Progress 10/17/17 to 12/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includes coal mine operators, reclamation specialists, private landowners, state and federal regulators, as well as the general public. Through the course of the project, 10 case studies were conducted. Economic data was collected from mine operators, engineers, private landowners, and reclamation contractors from 10 sites located in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Issues related to forest reclamation and project objectives were discussed with each stakeholder. Data from this project will be used to inform these stakeholders about the economics of forest reclamation on surface-mined land. Further, the general public is considered a target audience, since mine reclamation impacts the quality of private and public forests. Changes/Problems:The recent downturn in the coal mining industry affected the ability to find selected sites in some areas. In addition there were some issues relating to data collection accessibility due to changes in on-site conditions. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The PhD student leading the project (Jacob Johnson) benefitted from multiple training and professional development opportunities. To better understand the projects objectives, courses were taken at PSU related to surface mine design, forest economics, remote sensing and geographic information systems. Presenting the project at professional conferences also contributed to professional development. Valuable experience was also gained by collaborating with landowners, industry leaders, environmental regulators, and professionals from other disciplines at Penn State (mine engineering and geography). In addition, two undergraduates and one graduate student were hired to manage tasks in data collection, and data processing. Undergraduates gained experience in remote sensing applications, workplace safety, equipment operations, land surveying, soil science, data processing, and interacting with all relevant stakeholders. Both graduates and undergraduates obtained federal certifications in mine and equipment safety in order to safely collect data at active sites. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Once data is processed, dissemination and technology transfer of results will be achieved through anumber of different means, including: • Publications in peer-reviewed literature • Presentations at technical meetings • Creation of a Forest Reclamation Advisory on the economics of the FRA • Creation of a spreadsheet decision support tool allowing our analyses to be customized to an operator's specific conditions What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Pennsylvania is a leading surface mining state which occurs mainly on previously-forested land. The conventional mine reclamation process results in excessive soil compaction which is not conducive to tree growth. The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) has developed a process called the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) that addresses these problems and results in the restoration of productive forests. However, there is no single source presenting a complete economic analysis of the technique compared to conventional reclamation practices. This project used a case study approach to assess and compare the costs of the two reclamation approaches. The importance of this work is to show landowners and operators that they have options, other than conventional reclamation, that result in productive long-term benefits and a sustainable forest which once covered the coal mining regions. Data has been collected, but final analysis is currently being conducted. Time-motion data and 3-D models will be used to assess FRA and conventional reclamation costs in a site-specific context. Recommendations will be made for participant companies that use conventional reclamation practices on how best they can achieve a successful adoption of the Forest Reclamation Approach. Soil quality data will be used to describe the growing conditions of each reclamation practice. Data collected regarding fuel, seeding, mulching, fertilization, and tillage will be used in regional cost comparisons. The project focused on the following activities to describe the economics of forest reclamation, as well as compare the Forest Reclamation Approach (FRA) to conventional forestland reclamation: Case Study of active operations for Pennsylvania Coal Company A (FRA reclamation) Case Study of active operations for Pennsylvania Coal Company B (conventional reclamation) Supplementary economic data (receipts, operation descriptions, production costs) from 4 active mine sites in KY, TN, and WV to provide regional context. Three mini case studies of Pennsylvania sites formally reclaimed using conventional practices, but under active rehabilitation to improve forest growth (referred to as "Legacy sites"). Case Studies of Active Reclamation in Pennsylvania Company A was a small-truck surface-mining operation in Indiana County that used ARRI's Forest Reclamation Approach. Reclamation activities were tracked from March to November 2018 over two separately permitted sites. Total area of the FRA end-dumping completed during the study period was 13.0 acres. Time-motion data captured workers mixing approved soil materials, as well as loading and hauling operations from active cuts for distribution in reclamation areas. Receipts for materials, supply costs, and contractors were collected to characterize seeding and tree planting costs. Reclamation activities at Company B were tracked at two separately permitted sites from February to July of 2019. During the study period, a total of 25 acres were completely reclaimed using conventional forestland methods. Operations that were captured included haul-back dumping, backfilling of a large sunken depression to achieve approximate original contour, management of stockpiles, and the spreading of topsoil-subsoil mixtures by dozer to a thickness of 12 inches. In early-May 2019, a contract crew disked, harrowed, limed, fertilized, seeded groundcovers, and planted seedlings with conventional tractors and farming equipment. All receipts and contractor quotes were collected. For each site studied, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was used to capture pictures of landscape changes that occurred during the time-motion sampling period. Pictures were used to generate 3-D photogrammetric models to describe site characteristics such as grade and conditions of haul roads, volumes of stockpiles, dimensions of highwalls, as well as the progression of mine activity through time. Each model was created using standard photogrammetric workflows (Agisoft LLC, 2016). A time-motion analysis was conducted on truck and dozer equipment used in reclamation. To ensure consistent tracking over an entire work week, Garmin GPSMAP (registered) 64s units were installed in equipment cabs and powered with an external battery. The GPS units logged positional information, leg distance, and travel velocity in ten second intervals. On a weekly basis, all units were collected during afternoon shift change, the data secured, and external batteries replaced. Contextual data, such as field notes, discussions with the shift foreman, videos, and photographs were collected to verify machine type, machine activity, as well as the locations of activities. All positional data and tracking attributes were loaded into ArcMap® 10.6.1 software (ESRI, Redlands, CA, USA) for further analysis. Operation cycle times were calculated through the separation of activity zones (loading, dumping, and queuing). Each activity cycle was comprised of load time, spotting time in the load zone, haul time to the reclamation area, spotting time in the dump zone, dump time, return time, and queuing time. Dozer movement was separated into distinct activities: the creation of spoil stockpiles, backfill, and final grading (i.e. spreading of topsoil). All time motion data from truck and dozer operations will be used to calculate production rates and reclamation costs. Recommendations will be made for Company B on how to best implement the FRA. Lastly, soil samples were collected at each site to characterize overburdens used for reclamation. Each soil sample was analyzed for texture, rock content, and bulk density (level of compaction). Soil data will be used to assess general growing conditions of each reclamation practice studied. Supplemental Economic Data Four active surface mine operations in the states of KY, TN, and WV were visited to collect general production costs, as well as seeding and planting costs for their specific operations. Sites included both FRA and conventional reclamation. No time-motion or photogrammetric data were collected at these sites. Data will be used to provide examples of reclamation costs in different areas for regional context. Legacy Sites Three mini case studies were conducted of Pennsylvania sites formally reclaimed using conventional practices, but under active rehabilitation to improve forest growth (