwarding vs. in-woods grinding? Presented at the Final RMRS-BRDI Project Meeting, April 19-22, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hogland, J., and N. Anderson. 2014. Improved analyses using function datasets and statistical modeling. Proceedings in ESRI User Conference. San Diego, CA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hogland, J., N. Anderson, and G. Jones. 2013. Function modeling: Improved raster analysis through delayed reading and function raster datasets. Forest Operations for a Changing Environment. Proceedings of the Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, July 7-10, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hogland, J., N. Anderson, W. Chung, and L. Wells. 2014. Estimating forest characteristics using NAIP imagery and ArcObjects. Proceedings in ESRI User Conference. San Diego, CA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and D.S. Page-Dumroese. 2014. Long-term planted seedling responses to forest biomass utilization intensity in the Northern Rockies. XXIV IUFRO World Congress, Oct. 5-11, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, and Society of American Foresters National Convention, Salt Lake City, UT, Oct. 6-11, 2014.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and D.S. Page-Dumroese. 2014. Segmented polynomial regression provides best predictive model for Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir Bark thickness following four biomass harvest utilization treatments. Montana Society of American Foresters State Meeting, Missoula, MT, April 11. Poster presentation by W. Jang.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and D.S. Page-Dumroese. 2015. Seedling Responses to Biomass Extraction in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA: Indicators of Forest Productivity Impacts. Montana Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting: Effective Forest Practices for Todays Resource Challenges, April 10-11, Whitefish, MT. Poster presentation by W. Jang.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and T.E. Perry. 2013. Long-term biomass harvesting effects on forest productivity under three silvicultural systems in the northern Rocky Mountains. In Proceedings of the 36th Annual Meeting of the Council on Forest Engineering. July 8-10, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and D.S. Page-Dumroese. 2015. Long-term Impacts of Intensive Forest Biomass Utilization on Understory Shrub Vegetation. 2015 Society of American Foresters National Convention. Baton Rouge, LA. 3-7 Nov 2015. Oral presentation by W. Jang.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and T.E. Perry. 2012. Consequences of Biomass Harvesting on Forest Condition and Productivity in Northern Rocky Mountain Forests. Society of American Foresters National Convention, Oct 25-27, Spokane, WA, 25-27. Poster presentation by W. Jang.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and T.E. Perry. 2013. Impact of biomass harvesting on forest productivity and species composition in northern Rockies. Society of American Foresters National Convention, Charleston, SC.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Keyes, C.R., C.P. Matt, and R.K. Dumroese. 2016. Summary of Biochar Amendment Effects on Greenhouse Propagated Native Plant Seedling Growth and Water Use. Annual Biomass Research and Development Initiative Meeting, April 20, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Jang, W., D. Page-Dumroese & C.R. Keyes. 2014. Indicators of Biomass Harvesting Effects on Northern Rocky Mountain Mixed Conifer Forest Condition and Productivity. Annual Biomass Research and Development Initiative Meeting, Feb. 26, Charlotte, NC.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jenkins, K.J., C.R. Keyes, and S.M. Hood. 2016. Effectiveness and Longevity of Ponderosa Pine Fuels Reduction Treatments at Lick Creek Demonstration/Research Forest, Montana. Annual Biomass Research and Development Initiative Meeting, April 19, Missoula, MT. Poster presentation by K.J. Jenkins.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Keyes, C.R. 2012. Consequences of Biomass Harvesting on Forest Condition and Productivity. C.R. Keyes. Annual Biomass Research and Development Meeting, Oct. 10, Spokane, WA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Keyes, C.R., D. Page-Dumroese, W. Jang, and K.A. Clyatt. 2015. Biomass Harvesting Impacts on Forest Condition & Productivity in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Annual Biomass Research and Development Initiative Meeting, Feb. 19, Baton Rouge, LA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Keyes, C.R., D.S. Page-Dumroese, W. Jang, K.A. Clyatt, H.C. Anderson, and K.J. Jenkins BRDIs-Eye View of Biomass Harvesting Impacts on Northern Rocky Mountains. 2016 Annual Biomass Research and Development Initiative Meeting, April 21, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Kizha, A.R., H.-S. Han, and J. Bisson. 2014. Actual amounts of biomass recovered from whole-tree vs. tree-length harvest operations. Conference Proceeding, 37th Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting. Moline, IL.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Kizha, A.R., H.-S. Han, and N. Anderson. 2016. Machine activities and interaction at the landing in a cable yarding operation. Forest Products Society International Convention, June 27-29, Portland, OR.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Mai, K. Fe-based Fischer Tropsch synthesis of biomass-derived syngas: Effect of synthesis method. ENFL-472, 249th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, March 22-26, 2015, Denver, CO.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Matt, C.P., C.R. Keyes, R.K. Dumroese, and A.J. Larson. 2015. An Assessment of Biochar-Amended Soilless Media for the Nursery Propagation of Rocky Mountain Native Plants. Montana Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting: Effective Forest Practices for Todays Resource Challenges, April 10-11, Whitefish, MT. Poster presentation by C.P. Matt.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Matt, C.P., C.R. Keyes, R.K. Dumroese, and A.J. Larson. 2015. An Assessment of Biochar-Amended Soilless Media for the Nursery Propagation of Rocky Mountain Native Plants. University of Montana Graduate Student Research Conference, April 18, Missoula, MT. Poster presentation by C.P. Matt.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: McCollum, D.W. 2011. Biochar from woody biomass: Uses and potential uses of biochar. Presented at Biomass to Biochar: What are the Possibilities? Symposium sponsored by The Mineral County Challenge. March 21, St. Regis, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: McCollum, D.W. 2011. Biochar from woody biomass: Utilizing forest treatment & mill residues. Biochar-Related Research at the Rocky Mountain Research Station. Presented at Rocky Mountain Biochar Initiative meeting, January 26, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: McCollum, D.W. 2011. Participated in panel discussion for Emerging Uses of Biochar session at symposium sponsored by The Mineral County Challenge. March 21, St. Regis, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: McCollum, D.W., M. Tabatabaei, and J. B. Loomis. 2016. Social acceptability of biomass removal and utilization. Paper presented at BRDI Annual Project Meeting, April 20-21, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: McCollum, D.W., M. Tabatabaei, and J. B. Loomis. 2016. Social acceptability of biomass removal and utilization. Poster presented at BRDI Annual Project Meeting, April 20-21, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: McCollum, D.W., M. Tabatabaei, and J.B. Loomis. 2016. Social acceptability of biomass removal and utilization. Paper presented at Western Forest Economists Annual Meeting, May 2-4, Seattle, WA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: McCollum, D.W., N.M. Anderson, and J. Levine. Economic development potential resulting from woody biomass utilization: A pyrolysis-based production facility in a rural county. 2014 International Biomass Conference and Exposition, Orlando, FL. (poster)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: McCollum, D.W., N.M. Anderson, and J. Levine. 2016. Economic development potential resulting from woody biomass utilization: A pyrolysis-based production facility in a rural county. Poster presented at BRDI Annual Project Meeting, April 20-21, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Page-Dumroese, D.S. 2014. Biochar: Trials, errors, and successes! Presented to the Nevada Biochar Working Group, Las Vegas, NV.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: McCollum, D.W., N.M. Anderson, and J. Levine. 2016. Economic development potential resulting from woody biomass utilization: A pyrolysis-based production facility in a rural county. Poster presented at: Western Forest Economists Annual Meeting, May 2-4, Seattle, WA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Montgomery, T.D., and H.-S. Han. 2013. A GIS-based method for locating and planning centralized biomass grinding operations. Session 5A: Woody Biomass Systems. In Proceedings of the 36th Annual Meeting of the Council on Forest Engineering, July 8-10, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Page-Dumroese, D.S. 2013. Using biochar to sequester carbon and reduce climate change impacts. CFAR presentation to U.S. Senate and House natural resource staff.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Page-Dumroese, D.S. 2014. Environmental impacts and site sustainability of biomass-for-bioenergy harvest operations. XXIV IUFRO World Congress, 5-11 October, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Page-Dumroese, D.S. 2014. Waste to wisdom: using biochar to improve site productivity and reduce fire risk. USDA Forest Service RMRS Fire Lab Seminar, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Page-Dumroese, D.S. 2016 Changes in wood decomposition associated with biochar applications. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. April 2016. Portland, OR.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Rhee, H., W. Elliot, and I.S. Miller. 2016. Impacts of biomass operations on soil erosion. Poster presented at the Final RMRS BRDI Project Meeting, 20 April, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Rhee, H., W. Elliot, I. Miller, K. Pilgrim, and F. Galvez Vaca. 2012. Impacts of biomass operations on sediment production in central Idaho. Poster presented at the SAF National Convention, Oct. 24-26, Spokane, WA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Rhee, H., W.J. Elliot, and I.S. Miller. 2014. Impacts of biomass operations on soil erosion. Poster presented at the XXIV IUFRO World Congress, Oct. 5-11, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Sharma, P., K. Mai, T. Elder, L. Groom, and J. Spivey. 2013. Effect of different structural promoters on Fe/Cu/K Fischer Tropsch catalyst conversion of biomass derived syngas. American Chemical Society, Indianapolis, IN.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Sharma, P., T. Elder, L. Groom, et al. 2013. Effect of different structural promoters on Fe/Cu/K Fisher-Tropsch catalysts conversion of biomass-derived syngas. Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society. Volume: 246 Meeting Abstract: 16-ENFL.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Sharma, P., M. Ali, M. Aldossary, M. Ojeda, M. Gupta, J. Fierro, and J.Spivey. 2012. Effect of Cu/Ru promotion on an Fe/Ca/K catalyst. Americal Chemical Society, Philadelphia, PA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Sharma, P., T. Elder, L. Groom, et al. 2013. Effect of different structural promoters on Fe/Cu/K Soil disturbance, slash piles, and biochar: maintaining site productivity during bioenergy harvests. 2013. Presented to the University of Idaho Forest Ecosystem class.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Tabatabaei, M., J.B. Loomis, and D.W. McCollum. 2014. A comparison of non-market benefits of reducing forest fire risk from removal of dead trees: Burn on-site vs. conversion to biochar. Presented at: Western Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meetings, June, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Wang, Z., K. Mai, T. Elder, L.H. Groom and J.J. Spivey. 2016. Effect of water over iron-based catalysts for Fischer Tropsch synthesis using biomass-derived syngas. 251st ACS National Meeting, March 12-17, San Diego, CA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Wells, L.A., J. Hogland, N. Anderson, and W. Chung. 2013. Landscape scale estimation of forest treatment residue for bioenergy production. Poster presented at the 3rd IUFRO Latin American Congress, June 12-15, San Jose, Costa Rica.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Wells, L.A., N. Anderson, and W. Chung. 2013. A remote sensing approach to estimating forest treatment residue for alternative operational configurations on the Uncompahgre Plateau, Colorado, USA. Forest Operations for a Changing Environment. Proceedings of the Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, July 7-10, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Wells, L.A., W. Chung, N. Anderson, and J. Hogland. 2015. Estimating bioenergy feedstock supply and delivered costs. In Proceedings of the 2015 Council on Forest Engineering, July 19-22, Lexington, KY.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Wells, L.A., W. Chung, N. Anderson, and J. Hogland. 2016. Estimating bioenergy feedstock supply and delivered costs. Presented at the Final RMRS-BRDI Project Meeting, April 19-22, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Windell, K., and J. Halbrook. Biochar pellet spreader. 2015. Presented Power Point at Annual BRDI Co-PI meeting, Feb. 18-19, Baton Rouge, LA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Windell, K., and J. Halbrook. 2012. Some high production equipment to distribute pelletized biochar on logging skid trails. Presented power point at annual BRDI Co-PI meeting, Oct. 10-11, Spokane, WA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Windell, K., and J. Halbrook. 2014. Biochar pellet spreader for skid trails. Presented Power Point at Annual BRDI Co-PI meeting Feb. 26-27, Charlotte, NC.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Windell, K., and J. Halbrook. 2016. Development and use of a commercial scale biochar spreader. Poster presented at BRDI Annual Project Meeting, April 20-21, 2016.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Zhang, H., and K. Englund. 2015 Use of energetic parameters to understand the compaction behavior of biochar and Douglas fir residuals. International Wood Composite Symposium, Seattle WA. April 21-22.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Zhang, H.W. and K. R. Englund. 2016. Study the consolidation behavior of biochar with Douglas fir slash by use of several compaction equations and specific energy consumption. Poster presented at BRDI Annual Project Meeting, Missoula, MT, April 20-21, 2016.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Zhang, H.W., and K.R. Englund. 2016. Study the consolidation behavior of biochar with Douglas fir slash by use of several compaction equations and specific energy consumption. Poster presented at BRDI Annual Project Meeting, April 20-21, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Campbell, R. 2016. Evaluation of social preferences for woody biomass energy in the U.S. Mountain West. PhD Dissertation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Clyatt, K.A., 2016. Long-term impacts of fuel treatments on tree growth and aboveground biomass accumulation in Ponderosa Pine forests of the Northern Rocky Mountains. MS Thesis, University of Montana, April 29, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jang, W. 2015. Consequences of Biomass Harvesting on Forest Condition and Productivity in the Northern Rocky Mountains. PhD Dissertation, University of Montana, May 12, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Tabatabaei, M. 2014. Econometrics of market and non-market goods. Ph.D. Dissertation. Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Wells, L.A. 2013. Spatial distribution and quantification of forest treatment residues for bioenergy production. MS Thesis, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Young, J. 2015. Economic and policy factors driving the adoption of institutional woody biomass heating systems in the United States. MA Thesis. University of Montana, Department of Economics
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Elliot, W.J., and H. Rhee. 2014. Forest biomass utilization and watershed processes. Science Briefing. Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Available online at http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise/AWAE/briefing/AWAE_Science_Briefings-ForestBiomassUtilizationAndWatershedProcesses.pdf.
• Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gu, H., and R. Bergman. 2016. Comparative life cycle assessment of bio-based activated carbon and synthesis gas electricity to commercially available alternatives. Gen Tech Rep FPL-GTR-xxx. Madison, WI: USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and D.S. Page-Dumroese. 2015. Impact of biomass harvesting on forest soil productivity in the northern Rocky Mountains. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-341. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 35 p.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: McCollum, D.W., N.M. Anderson, and J. Levine. Economic development potential from biomass harvest and utilization. To be submitted as a Rocky Mountain Research Station Resource Bulletin.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Miller, S., M. Essen, N. Anderson, D. Page-Dumroese, D. McCollum, R. Bergman, and T. Elder. 2015. Burgeoning biomass: Creating efficient and sustainable forest biomass supply chains in the Rockies, Part II. Science You Can Use Bulletin, Issue 17. Fort Collins, CO: Rocky Mountain Research Station. 10 p.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Miller, S., M. Essen, N. Anderson, W. Chung, W. Elliot, D. Page-Dumroese, H.-S. Han, J. Hogland, and C. Keyes. 2014. Burgeoning biomass: Creating efficient and sustainable forest biomass supply chains in the Rockies. Science You Can Use Bulletin, Issue 13. Fort Collins, CO: Rocky Mountain Research Station. 10 p.
• Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Page-Dumroese D.S., S. Deborah, N.M. Anderson, K.N. Windell, and K. Jump. 2016. Development and use of a commercial scale biochar spreader. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-xxx. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. xx p.

Progress 05/01/14 to 04/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience: This project is disseminating new information, knowledge and applications developed from a wide range of studies to many different stakeholders. Science-based assessments of forest biomass feedstock production and new bioenergy technologies and associated co-products are essential tools for all stakeholders who are working to expand bio-based renewable energy production, including production of biofuels from biomass. Results generated in Technical Area 1, Feedstocks Development, will be especially relevant to land owners and managers, forest engineers and contractors, power plants and other conversion facilities, investors, and policy makers. Supervisors of U.S. National Forests are especially interested in high-resolution, individual-forest scale supply analysis and associated geospatial methods. Results in Technical Area 2, Conversion Technology Research and Development, are most relevant to pyrolysis and gasification entrepreneurs and investors, public and private researchers working on technology and product development, and those interested in biochar, specifically its use as a soil amendment and as a precursor in the manufacture of industrial sorbents and other carbon products. Technical Area 3, is focused on Biofuels Development Analysis, specifically sustainability. Life cycle assessments developed in this area of research will be useful to companies interested in manufacturing low carbon products and generating RIN/REC energy credits, policy makers looking to support such efforts, and individuals and firms evaluating the environmental impacts of the products they consume. Understanding the environmental impacts of biomass harvest is especially important to private and public landowners, foresters and other natural resource managers, policy makers, environmental NGOs, concerned citizens, and the scientific community. Quantifying soil, water and ecological impacts of biomass removal is explicitly important in meeting commitments to sustainable public lands stewardship and in following legal guidelines for such management. Economic and social science research will be particularly useful to local, state and national officials and agencies in understanding the potential impacts of expanding biomass utilization and associated industry expansion in their communities, but will also be useful to entrepreneurs and investors looking for communities in which to locate facilities, as well as land managers looking for markets for biomass to offset the cost of forest treatments. Other important audiences directly engaged by the project include regulatory agencies like the EPA, Indian tribes and Native American resource managers, students from high school to graduate level, and visitors to research sites and technology demonstrations. Changes/Problems: CHANGES Optimization models for woody biomass grinding operations using mixed-integer programming were not included in the original proposal of this project, but identified as a critical operational cost component of woody biomass feedstock production and supply. The Feedstocks Development team has added this new line of research. The original concept of a trailer mounted biochar pellet spreader towed by a grapple skidder was abandoned due to technical constraints, and the spreader was mounted directly onto a Timberjack 910 logging forwarder, with satisfactory results. Jump Trucking has added the fabrication of a long reach, road legal loader to the new biomass production system. Leveraging work in Coram Experimental Forest, the soils and forest ecosystem team has added complimentary research sites at Lick Creek Research/Demonstration Forest, Miller Creek Demonstration Forest, and Bitterroot National Forest. All personnel necessary to complete these additional project elements have been recruited and trained during the current reporting period. Econometric analysis of distributed scale bioenergy systems was changed to focus on biomass thermal systems instead of gasification and pyrolysis because of data constraints, i.e. small sample size and insufficient characterization of these systems in existing national coverage databases. Dr. Woodam Chung moved from the University of Montana to Oregon State University and Dr. Tyron Venn moved from the University of Montana to the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Both remain as Principal Investigators on the project. No other changes to report during this reporting period. PROBLEMS There were continued delays this year in the timing of forest operations research with the Coquille Tribe, but field data were finally collected in April 2015. Due to the short time remaining, the hydrology team will not be able to assess this research site as originally planned. The Jump Trucking field study was postponed again because the nested truck/trailer system has not been fabricated, in part due to changes in subcontractors and market conditions for biomass, and business challenges at Jump Trucking. Fabrication is expected to be complete before August 31, 2015, with field testing in the fall of 2015. After a successful demonstration phase, the Tucker RNG system was taken offline at ReVenture park pending redesign and installation of a new gas cleanup train that is better balanced with the system and will allow the unit to operate at full production capacity (1.2 MW production on a 1.6MW rated Caterpillar genset). Carbon activation trials with RBS were postponed in February 2015, and again in April 2015, because RBS and the U.S. Forest Service were unable to agree on contract terms. They are currently rescheduled for July 2015. A number of personnel changes have affected the project, including the departure of a PhD student and a postdoctoral research associate. No other problems to report this period. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This year, across all teams, the project has provided formal training, education and professional development opportunities for 8 graduate students, 4 post docs, 10 technical professionals and 3 undergraduate students who were supported directly by the grant. In addition, project principal investigators and graduate students have been engaged in a wide range of teaching, outreach and dissemination activities (see other sections of this report). Specific examples include: post-doc training on SimaPro LCA modeling software; development and implementation of undergraduate capstone course curricula for Forest Operations Analysis; graduate level training in field and laboratory research methods, data analysis, and advanced GIS applications; training for an undergraduate student in qualitative social science methods including interview transcription and analysis; training new graduate students on time and motion methods and down woody debris survey techniques; training in technical writing skills for graduate students; guest lectures and labs to first graders focused on electromagnetic spectrum and microscopes; graduate student training in remote sensing, statistical modeling, and machine learning techniques applied to GIS; similar training for spatial analysts and professionals in the National Forest System provided through multiple meetings and hands-on training sessions focused on function modeling, classification, and forest characteristics estimation; and presentations to managers and professionals through local and regional Society of American Foresters chapter meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Efforts to reach target audiences this year have focused mainly on presentations to academic, scientific, land management, and industry stakeholders at diverse conferences and meetings, and on the writing and publication of scientific manuscripts and other articles (see products list). Project status reports were given by all research teams at the annual BRDI meeting and research symposium at LSU.Dissemination in Year 4 includes 8 scientific journal articles, several book chapters, publications and webinars for practitioners, 15 articles in review or in preparation, 18 conference presentations and proceedings papers, 7 other oral presentations, a thesis, a dissertation, and a variety of web-based resources. Specific efforts of note this year include: two articles in a special issue of California Agriculture; three chapters prepared for a Cambridge University Press book on biochar supply chains and climate change mitigation; several presentations at the 2014 Council of Forest Engineering (COFE) Conference; five presentations at the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) 2014 World Congress; an RMRS Science You Can Use Bulletin and companion webinar for resource managers and stakeholders; and a number of invited presentations at international conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The project received a 1 year, no cost extension with a new end date of April 30, 2016. In project year 5, all co-PIs will be finishing field and laboratory work, data collection and analysis, and completing associated theses, articles, and research papers. The team will continue to present the results of this research to diverse audiences in workshops, meetings, symposia and other events. The capstone event of the project, the 2016 Final Project Meeting and Research Symposium, will take place on the University of Montana Campus in April 2016, and will include a team from the Multi-State Committee on Science and Engineering for a Biobased Industry and Economy to conduct a BRDI post-award site-visit and review. Year 5 will also include completion of the final project report, associated accounting documents, and close-out of all research joint venture agreements with RMRS and NIFA. In addition, specific Year 5 plans, arranged by Technical Area include: TECHNICAL AREA 1, Feedstocks Development: Conduct remaining field research on the productivity and cost of a loader under hot vs cold loading operation in Coquille, Oregon. Complete four manuscripts that are currently in different stages of development and review. Complete fabrication of the Jump Trucking nested truck and trailer prototype. Conduct field trials and operations research to quantify the productivity and costs of the high-speed grinder paired with the long reach loader and the nested truck/trailer system. Submit the feedstock supply model manuscript for publication. Develop and submit the second journal manuscript to present the MIP model developed to optimize grinding locations for cost-efficient biomass operations. Present the above research products at the Council on Forest Engineering Annual meeting to be held in July 2015. Incorporate the optimization model into graduate course materials. Apply new landscape-scale biomass estimation techniques to a statewide extent using statistical relationships between NAIP imagery and Landsat 8; develop new raster based delivered cost models to facilitate fine grained broad extent analysis. Publish associated papers on image normalization, sample design, and the RMRS Raster Utility, and conduct a regional conference and symposium related focused on "Big Data" techniques. TECHNICAL AREA 2, Conversion Technology Research and Development: Ship remaining biochar and feedstock to RMRS for analysis and storage and analyze system run data from 2014. More broadly, Tucker RNG is currently investing in a new gas clean up train and working with partners in the US and abroad to develop new commercial opportunities for this technology. Conduct carbon activation trials in Naperville, IL, in July 2015. Publish relevant articles in biomass and bioenergy trade journals, as well as scientific journals. Investigate the effect of steam on the activity and selectivity of Fe-based catalyst via FTS of biomass derived syngas. Publish and present the results of carbon activation and catalyst development. Complete and publish papers on biochar pelletization and present results at the International Biomass Conference in 2016. Complete spreader modifications to improve the pellet spread pattern and test the system on soil experiment sites using biochar pellets. Collaborate with other research institutions and private companies to further the research in the area of biochar utilization. TECHNICAL AREA 3, Biofuels Development Analysis: Collect and develop LCI data for activated carbon and complete the comparative life-cycle assessment between bio-based products of activated carbon to the fossil fuel-derived alternatives. Complete one additional season of fieldwork assessing erosion impacts of biomass utilization on two sites, and two seasons assessing impacts of canopy loss on snow accumulation and melt, and incorporate results into the WEPP erosion prediction tool. Collect operational data on mechanized biochar application, install biochar soil plots and controls, and evaluate the soil impacts of the spreading equipment, specifically soil disturbance and compaction during operations. Begin field assessment of biochar pellet application for site restoration, especially effects on soil properties. Submit all Coram Experimental Forest (CEF) products to research journals for review and publication; complete data collection, analysis, and manuscripts at Lick Creek sites; begin and complete study elements of smaller scope at Miller Creek Demonstration Forest and the Bitterroot National Forest; and promote science delivery to diverse project audiences for all completed project elements. Complete analysis of the choice modeling survey data, complete dissertation, and submit associated manuscripts for review and publication. Use the data acquired in Year 4 on costs and cost allocations of forest restoration and treatment activities to build regional economic models and estimate economic contributions of activities required to supply biomass as feedstock to produce biofuels and bioproducts. Populate financial models developed previously with production and cost data from the Tucker RNG system operation in 2014 at ReVenture Park, and publish results in a general technical report. Publish the results of the econometric study of distributed-scale biomass thermal systems. Complete the NFS science needs assessment and submit associated manuscript for review.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The research team held a successful project meeting and symposium in Baton Rouge, LA, in February, 2015. This event was held at LSU, and included a tour of the laboratories of the LSU Center for Atomic Level Catalyst Design and the Drax Biomass wood pellet storage and export facility. The research team also developed a two-part resource bulletin and companion webinar series focused on disseminating the results of the project to stakeholders and practitioners in the field. This year the logistics team pivoted to focus on dissemination, including preparing manuscripts for publication and delivering presentations (see products). One field operations study remains in 2015 - a field study comparing hot versus cold biomass loading operations in Coquille, Oregon. The logistics team conducted final field data collection on this study in April 2015. The high-speed mobile grinder prototype designed and fabricated by Jump Trucking Inc., is currently deployed in the field for slash grinding. In Year 4, Jump Trucking was engaged in forwarder modification and field tests of in-woods biochar pellet spreading equipment. This work included field deployment of a forwarder-mounted biochar pellet spreading system at Lubrecht Experimental Forest in Montana. Jump Trucking experienced continued delays in fabricating the nested truck prototype, but moved forward on the fabrication of a long reach biomass loader, which is currently being modified to further extend its reach for roadside slash collection. The spatial analysis team completed a journal manuscript describing a new spatial feedstock supply model, stand delineation algorithm, and the results of feedstock supply chain simulation under different management scenarios for a study area in Colorado. This team also: developed detailed feedstock supply surfaces for multiple study areas; further developed base code to perform statistical, spatial, and GIS modeling using the ArcGIS RMRS Raster Utility tool bar; and developed a prototype optimization model using a mixed-integer programming approach to determine the least-cost logistics for grinding operations. GIS datasets are now publically available on a data hosting site. TEA and RNG successfully demonstrated the use of Tucker RNG System producer gas from wood feedstock to fuel a 1.6 MW Caterpillar generator at ReVenture Park, Charlotte, NC. The system was connected to the grid and produced electricity under a renewable power purchase agreement for six months. Following this successful demonstration phase, the Tucker RNG team packaged and shipped biochar to RMRS in Moscow, ID, for use in biochar soil amendment studies and biochar activation trials, which were delayed this spring due to ongoing contract negotiations between the U.S. Forest Service and RBS. In addition to Tucker RNG biochar, this team is working with Confluence Energy and Biochar Solutions Incorporated (BSI) to test two other wood-feedstock biochars for activation performance. The three chars will be activated and compared to one another for commercial potential. Development of catalysts for production of liquid fuels and chemicals from wood biomass syngas advanced significantly this year. Results show that the coprecipitated catalyst under development has a slightly higher carbon conversion rate (18.2% versus 14.4%) and C5+ selectivity (60% versus 56%) than the impregnated catalyst. The results of this study were published in Catalysis Communication journal and will be presented at 249th ACS Annual Meeting in Denver. This year the biochar pelletization team produced over 1,500 lbs of biochar pellets for use in soil amendment studies. The manufacture of these pellets included the in-woods chipping of over 1000 lbs of slash at the University of Idaho Experimental Forest, formulation of slash and biochar pellet mixes, and manufacture of pellets on an industrial pellet mill. The pellets were stored in bulk bags and transported to the Lubrecht Forest for the pellet spreading trial in November of 2014. The pellet team also developed and refined a new test apparatus for obtaining the compressive and frictional forces during single pellet consolidation. The results from this work are presented in an upcoming manuscript to be published in 2016. The equipment development team was responsible for significant progress in operationalizing equipment and methods for biochar application on forested sites. A Swenson Model V-150 spreader with 9-foot hopper was selected, modified, and mounted on an OSSO/Timberjack 910 logging forwarder in cooperation with Jump Trucking. A removable precipitation cover was also developed and installed on the hopper, and the log loading boom on the forwarder was modified so it could be used to load the hopper from bulk bags. The biochar spreader was initially tested at MTDC in Missoula, MT, using commercial wood pellets as a proxy for biochar pellets. A field test was conducted at Lubrecht Experimental Forest, with over-the-snow logging conditions on Nov. 14 and 15, 2014. Commercial wood pellets were used to calibrate the spreader and conduct some machine stability trials on typical forwarder logging terrain. The LCA team categorized the environmental outputs and cumulative energy consumption for the secondary bio-based products of synthesis gas (syngas) electricity. They also compared the environmental impacts for syngas electricity to coal and natural gas electricity with special emphasis on the net GHG balance using LCA. This comparison incorporated estimates of the direct carbon benefits of sequestering co-product biochar in soil. The team's work in year 5 will be focused on LCA of activated carbon and dissemination of results. The hydrology team measured sediment delivery and soil hydraulic conductivity on both disturbed and undisturbed areas on the third and final study site where biomass had been removed for utilization. The online interface of the sediment prediction tool was integrated into existing WEPP tools and published online. Continuing the Coram Experimental Forest studies conducted by the soil and vegetation team, all field data have been collected and all laboratory analyses are complete. Data analysis of vegetation and soil responses were completed for most study elements; manuscripts were developed and prepared for review; and outreach efforts were performed at several venues. A study plan was developed for the Lick Creek Demonstration Research Forest sites; new personnel were recruited; existing site and treatment literature were collected; site logistics and access issues were resolved; treatment unit boundaries and all original study plot locations were located and marked; and one full season of data collection was completed. The economics team has finished conducting the bi-modal, bi-lingual choice modeling survey, and is currently analyzing the data and preparing manuscripts for publication. This team also completed an econometric study of distributed scale biomass systems, with two manuscripts being prepared for publication. Regarding the science needs assessment, a total of 34 interviews of National Forest employees currently engaged in the forest planning process in Region 1 are complete. Data analysis is on-going and is approximately forty percent complete. In cooperation with the FS Forest Products Laboratory, the economics team is using data from the Tucker RNG system to populate financial models of system performance that were completed previously. An economic valuation study of forest thinning and restoration projects to improve forest health and reduce fuel loading was carried out--including survey design and administration, data analysis, and reporting of results in the form of a journal article. The study compared preferences for the current level of forest thinning, an increased level of thinning and on-site burning, and an increased level of thinning with thermal conversion.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Kizha, A. R., H.-S. Han, T.D. Montgomery, and A. Hohl. In press. Determining cost zones and hot spots for procuring feedstock for woody biomass-based power plants in northern California. California Agriculture Journal, Special issue of on Forests and Bioenergy (In press, Manuscript ID CalAg-0159.R3).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Loeffler, D., N. Anderson, T. Morgan, and C. Sorenson. Accepted, revisions pending. Onsite energy consumption at softwood sawmills in Montana. Forest Products Journal.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Jarvis, J., D. Page-Dumroese D., N. Anderson, Y. Corillo, and R.P. Rodgers. 2014. Characterization of fast pyrolysis products generated from several western USA woody species. Energy & Fuels 28: 6438-6446.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Kim, D., N. Anderson, and W. Chung. In press, available online. Financial performance of a mobile pyrolysis system used to produce biochar from sawmill residues. Forest Products Journal.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Mai, K., T. Elder, L. Groom, and J. Spivey. 2015. Fe-based Fischer Tropsch synthesis of biomass-derived syngas: Effect of synthesis method. Catalysis Communications 65:76-80.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Page-Dumroese D., P. Robichaud, R. Brown, and J. Tirocke. 2015. Water repellency of two forest soils after biochar additions. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Journal 58: 1-8.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Tabatabaei, M., J. Loomis, and D. McCollum. 2015. Non-market benefits of reducing environmental effects of potential wildfires in beetle-killed trees: A contingent valuation study. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, DOI: 10.1080/10549811.2015.1034282
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Thompson, M., and N. Anderson. In press. Modeling fuel treatment impacts on suppression cost savings: State-of-the-art. California Agriculture Journal, Special issue of on Forests and Bioenergy (In press, Manuscript ID CalAg-0156.R2).
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Keefe, R., N. Anderson, J. Hogland and K. Muhlenfeld. 2014. Woody Biomass Logistics. Chapter 14 in Cellulosic Energy Cropping Systems (D.L. Karlen, Editor), John Wiley & Sons, West Sussex, UK.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Miller, S., M. Essen, N. Anderson, W. Chung, W. Elliot, D. Page-Dumroese, H-S Han, J. Hogland, and C. Keyes. 2014. Burgeoning biomass: Creating efficient and sustainable forest biomass supply chains in the Rockies. Science You Can Use Bulletin, Issue 13. Fort Collins, CO: Rocky Mountain Research Station. 10 p.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Tabatabaei, M. 2014. Econometrics of Market and Non-Market Goods. Ph.D. Dissertation. Colorado State University, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Young, J. 2015. Economic and policy factors driving the adoption of institutional woody biomass heating systems in the United States. MA Thesis. University of Montana, Department of Economics.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Anderson, N., R. Bergman, and D. Page-Dumroese. 2015, in review. Chapter 2: A supply chain approach to biochar systems. Biochar: A regional supply chain approach in view of climate change mitigation. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, United Kingdom.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bergman, R., H. Gu, D. Page-Dumroese, and N. Anderson. 2015, in review. Chapter 3: Life cycle analysis of biochar. Biochar: A regional supply chain approach in view of climate change mitigation. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, United Kingdom.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bisson, J.A., S.K. Han, H.-S. Han. 2014. Evaluating the system logistics of a biomass recovery operation in northern California. (Manuscript #: FPJ-D-14-00071R3)
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Clement, J., N. Anderson, T. Cheng and P. Motley. In review. Framing the discourse of forest restoration and biomass utilization in Colorado using Q-methodology. Energy and Social Science.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Hogland, J., and N. Anderson. In review. Bringing images to a common radiometric scale using Aggregate No Change Regression: An accurate and easy to use technique. Remote Sensing and Environment.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and J.M. Graham. In review. Evaluation of predictive models for Douglas-fir bark thickness following 12 biomass harvest treatments. Forest Science.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Kizha. A. R. and H.-S. Han. In review. Actual Biomass Recovered: Comparing Whole-Tree and Tree-Length harvesting methods. Biomass and Bioenergy (Manuscript #: JBB-S-15-00046).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Kizha. A. R. and H.-S. Han. Developing allometric equation for Coastal Redwood. Journal of Forestry (Manuscript#: FS-14-227 under review)
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Page-Dumroese, D., et al. 2015, in review. Opportunities and uses of biochar on forest sites in North America. Chapter 15: Life cycle analysis of biochar. Biochar: A regional supply chain approach in view of climate change mitigation. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, United Kingdom.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Anderson, N. 2014. Forest biomass supply chains: The ultimate Rorschach test for the forest industry. International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), SP-14 Energy from trees: Technology, opportunities, and challenges Sub-Plenary Session, XXIV IUFRO World Congress, 5 -11 October, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Anderson, N. 2015. Cutting edge production and supply systems for biomass for energy in North America. In Forest Residue (INFRES) Conference, Rome, Italy.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bergman R. and H. Gu. 2014. GHG profile of an advanced pyrolysis unit using woody biomass. XXIV IUFRO World Congress, 5 -11 October, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bergman, R., and H. Gu. 2015. Life-cycle impacts of producing activated carbon from biochar. In: Proceedings from Life Cycle Assessment XV Conference. October 6-8, 2015. Vancouver, BC.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bergman, R., and H. Gu. 2014. Life-cycle inventory analysis of bio-products from a modular advanced biomass pyrolysis system. In: Proceedings, Society of Wood Science and Technology 57th International Convention. June 23-27, 2014. Zvolen, Slovakia: 405-415.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Gu, H., and R. Bergman. 2015. Life-cycle GHG emissions of electricity from syngas by pyrolyzing woody biomass. In: Proceedings, Society of Wood Science and Technology 58th International Convention. June 7-12, 2015. Jackson Hole, WY.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Anderson, N. 2014. Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast: Solving Real-World Problems for Forest Bioenergy in the West. University of Montana, College of Forestry and Conservation, Graduate Seminar, Missoula, MT October 24, 2014
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Anderson, N. 2014. Efficient and Sustainable Forest Biomass Supply Chains in the Rocky Mountain West. Bioenergy Alliance Network of the Rockies Webinar Series, December 10, 2014.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Anderson, N. 2015. Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast: Solving Real-World Problems for Forest Bioenergy in the West. Oregon State University, College of Forestry Seminar, September 29, 2014.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Anderson, N., D. Page-Dumroese, H-S Han, and J. Hogland. 2015. Burgeoning biomass: Creating efficient and sustainable forest biomass supply chains in the Rockies. RMRS Science You Can Use Webinar, December 5, 2014.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Chung, W. 2015. Woody Biomass Supply Chain. Invited Special Lecture Series, Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb, March 18, 2015, Zagreb, Croatia.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hogland, J., N. Anderson, W. Chung, and L. Wells. 2014. Estimating forest characteristics using NAIP imagery and ArcObjects. Proceedings in ESRI User Conference. San Diego, CA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hogland, J., and N. Anderson. 2014. Improved analyses using function datasets and statistical modeling. Proceedings in ESRI User Conference. San Diego, CA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and D. Page-Dumroese. 2014. Long-Term Planted Seedling Responses to Forest Biomass Utilization Intensity in the Northern Rockies. XXIV IUFRO World Congress, 5 -11 October, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, and Society of American Foresters National Convention, Salt Lake City, UT, 6-11 Oct 2014.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes, and D. Page-Dumroese. 2014. Segmented Polynomial Regression Provides Best Predictive Model for Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir Bark Thickness Following Four Biomass Harvest Utilization Treatments. Montana Society of American Foresters State Meeting, Missoula, MT, 11 April 2014. Poster presentation by W. Jang.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Mai, K. Fe-based Fischer Tropsch synthesis of biomass-derived syngas: Effect of synthesis method. ENFL-472, 249th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, March 22-26, 2015, Denver, CO.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Page-Dumroese, D. 2014. Environmental impacts and site sustainability of biomass-for-bioenergy harvest operations. XXIV IUFRO World Congress, 5 -11 October, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Rhee, H., W.J. Elliot and I.S. Miller. 2014. Impacts of Biomass Operations on Soil Erosion. Poster presented at the XXIV IUFRO World Congress, 5 -11 October, 2015, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Zhang, H., and K. Englund. 2015 Use of energetic parameters to understand the compaction behavior of biochar and Douglas fir residuals. International Wood Composite Symposium, Seattle WA. April 21-22.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bisson, J.A., S.K. Han, and H.-S. Han. 2014. Evaluating the system logistics of a biomass recovery operation in northern California. Conference Proceeding, 37th Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting. Moline, Illinois.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Han, H., W. Chung, and L. Wells. 2015. A Mathematical Approach to Biomass Feedstock Logistics Problems. To be presented at the 2015 Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, Louisville, KY.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Kizha. AR, H-S Han and J Bisson. 2014. Actual amounts of biomass recovered from whole-tree vs. tree-length harvest operations. Conference Proceeding, 37th Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting. Moline, Illinois.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Wells, L.A., W. Chung, N.M. Anderson, and J.S. Hogland. Estimating Bioenergy Feedstock Supply and Delivered Costs. To be presented at the 2015 Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, Louisville, KY.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hogland, J., R. Ahl, and N. Anderson. 2014. Using the RMRS Raster Utility toolbar to estimate forest characteristics. Workshop held in Missoula MT.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Page-Dumroese, D. 2014. Waste to wisdom: using biochar to improve site productivity and reduce fire risk. USDA Forest Service RMRS Fire Lab Seminar, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Elliot, W.J. and H. Rhee. 2015. WEPP Biomass: Biomass Utilization Impacts on Soil Erosion Analysis. Online at http://forest.moscowfsl.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/. Accessed 1 May, 2015.
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Hogland, J., N. Anderson, and J.G. Jones. 2014 updates. RMRS Raster Utility for Geospatial Analysis. Online suite of GIS tools for spatial analysis of natural resources.
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: RMRS (2014). RMRS Raster Utility code repository, Accessed online: https://collab.firelab.org/software/projects/rmrsraster , last accessed 5/6/2014.

Progress 05/01/13 to 04/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: This project is disseminating new information, knowledge and applications developed from a wide range of studies to many different stakeholders. Science-based assessments of forest biomass feedstock production and new bioenergy technologies and associated co-products are essential tools for all stakeholders who are working to expand bio-based renewable energy production, including production of biofuels from biomass. Results generated in Technical Area 1, Feedstocks Development, will be especially relevant to land owners and managers, forest engineers and contractors, power plants and other conversion facilities, investors, and policy makers. Supervisors of U.S. National Forests are especially interested in high-resolution, individual-forest scale supply analysis and associated geospatial methods. Results in Technical Area 2, Conversion Technology Research and Development, are most relevant to pyrolysis and gasification entrepreneurs and investors, public and private researchers working on technology and product development, and those interested in biochar, specifically its use as a soil amendment and as a precursor in the manufacture of industrial sorbents and other carbon products. Technical Area 3, is focused on Biofuels Development Analysis, specifically sustainability. Life cycle assessments developed in this area of research will be useful to companies interested in manufacturing low carbon products and generating RIN/REC energy credits, policy makers looking to support such efforts, and individuals and firms evaluating the environmental impacts of the products they consume. Understanding the environmental impacts of biomass harvest is especially important to private and public landowners, foresters and other natural resource managers, policy makers, environmental NGOs, concerned citizens, and the scientific community. Quantifying soil, water and ecological impacts of biomass removal is explicitly important in meeting commitments to sustainable public lands stewardship and in following legal guidelines for such management. Economic and social science research will be particularly useful to local, state and national officials and agencies in understanding the potential impacts of expanding biomass utilization and associated industry expansion in their communities, but will also be useful to entrepreneurs and investors looking for communities in which to locate facilities, as well as land managers looking for markets for biomass to offset the cost of forest treatments. Other important audiences directly engaged by the project include regulatory agencies like the EPA, Indian tribes and Native American resource managers, students from high school to graduate level, and visitors to research sites and technology demonstrations. Efforts to reach these audiences in project year 3 have focused mainly on presentations to academic, scientific, land management, and industry stakeholders in diverse conferences and meetings, and on the writing and publication of scientific manuscripts and other articles (see products list). Specific efforts this year include: three published peer-reviewed papers; five papers presented at the 2013 Council of Forest Engineering Conference in Missoula, MT; participation in the 2013 Shell Energy Venture Camp held at LSU's Chemical Engineering Department for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders; presentations at the spring 2014 Illinois Biochar Group (IBC) meeting and 2013 Midwest Biochar Conference held by the IBC in conjunction with the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center at the University of Illinois with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a co-organizer; two presentations at the 2014 International Biomass Conference; a presentation at the Woody Biomass LCA Workshop in Washington D.C., which was sponsored by the U.S. DOE; engagement with both the NARA and BANR AFRI-CAP projects, including presentations at meeting of those projects; presentations at the Northwest Wood-Based Biofuels and Co-Products Conference in Seattle; participation in logger education workshops (LEAP); three presentations at the Korea Forest Research Institute, Forest Practices Research Center, in Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea; one presentation at the Fourth Annual Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference; presentations at the 2013 annual meeting of the Society of American Foresters; and three BRDI project workshops held by the economics research team in Missoula, Denver and Flagstaff. Additional efforts include: updates to two project websites; presentations to land managers in MT, ID, UT, and NV, including presentations to local Tribes, private landowners, students, public land managers (e.g. FS, BLM, BIA, state agencies), and others; many presentations and lectures to college-level classes and field tours; additional presentations at other meetings, symposia and workshops not listed above; and preparation and publication of articles in research bulletins and newsletters. Changes/Problems: The 2013 federal government shutdown had a significant effect on the research team this year. Both our annual project meeting and our participation in a research panel at the 2013 North American Biochar Conference were cancelled and several of the principal investigators had to cancel other meetings and presentations, including meetings with U.S. National Forest System stakeholders in Colorado. There were delays this year in the timing of forest operations research. The field research required for both the roll-off truck and biomass recovery studies was postponed one season due to operational restrictions from weather, wildfires and market condtions. The Jump Trucking prototype study was postponed because the new equipment had not been fabricated, in part due to changes in subcontractors and market conditions for biomass. The development of the redwood allometric equation was stalled due to a change in research staff. Delay in field research will require the team to complete two studies within a one-year period, rather than the one-per-year schedule previously described. Though ultimately successful, the upgrades to the Tucker RNG system and deployment of the technology to ReVenture Park is behind schedule. This has affected other parts of the project. The work on catalyst development has emphasized conversion of synthesis gas from a USDA-Forest Service biomass gasification unit, rather than the Tucker RNG system, and required a compression station capable of storing the gas at elevated pressures appropriate for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and processing. With regards to the pelletization research, no significant changes are needed, however the team is looking to quantify the energy consumption of the pelletizing process in greater detail. This is a new component of the project and will provide information that will aid in techno-economic analysis for future research and industrial collaboration. The current method of removing large bulky slash from the forest and chipping it is small quantities in the laboratory is very time consuming and in efficient. The team will purchase a medium sized commercial chipper that can be easily transported into the forest to solve this problem in the coming year. The original design of a trailer mounted spreader towed behind a grapple skidder was abandoned because of technical and cost constraints. Input from loggers on the trailer-mounted spreader design revealed they had concerns about control of the trailer on slopes and efficiently maneuvering it through the stand with a maximum payload of biochar pellets. The team has moved to a forwarder mounted concept described earlier in this report. Because of the change in direction of the catalyst development work, the LCA team will not be evaluating liquid bio-fuels from the Tucker RNG system for their environmental performance such as GHG reduction potential. Run data will not be available on the process of converting RNG gas to liquid biofuels, and the LCA will instead focus on gas output used for electricity and heat co-generation and on activated carbon made from biochar. The only problem encountered by the watershed processes group this past year has been the delay in harvesting the fourth site in Oregon. They are actively seeking an alternative site for data collection this year. The soils and forest ecosystem team has proposed to include an additional field site representing forest and biomass harvesting conditions that differ from and complement the field site at Coram Experimental Forest. The new Lick Creek Demonstration Research Forest site includes an array of forest treatments performed as part of an experiment conducted more than 20 years ago. Last reporting period, the economics team considered two separate surveys; one that estimated willingness to tradeoff co-benefits and costs of woody biomass energy generation against the woody biomass energy generated, and another that estimated preference for woody biomass energy versus fossil, nuclear and renewable energy alternatives. However, the team has decided to conduct a single survey that includes some additional background and attitudinal questions to understand the energy feedstock preferences of respondents within the one woody biomass energy survey. This approach will provide a preference ranking of energy feedstocks. No other changes or problems to report during this reporting period. No additional or special reporting requirements are needed as a result of these problems and changes. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Across all teams, the project has provided formal training, education and professional development for 11 graduate students, 3 post docs and 2 undergraduate students who were supported directly by the grant this year. In addition, project principal investigators have been engaged in a wide range of teaching, outreach and dissemination activities (see other sections of this report). Specific examples of training and professional development activities this year include: training in time and motion study and down woody debris survey techniques for a postdoc and graduate student researchers; training in technical writing skills for graduate students and professional staff; supplemental training in statistical analysis for graduate students; participation by students and technical staff in conferences and meetings; direct engagement with stakeholders at workshops and public meetings; training in laboratory techniques for catalyst development for graduate students and two post-doctoral research associates; participation in a career-oriented science camp for high-school students; workplace safety and first aid training for federal employees and cooperators; training for a post-doc in SimaPro LCA modeling software; training and career development in techniques to measure soil erosion and soil hydraulic conductivity for an international student intern from Ecuador; a field day for local students grades 6 to 12, their parents, and natural resource professionals, which was coordinated with SAF and focused on forestry and forest resiliency; training of one undergraduate research assistant in field research techniques; and training for an economics graduate student in forest management and policy and natural resource economics, particularly the skills needed to perform non-market valuation surveys. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? In February 2014, the project hired a full-time Program Coordinator to facilitate education, outreach, cooperation with Extension, and research dissemination activities across all research teams. Dissemination activities this year include: project status reports given by all research teams at the annual BRDI meeting and research symposium at ReVenture Park in Charlotte, NC; three published peer-reviewed papers; five presentations at the 2013 Council of Forest Engineering Conference; participation in the 2013 Shell Energy Venture Camp held at LSU's Chemical Engineering Department; presentations at the spring 2014 Illinois Biochar Group meeting and 2013 Midwest Biochar Conference; two presentations at the 2014 International Biomass Conference; a presentation at the Woody Biomass LCA Workshop in Washington D.C.; cross project participation in NARA and BANR AFRI-CAP meetings; presentations at the Northwest Wood-Based Biofuels and Co-Products Conference; participation in logger education workshops (LEAP); three presentations at the Korea Forest Research Institute, Forest Practices Research Center; one presentation at the Fourth Annual Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference; presentations at the 2013 annual meeting of the Society of American Foresters; workshops held in Missoula, Denver and Flagstaff; updates to two project websites; presentations to land managers in MT, ID, UT, and NV, including presentations to local Tribes, private landowners, students, public land managers; many presentations and lectures to college-level classes and field tours; additional presentations at other meetings, symposia and workshops; and preparation and publication of articles in research bulletins and newsletters. Unfortunately, participation by the research team in a research panel at the 2013 North American Biochar Symposium in Amherst, MA, was cancelled due to the federal government shut down. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? ALL TECHNICAL AREAS: In project year 4, all co-PIs will be continuing field and laboratory work, data collection and analysis, and pivoting to work on writing theses, articles, and research papers and continuing to present the results of this research to diverse audiences in workshops, meeting, symposia and other events. The project’s newly hired education and outreach coordinator will help facilitate these efforts. Specific plans this year include: TECHNICAL AREA 1, Feedstocks Development: Finish the fabrication of the Jump Trucking nested truck and trailer prototype. Conduct field trials and operations research to quantify the productivity and costs of the high-speed grinder paired with the new biomass trucking system. Conduct operations research with roll-off bin trucks in Coquille, Oregon, or a comparable research site and system if Coquille operations are not conducted this year. Complete five scientific journal manuscripts that are currently in progress, as well as reports that are tailored to forest contractors. Present this research at the 2014 COFE conference and other biomass energy conferences, both domestic and international. Finish and submit research papers focused on work in high resolution spatial modeling of feedstock supply, including papers on statistical methods for modeling forest characteristics using NAIP imagery, a case study on the Uncompahgre National Forest, and new methods for automated forest stand delineation, transportation network analysis, and biomass cost estimation. Repeat the methods used for the Uncompagre study on a new study area in Montana to operationalize these methods for widespread use and provide analysis that will guide biomass utilization in the northern Rocky Mountain region. Package and distribute the model, data and tools via the project website, workshops, and extension including presentingresults at least 5 conferences (e.g. ESRI ArcGIS user conference). TECHNICAL AREA 2, Conversion Technology Research and Development: Finish data and sample collection during the 1000 hour run of the Tucker RNG system. Finish connection of the system to the grid, and move the unit into continuous commercial operation. Use biochar output from Tricon feedstock as a precursor in industrial activation trials with Alstom Power. Publish relevant articles in biomass and bioenergy trade journals, as well as scientific journals. Continue work on catalyst development and report on the properties and performance of tin-based promoters for the conversion of biomass-based synthesis gas to liquid hydrocarbons. The team is now at a point in the research where it can start to publish and present the results of catalyst development. The pelletization team plans to have the first of three peer-reviewed journal articles out this year and will present at a biomass conference to disseminate results of the biochar pellet work. The team is also looking to collaborate with other research institutions and private companies to further the research in the area of biochar utilization. For in-field biochar applications, this year the team will: take delivery on the pellet spreader; design and fabricate an adapter to mount the spreader on the logging forwarder, and conduct field trials of the forwarder-mounted biochar spreader with biochar pellets at Lubrect Experimental Forest, MT. TECHNICAL AREA 3, Biofuels Development Analysis: Complete development of the LCI data for the chipping of whole trees into wood microchips. Collect and develop LCI data for the secondary bio-based products of electricity from gas and activated carbon from biochar. Start the comparative life-cycle assessment between bio-based products of syngas electricity and activated carbon to fossil fuel-derived alternatives. During the next year, sediment displacement will be measured on the three installed sites, one additional site will be installed, and monitoring equipment will be removed from the Idaho Site. The online erosion interface will be refined by increasing the amount of cover on treated sites. Plans include publication of key data and analysis in peer-reviewed journals. Assess the opportunity to add another field site for data collection to expand the range of applicability of data. Begin field assessment of a biochar pellet spreader and testing of site restoration success, especially effects on soil properties. Complete soil and vegetation field sampling at Coram Experimental Forest; continue with laboratory analysis of tissue samples; coordinate analyses with Co-PI Dumroese and advance the data analysis; begin outreach effort to increase awareness of the ongoing study and results; and disseminate the study’s primary research products. Formalize the analysis strategy employed at this site as an exportable methodology useful for other sites, and evaluate the feasibility of expanding the current research effort to include a second site, expanding the study beyond its originally proposed scope. The economics team with be conducting the choice modeling survey via a combination of web-based and postal surveys and analysis of the returned survey data will begin, with preliminary findings published in 2015. The economics team will also be completing the input-output analysis that is being used to examine potential economic benefits of distributed-scale conversion systems, and using production and cost data from the 1000 hour run of the Tucker RNG systems to populate financial models developed previously, generating new knowledge that can be used to evaluate the financial feasibility of deploying the system at small and medium-scale sawmills.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? ALL TECHNICAL AREAS: Successful RMRS-BRDI project meeting and symposium in Charlotte, NC, February, 2014. This event was held at ReVenture Park, a former Superfund site and brownfield redevelopment project that is the location of the first commercial deployment of the Tucker RNG technology. TECHNICAL AREA 1, Feedstocks Development: Completed data collection to determine the actual amount of biomass recovered from cut-to-length and tree length harvesting systems. Developed an allometric equation to estimate the amount of total above ground biomass for second growth redwood species. Developed additional equations to estimate height, volume, foliage, bole and branch weight from DBH. Conducted an analysis of secondary transportation from biomass supply points to power plants. Modeled feasible cost zones associated with transporting woody biomass from either timberlands or sawmills to end users. Evaluated regions of potential competition for wood residues. Finalized the modeling of work plan logistics for biomass recovery operations. Used a spatial analysis approach to model work plan logistics for centralized biomass recovery operations. Finalized research on system logistics of biomass recovery operations. Determined a stump-to-truck cost of $25.74 per bone dry ton (BDT) for an operation using innovative new equipment. Determined factors influencing collection, comminution, and transportation productivities. Conducted sensitivity analysis on travel distances for transport machines and provided information to estimate total production cost. Developed logistical information of the complete system to aid managers in identifying cost saving elements, adjusting upstream productivity to meet demand, and reducing the overall cost of a biomass recovery operation. Completed fabrication work on the high-speed, road-legal grinder prototype, and continued fabrication of the nested truck and trailer system prototype. Completed spatial analysis methodologies and successfully applied them to map biomass stocks and flows for the Uncompahgre National Forest, including model validation using 100 new fixed plot samples across the Uncompahgre Plateau. Model outputs have been synthesized to provide managers, stakeholders, and industry professionals with various maps, data layers and financial data to facilitate supply chain development. Through alternative management scenario simulations, region-specific constraints have been identified and available feedstock has been estimated for a range of delivered prices. TECHNICAL AREA 2, Conversion Technology Research and Development: Completed modifications and upgrades to the Tucker RNG system prototype at the Tucker Engineering Associates fabrication shop in Locust, NC. Successfully tested the prototype using microchips produced by Tricon Timber. Disassembled all systems and moved the unit and all system components to ReVenture Park in Charlotte, NC. Reassembled and installed the Tucker RNG system for commercial operation at ReVenture Park, including significant system upgrades and modifications that were not included in the original BRDI proposal. New system components include industrial high-capacity feedstock drying, a conveyor scale, a double-dump valve airlock, a redesigned tar cracking system, aqueous biochar quench and handling system, a new a Caterpillar 3520 genset, and other improvements that will allow the system to deliver over 1.0 MW of electricity and produce 10 to 15% (by dry weight) biochar in a low-dust environment. The team is now conducting a 1000 hours of operation to collect production data and samples for analysis. Forest biomass has also been successfully gasified in a pilot-scale system at SRS, and the resulting synthesis gas compressed in to gas cylinders for use in catalyst development. The biomass derived gas has been used to make liquid hydrocarbons, using a fixed-bed reactor and experimental catalysts. This work is important because it uses synthesis gas from biomass, rather than a mixture of representative laboratory gasses. As such, the full range of gas components and impurities are presented to the catalysts, making for a more realistic test of the system, and providing valuable data to guide commercialization. Successfully developed composite pellet formulations that use forest slash as a medium and binder for manufacturing pellets. This accomplishment provides another incentive for a mobile pyrolysis concept, by using locally available material as a binder to fabricate biochar pellets in the field. Characterized the influence that biochar pellet component composition has on the pelletizing process. This work identified the stresses developed when the materials are consolidated in the pellet die and their developed frictional energy when they are extruded out of the die. Created biochar pellet formulations that can easily be processed at a commercial scale and can maintain pellet quality prior to and during spreading. Completed extensive market search for pellet spreading technologies that can be modified for in-woods use. Selected a suitable pellet spreader and ordered for modification and testing in the field in summer 2014. Conducted an extensive search for a robust, low-ground pressure in-woods transportation means for the pellet spreader. A forwarder mounted design rather than as skidder pulled trailer design was selected. Made arrangements with industry collaborator Jump Trucking to obtain and modify a logging forwarder for mounting the pellet spreader. Scheduled field trials for summer 2014 in Lubrect Experimental Forest, MT. TECHNICAL AREA 3, Biofuels Development Analysis: Determined the mass and energy balances for the upgraded Tucker RNG system using wood microchips produced from western forest residues by Tricon Timber, LLC. Developed life-cycle inventory data for the Tucker RNG system. Collected and are currently developing LCI data for chipping whole trees into wood microchips. Measured sediment delivery and soil hydraulic conductivity on both disturbed and undisturbed areas on three study sites where biomass had been removed for utilization. Developed a beta erosion prediction tool to be integrated into existing WEPP tools. Field data on biomass harvest sites in Coram Experimental Forest have been collected and 95% of lab analyses are complete. Conducted measurement on planted trees in the clearcut unit and took 320 tree cores from retained trees and 118 tree cores from planted trees in the shelterwood unit. Took corresponding branch samples and sent them to the laboratory for nutrient analysis. Work is ongoing to put the pre- and immediate post-harvest data into a database for statistical comparisons. The team has produced summary data for soil samples, but advanced statistical analyses are not yet complete. Vegetation and soil data collection at Coram Experimental Forest is complete; data were entered and archived; preliminary data analyses have been completed. Additionally, exploration of a second feasible research site yielded a candidate for expanding the study to Lick Creek Demonstration Research Forest; Bitterroot National Forest, MT. The conversion technology team is in the process of collecting 1000 hours of production data to characterize the costs and productivity of the Tucker RNG system using wood microchips. Concurrent characterization of gas, emission and biochar output is ongoing. These data will be used populate financial models of system performance that were completed last year. The economics team has also made significant progress on choice modeling experiments, including: delineating the study area and target communities, conducting stakeholder workshops in three states, and designing the choice modeling survey instrument. The choice modeling survey is scheduled to be conducted in summer and fall 2014.

Publications

• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Elliot, W.J., and H. Rhee. 2014. Forest biomass utilization and watershed processes. Science Briefing. Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p. Online at < http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise/AWAE/briefing/AWAE_Science_Briefings-ForestBiomassUtilizationAndWatershedProcesses.pdf >
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hogland, J., N. Billor and N. Anderson. 2013. A comparison of standard maximum likelihood classification techniques and polytomous logistic regression. European Journal of Remote Sensing 46: 623-640.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Loeffler, D. and N. Anderson. 2014. Emissions tradeoffs associated with cofiring forest biomass with coal: A case study in Colorado, USA. Applied Energy 113: 67-77.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Sharma, P., T. Elder, L. Groom and J. J. Spivey. 2014. Effect of Structural Promoters on Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis of Biomass Derived Syngas. Topics in Catalysis. 57:526-537.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Wells, L. 2013. Spatial distribution and quantification of forest treatment residues for bioenergy production. MS Thesis, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2014 Citation: Kim, D., N. Anderson and W. Chung. In review. Financial performance of a mobile pyrolysis system used to produce biochar from sawmill residues. Submitted to Bioresource Technology.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2014 Citation: Thompson, M., and N. Anderson. Modeling fuel treatment impacts on suppression cost savings: State-of-the-art. Submitted to California Agriculture, special issue on Forests and Bioenergy.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Anderson, N. 2014. Empirical financial models to guide investment in distributed scale biomass conversion systems. Pyrolysis as a Waypoint on the Road to Higher Value Fuels and Chemicals, 2014 International Biomass Conference and Exposition, Orlando, FL.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Anderson, N. et al. 2014. Integration of sustainable biofuels and bioproducts production into forest industry supply chains using modular biomass gasification and carbon activation. Northwest Wood-Based Biofuels + Co-Products Conference, Seattle, WA (Poster).
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2014 Citation: Keefe, R., N. Anderson, J. Hogland and K. Muhlenfeld. In review by the Editor. Woody Biomass Logistics. Chapter 14 in Cellulosic Energy Cropping Systems (D.L. Karlen, Editor), John Wiley & Sons, West Sussex, UK.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, N., D. Kim and W. Chung. 2013. Financial analysis of a distributed scale pyrolysis conversion system used to produce biochar from forest biomass. International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Third Latin American Congress, San Jose, Costa Rica.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, N., W. Chung, D. Page-Dumroese, W. Perez, Z. Gu and D. McCollum. 2013. A comparison of biochar and activated carbon produced from forest biomass using distributed scale thermal conversion. International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Third Latin American Congress, San Jose, Costa Rica. (Poster)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bergman, R., and H. Gu. 2014. Life-cycle Inventory Analysis of Bio-products from a Modular Advanced Biomass Pyrolysis System. In Proceedings: 57th International Convention of the Society of Wood Science and Technology. Zvolen, Slovakia. June 23-27, 2014.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Essen, M., N. Anderson, and A. Metcalf. 2014. Stakeholder outreach and social science research strategies for bioenergy and biofuels projects. Northwest Wood-Based Biofuels + Co-Products Conference, Seattle, WA (Poster).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Han-Sup, Han. 2014. Overview of characterizing approaches to collecting forest biomass. Northwest Wood-Based Biofuels + Co-Products Conference, Seattle, WA
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes and T.E. Perry. 2013. Impact of biomass harvesting on forest productivity and species composition in northern Rockies. 2013 Society of American Foresters National Convention, Charleston, SC.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: McCollum, D., N. Anderson, and J. Levine. Economic development potential resulting from woody biomass utilization: A pyrolysis-based production facility in a rural county. 2014 International Biomass Conference and Exposition, Orlando, FL. (poster)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Page Dumroese, D. 2014. Biochar: Trials, errors, and successes! Presented to the Nevada Biochar Working Group, Las Vegas, NV.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Page-Dumroese, D. 2014. Biochar: Lab and Field Trials. Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest meeting on Use of Biochar for Increasing Forage Production, Las Vegas, NV.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Sharma, P., T. Elder, L. Groom, et al. 2013. Effect of different structural promoters on Fe/Cu/K Fisher-Tropsch catalysts conversion of biomass-derived syngas. Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society. Volume: 246 Meeting Abstract: 16-ENFL.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Han, S.-K., H.-S. Han, J. Bisson and T. Montgomery. 2013. Effects of Grate Size on Grinding Productivity, Fuel Consumption, and Particle Size Distribution. Session 6A: Biomass Processing and Moisture Management. In Proceedings of the 36th Annual Meeting of the Council on Forest Engineering. July 8-10, 2013, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hogland, J., N. Anderson and J.G. Jones. 2013. Function modeling: Improved raster analysis through delayed reading and function raster datasets. In Proceedings of the 36th Annual Meeting of the Council on Forest Engineering. July 8-10, 2013, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Jang, W., C.R. Keyes and T.E. Perry. 2013. Long-term biomass harvesting effects on forest productivity under three silvicultural systems in the northern Rocky Mountains. In Proceedings of the 36th Annual Meeting of the Council on Forest Engineering. July 8-10, 2013, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Montgomery,T.D. and H.-S. Han. 2013. A GIS-based Method for Locating and Planning Centralized Biomass Grinding Operations. Session 5A: Woody Biomass Systems. In Proceedings of the 36th Annual Meeting of the Council on Forest Engineering. July 8-10, 2013, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Wells, L., N. Anderson and W. Chung. A remote sensing approach to estimating forest treatment residue for alternative operational configurations on the Uncompahgre Plateau, Colorado, USA. In Proceedings of the 36th Annual Meeting of the Council on Forest Engineering. July 8-10, 2013, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bergman, R., and H. Gu. 2013. Life-cycle assessment of bio-products from advanced modular biomass pyrolysis system. 2013 Midwest Biochar Conference. Champaign, IL. June 14, 2013.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, N. 2013. Forest biomass supply chains: Practice, economics and environmental impact. Korea Forest Research Institute, Forest Practices Research Center, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Anderson, N. 2014. Forest biomass for bioenergy, biofuels and bioproducts: Logistics, conversion technology and sustainability. Invited research briefing to the USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment, Arthur "Butch" Blazer, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, N., J.G. Jones, W. Chung, D. Kim, D. Page-Dumroese, D. McCollum, D. Loeffler, C. Sorenson and T. Venn. 2013. The technical and financial feasibility of using distributed scale thermochemical conversion to produce biochar from forest and range treatment residues. Fourth Annual Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference, Raleigh, NC.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bergman, R., and K. Skog. 2014. US Forest LCA perspective and needs. Woody Biomass LCA Workshop. Washington, DC. March 19, 2014.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2012 Citation: Bergman, R. 2013. Using consequential life-cycle assessment to compare products from biomass pyrolysis to fossil fuel equivalents. LCA XII Conference. Tacoma, WA. September 25-27, 2012.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2013 Citation: Chung, W. and N. Anderson. 2013 (both presented). Improving the efficiency of woody biomass supply chains in the western United States. Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Montana Forest Products Retention Roundtable, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Gu, H., and R. Bergman. 2014. Black Diamond, Black Char, (new) Black Gold. Illinois Biochar Group Spring Meeting. Champaign, IL. March 10, 2014.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Page-Dumroese, D. 2014. Harvesting, soil disturbance, and slash piles: Maintaining soil productivity and site quality. University of Montana, Silviculture class.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2014 Citation: Page-Dumroese, D. 2014. Soil disturbance, slash piles, and biochar: maintaining site productivity during bioenergy harvests. Presented to the University of Idaho Forest Ecosystem class.
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Elliot, W.J. and H. Rhee. 2014 updates. WEPP BIOMASS, Biomass utilization impacts on soil erosion analysis. Online erosion prediction tool. < http://forest.moscowfsl.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/fswepp/biomass/biomass.pl>.
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hogland, J., N. Anderson, and J.G. Jones. 2014 updates. RMRS Raster Utility for Geospatial Analysis. Online suite of GIS tools for spatial analysis of natural resources.

Progress 05/01/12 to 04/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: This project will disseminate new information, knowledge and applications developed from a wide range of studies to commercial partners, industry professionals, investors, policy makers, land managers, the scientific community, the public, and other potential users and stakeholders. Science-based assessments of forest biomass feedstock production and new bioenergy technologies and bioproducts are essential tools for all stakeholders who are working to expand bio-based renewable energy production, including production of biofuels from biomass. Changes/Problems: The original Project Director, Dr. J. Greg Jones, retired in September 2012. Prior to his departure, he worked closely with Dr. Nathaniel Anderson, who was the Program Manager in 2011 and 2012, to provide a smooth administrative and managerial transition. In October 2012, Dr. Anderson assumed the Project Director role, with project management assistance provided by Suzette Dailey and Cindy Gordon, Program Specialist and Lead Grants and Agreements Specialist (respectively), Rocky Mountain Research Station. Dr. Anderson will serve as Project Director for the remainder of the project, with additional program management personnel scheduled to begin work in October 2013. The transition has been relatively smooth, and does not require any additional reporting requirements. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? To date, training and professional development has been focused on graduate students (5 PhD students, 4 MS students, and 1 undergraduate), and on audiences and scientific and technical conferences (see listing of products). In addition, our industry partners have provided training to their engineers, technical staff and equipment operators as needed. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Scientific and industry conferences, invited presentations, scientific publications, and a website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? All aspects of the project are on track. Major milestones and accomplishments expected to be completed during the next reporting period include: TECHNICAL AREA I, Feedstocks Development: I-1) Co-PI Han. Completion of the field components of planned operations research studies with Green Diamond and the Coquille Tribe. I-2) Co-PI Anderson. Complete design and fabrication of the nested trailer system prototype. Field testing of the nested trailer paired with the mobile processing system. Preparation for time study of the system. I-3) Co-PI Chung. Validation of biomass yield models based on data from the 2013 field season. Development of biomass yield prediction tool. Operationalize above ground biomass modeling techniques with network analysis and integrate into the RMRS Raster Utility, and make new tools available on the project website. TECHNICAL AREA II, Biofuels and Bio-based Products Development: II-1&amp;2) Co-PI Anderson with TEA (industry partner). Completion of deployment of the new TEA system to ReVenture Park, and 1000 hour test run for data and sample collection. Determine optimal settings for gas production from coniferous feedstocks. II-3) Co-PIs Spivey and Elder. Further development of catalysts specifically for TEA syngas from mixed conifer feedstocks from the Rocky Mountain region. II-4) Co-PI Anderson with Gu (cooperator). Additional formulation of chemical activation techniques to activate TEA system biochar from target feedstocks. II-5) Co-PI K. Englund. Finalize pellet formulations and produce pellets for in-woods testing. II-6) Co-PI Halbrook. Complete fabrication of the in-woods biochar spreader, obtain biochar pellets from Englund and test the system. Apply pellets to study sites. TECHNICAL AREA III, Biofuels Development Analysis: III-1) Co-PI Bergman. Finalize flow diagrams and complete data collection. Complete preliminary LCA on the TEA system deployed to Tricon Timber. III-2a) Co-PI Elliot. Installation of final study site in Coos Bay, OR. Continued data collection and analysis. Develop and deploy online interface for the WEPP tool. III-2b) Co-PIs Page-Dumroese and Keyes. Additional field data collection, sample collection and analysis at the study sites. III-3) Co-PIs Anderson and McCollum. Completion of financial model for deployment of the TEA system at small to medium-scale sawmills, including Tricon Timber. Complete data collection for IMPLAN analysis. III-4) Co-PI Venn. Finalize survey instrument and conduct regional biomass surveys. Other quantifiable measures of progress for the next project year include: producing project reports, technical papers and peer-reviewed manuscripts; presenting preliminary and final results at professional meetings, symposia and conferences; and conducting workshops for technology transfer.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? ALL TECHNICAL AREAS. Successful RMRS-BRDI project meeting and symposium in Spokane WA, October, 2012. Second annual RMRS-BRDI meeting scheduled for Amherst, MA, October 2013, co-located with the North American Biochar Symposium. TECHNICAL AREA I, Feedstocks Development: I-1) Co-PI Han. Literature review, development of biomass harvesting productivity and cost database, controlled experiments for biomass production and costs with Green Diamond Resource Company (industry partner), GIS spatial analysis of harvest sites (including network analysis), pre-harvest survey on study sites set up with Green Diamond, preparations for 2013 study with the Coquille Indian Tribe (industry partner). I-2) Co-PI Anderson. Cooperation with Jump Trucking (industry partner) and Windell (with co-PI Halbrook) to design mobile processing system, purchase system components and core Peterson grinder for mobile processing prototype, fabrication of mobile processing prototype, field testing, and improvements to mobile processing system. Installation of whole tree chipping and screening system at Tricon Timber (industry partner), production of clean, dry, microchip feedstocks for processing in the Tucker Engineering Associates (TEA, industry partner) thermal conversion system prototype, shipping of feedstocks to processing sites. I-3) Co-PI Chung. Development of methods for producing high resolution above ground biomass models over large area landscapes using NAIP aerial imagery and FIA data, field validation of above ground biomass models, development of methods to estimate feedstock yields from forest restoration treatments, with field validation and data collection to occur in summer 2013. TECHNICAL AREA II, Biofuels and Bio-based Products Development: II-1&amp;2) Co-PI Anderson with TEA (industry partner). Design and fabrication of second generation TEA system prototype gasification system including feedstock delivery and airlock system, tar cracking system, secondary thermal unit, biochar cooling, gas compression and storage, 40kW generator, real time gas chromatography, and improved system instrumentation and controls. System trials with various feedstocks including Tricon mixed conifer microchips, yellow pine shavings, refuse derived fuels (RDF), and municipal solid waste (MSW) fluff. Independent, third party emissions testing and mass/energy balance. Production of biochar for characterization, activation and pelletization studies. Gas sampling and characterization to guide catalyst development. Development of empirical models for feedstock throughput and product yields for the different feedstocks. Disassembly and reassembly of the system for commercial deployment at ReVenture Park, Charlotte, NC, which will include a 1000-hour production run in 2013. II-3) Co-PIs Spivey and Elder. Installation of catalytic reactor, identification of various impurities present in syngas, design and construction of system to remove impurities, design of catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation, chemical and physical characterization of these catalysts, characterization of catalyst properties and effect on syngas and derived products, testing to determine activity and selectivity of new catalysts, synthesis of new catalysts based on results. II-4) Co-PI Anderson with Gu (cooperator). Activation of biochar using laboratory and proprietary physical and chemical activation techniques, characterization of products, comparison of results with commercially available activated carbon and industrial sorbents. II-5) Co-PI Englund. Biochar preparation and analysis of particle physical and chemical characteristics, ongoing experimentation of pellet compression formulations and response of biochar pellet quality, determination of compressive response and energy consumption based on pellet composition, changes in pellet formulation to include forest residues as binding components, and improved testing procedures to evaluate compressive response. II-6) Co-PI Halbrook. Market search for commercial spreader systems that could be modified for forest applications, evaluation of logging skidder platform as the best option, cost estimates developed for building a prototype, converter dolly and associated parts acquired for first generation testing, which will inform design and construction of the next generation version of the in-forest biochar pellet spreader. TECHNICAL AREA III, Biofuels Development Analysis: III-1) Co-PI Bergman. Literature review, site visits to collect data for LCA of the TEA system, correspondence with and data collection from project partners, development of process diagrams, acquisition of laboratory data for TEA system runs of southern pine shavings and mixed conifer feedstocks from Tricon Timber, purchase and setup of SimaPro software, site visit to collect feedstock production data at Tricon Timber. III-2a) Co-PI Elliot. Successful installation of silt fence collectors in two national forests, sediment data collected in Payette National Forest, fabrication of constant head permeameters, installation of permeameters at study sites, weather station installed, preliminary development of WEPP sediment prediction software interface, preparation for final study site on Coquille tribal lands. III-2b) Co-PIs Page-Dumroese and Keyes. Reestablishment of site monumentation, extraction and analysis of soil cores for delineated harvest units, meetings with Experimental Forest personnel (including sharing preliminary results), processed soil and litter samples, began processing vegetation samples for chemical analysis, data collection and stewardship, hired PhD student to work on the project. III-3) Co-PIs Anderson and McCollum. Development of spreadsheet models of financial performance of distributed scale pyrolysis deployed at a sawmill, with empirical data collection scheduled for 1000 hour run of the TEA system at ReVenture Park, Charlotte, NC, in 2013. Purchase of IMPLAN software and preparations for IMPLAN analysis. III-4) Co-PI Venn. Completed literature review and study plan, developed stakeholder group list, and began development of regional biomass/bioenergy survey.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson N., J.G. Jones , D. Page-Dumroese, D. McCollum , S. Baker, D. Loeffler and W. Chung. 2013. A comparison of producer gas, biochar, and activated carbon from two distributed scale thermochemical conversion systems used to process forest biomass. Energies 6: 164-183.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Anderson, N., J.G. Jones, D. Page-Dumroese, D. McCollum, S. Baker and D. Loeffler. 2012. Comparison of two thermochemical conversion technologies used to process forest biomass. Unique Thermal Pretreatment Steps to Biofuel Intermediates, International Biomass Conference and Exposition, Denver, CO.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Anderson, N., J. Hogland, W. Chung and J.G. Jones. 2012. Methods to predict and map economic flows of forest biomass. Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting, Spokane, WA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, N. 2013. Assessing the technical and financial feasibility of using distributed scale thermochemical conversion to process forest biomass. Targets of Opportunity: Densification Strategies to Capture Unutilized Biomass Potential, International Biomass Conference and Exposition, Minneapolis, MN.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, N., D. Kim and W. Chung. 2013. Financial analysis of a distributed scale pyrolysis conversion system used to produce biochar from forest biomass. International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Third Latin American Congress, San Jose, Costa Rica.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, N., W. Chung, W. Perez, D. Page-Dumroese, and Z. Gu. 2013. An assessment of fuel, soil and industrial sorbent applications of biochar produced from forest biomass using distributed scale thermochemical conversion. Forest Operations for a Changing Environment. Proceedings of the 2013 Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, July 7-10, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Chung, W., and N. Anderson. 2012. Spatial modeling of potential woody biomass flow. Engineering New Solutions for Energy Supply and Demand. Proceedings of the 2012 Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, September 9-12, New Bern, NC.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bisson, J, S-K. Han, and H-S. Han. Evaluating the system logistics of a biomass recovery operation in northern California. Forest Operations for a Changing Environment. Proceedings of the 2013 Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, July 7-10, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bisson, J., S-K Han, H-S Han, J. Zhang, and T. Montgomery. Comparing whole tree to tree-length fuel reduction thinning operations: cost and actual amounts of biomass removal. Forest Operations for a Changing Environment. Proceedings of the 2013 Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, July 7-10, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Han, H-S. 2012 Collection and transportation of forest residues for energy production. International Wood Composite Symposium  Biomass Feedstock Supply Panel. Seattle, Washington. April 11  13, 2012.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Han, H-S. 2012. Biomass harvesting and transportation research in northern California. Western Regional Council on Forest Engineering. Eugene, Oregon. January 12th, 2012.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Rhee, H., W. Elliot, I. Miller, K. Pilgrim, and F. Galvez Vaca. 2012. Impacts of biomass operations on sediment production in central Idaho. Poster presented at the SAF National Convention, Spokane, WA, October 24-26.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Sharma, P., M. Ali, M. Aldossary, M. Ojeda, M. Gupta, J. Fierro, and J.Spivey. 2012. Effect of Cu/Ru promotion on an Fe/Ca/K catalyst. Americal Chemical Society, Philadelphia, PA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Sharma, P., K. Mai, T. Elder, L. Groom, and J. Spivey. 2013. Effect of different Structural promoters on Fe/Cu/K Fischer Tropsch catalyst conversion of biomass derived syngas. American Chemical Society, Indianapolis, IN.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Wells, L., J. Hogland, N. Anderson, and W. Chung. 2013. Landscape Scale Estimation of Forest Treatment Residue for Bioenergy Production. Poster presented at the 3rd IUFRO Latin American Congress, June 12-15, 2013, San Jose, Costa Rica.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Han, S-K., H-S. Han, J. Bisson, and T. Montgomery. Effects of grate size on grinding productivity, fuel consumption, and particle size distribution. Forest Operations for a Changing Environment. Proceedings of the 2013 Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, July 7-10, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hogland, J., N. Anderson, and G. Jones. Function modeling: improved raster analysis through delayed reading and function raster datasets. Forest Operations for a Changing Environment. Proceedings of the 2013 Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, July 7-10, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Jang, W., C. Keyes, and T. Perry. Long-Term Biomass Harvesting Effects on Forest Productivity under Three Silvicultural Systems in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Forest Operations for a Changing Environment. Proceedings of the 2013 Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, July 7-10, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Wells, L., N. Anderson, and W. Chung. A Remote Sensing Approach to Estimating Forest Treatment Residue for Alternative Operational Configurations on the Uncompahgre Plateau, Colorado, USA. Forest Operations for a Changing Environment. Proceedings of the 2013 Council on Forest Engineering Annual Meeting, July 7-10, Missoula, MT.
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Hogland, J., and N. Anderson. 2012. RMRS Raster Utility for Geospatial Analysis. Rocky Mountain Research Station. http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/raster-utility/. An innovative suite of GIS tools for automated data acquisition, sampling, and statistical modeling packaged with step-by step tutorials and detailed user support.

Progress 05/01/11 to 04/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the first project year, there has been significant progress in all three technical areas of the project. Technical Area 1: Feedstocks Development. Dr. Han has hired a research associate, research assistant, and graduate student, and has worked with the Coquille Tribe to identify study sites and develop a study plan for work on those sites. His team is currently engaged in field data collection in Yreka, CA, with biomass contractors for Green Diamond Resource Company and Peterson Pacific Corporation. Pre-harvest biomass surveys on the study sites are being used as baseline data. Engineering and construction of the mobile processing system, managed by Dr. Anderson, is well under way. Engineers, Mr. Windell and Mr. Karsky, are working with Mr. Jump and Redding Equipment to modify a Peterson grinder and crane carrier cab and cassis that will serve at the core of the mobile processor. Fabrication is ongoing. Mr. Hogland, working with Drs. Chung, Anderson, and Jones, has developed a raster utility plug-in for ArcGIS that will serve as the foundation for spatial analysis of biomass using 1-meter resolution NAIP orthoimagery and FIA plot data. Technical Area 2: Biofuels and Biobased Products Development. Tucker Engineering Associates is 70% complete on modifications of the prototype gasification system. The most significant modifications to the system include tripling the auger configuration, improving energy efficiency, adding a novel tar-cracking system, adding char-cooling, and integrating new, real-time gas chromatography, temperature monitoring, and gas flow metering into new system controls. Drs. Elder, Spivey and Gupta, with a newly hired PhD student, have installed a fixed-bed catalytic liquid fuel reactor with syngas filtering/cleanup systems. They have already used the reactor to process gas from eucalyptus and pine into liquid fuel in preparation for samples from the TEA gasifier. Dr. Englund has hired a PhD student to work on pelletization research, and to this point his team has engaged in consultations with other BRDI scientists and cooperators. He is conducting ongoing trials and pelletization experiments using biochar from woody biomass produced by other pyrolysis systems. Technical Area: Biofuels Development Analysis. Dr. Bergman has been in consultations with Mr. Tucker, Dr. Elder, and others to acquire data for LCA. He has developed a survey instrument to collect process data necessary for the analysis. Drs Elliot and Rhee are preparing to install in-situ infiltrometers for data collection at field sites. Silt fence collectors have been installed at one of four proposed field sites, and associated erosion, sediment and weather data have been assembled. Eight permeameters have been fabricated and tested, and will be deployed to field sites, which have been identified. Drs Keyes and Page-Dumroese and their team are currently collecting field data, with 60% of historic plots relocated to date. Their team included three new hires that were trained in new field protocols, which were developed for the study. During the first year, BRDI principal investigators gave eight project-related presentations at conferences and meetings. PARTICIPANTS: The research team represents four universities (University of Montana, Humboldt State University, Louisiana State University, and Washington State University), three USDA Forest Service Research Stations (Rocky Mountain Research Station, Southern Research Station, and Forest Products Laboratory), two USDA Forest Service Technology and Development Centers (San Dimas TDC and Missoula TDC), and five commercial partners (Tucker Engineering Associates, Tricon Timber, Jump Trucking Incorporated, the Coquille Indian Tribe, and Green Diamond Resource Company). The Principal Investigators have relevant technical expertise, experience and achievement in forest operations and feedstock logistics (Dr. Han and Dr. Chung, Forest Engineers), logging systems and equipment design (Mr. Halbrook, Logging Systems Specialist), spatial modeling and transportation network optimization (Dr. Chung and Dr. Jones, Supervisory Research Forester), sawmill supply chain logistics and procurement (Dr. Anderson, Postdoctoral Research Forester), pyrolysis and gasification chemistry (Dr. Elder, Research Chemist), biochar pelletization and product development (Dr. Englund, Research Engineer), watershed hydrology and modeling (Dr. Elliot, Research Engineer), life cycle analysis (Dr. Bergman, Research Forest Products Technologist), natural resource economics and non-market valuation (Dr. Jones and Dr. Venn, Natural Resource Economist), atmospheric and emissions chemistry (Dr. Wei Min Hao, RMRS, Atmospheric Chemist), silviculture (Dr. Chris Keyes, UM, Research Silviculturalist), soil and water science (Dr. Debbie Page-Dumroese, RMRS, Research Soil Scientist, and Dr. Hakjun Rhee, WSU, Biological Systems Engineer), and non-market valuation (Dr. Dan McCollum, RMRS, Research Economist). In addition to the principal investigators and key personnel from these organizations that have been assigned project duties, the researchers have hired many new personnel in the first year, including 2 MS students, 3 PhD students, 1 research assistant, 3 research associates, 2 technicians, and 1 intern. These participants have received a range of project-specific training related to their technical area and project responsibilities. The most significant professional development opportunity for all BRDI personnel across all technical areas will be a two-day conference scheduled to take place in Spokane Washington on October 10th and 11th, 2012. Overall the BRDI project has already been an excellent foundation to expand existing collaborations and develop new relationships among this diverse group of participants and organizations. TARGET AUDIENCES: A major objective of this project is to disseminate the information, knowledge and applications developed from the project's studies to commercial partners, industry professionals, investors, policy makers, land managers, the scientific community, and other potential users and stakeholders. Dissemination will facilitate near-term (less than 4 years) integration of advanced biomass conversion technologies into the forest sector operations. We have already provided opportunities for participation by these target audiences, including field trips to view controlled logging slash grinding experiments and opportunities to view the modification of the TEA gasification system. These events have included representatives of all of these target audiences. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: There have been no changes in the approach and timeline presented in the proposal or subsequent project documentation. However, there have been significant changes to one sub-award budget in response to changes in personnel and system design. All modifications to the Tucker Engineering Associates sub-award budget were formally submitted to NIFA for review, and approved by NIFA on June 5, 2012.

Impacts
Change in knowledge: Dr. Han has formally incorporated BRDI project concepts and approaches into his course FOR250 - Introduction to Forest Operations. On June 12, biomass professionals from industry, government and academia visited BRDI field sites to observe grinding experiments and learn about biomass processing for advanced biomass conversion technologies. Though informal, approximately 12 interested parties have visited the TEA fabrication shop in Locust, NC. Resources indicating that the project has already developed information resources that improve technology transfer and management related to spatial feedstock supply modeling. The raster utility plug-in for ArcGIS that will serve as the foundation for spatial analysis of biomass has been packaged for free web-based distribution with help documentation, demonstrations, and tutorials. This product will be available on the RMRS Science Application and Integration website by September, 2012. The project has contributed to public knowledge of bioenergy possibilities through articles in the media including: Gibson, L. Research station launches complex bioenergy research initiative. Biomass Power and Thermal Magazine. June 22, 2011; Richardson, M. Locust company partners with U.S. Forest Service. The Stanly News and Press, Albemarle, NC; and Moy, C. Three UM Professors receive $1.1 million grant to study biomass. The Missoulian, Missoula, MT.

Publications

• No publications reported this period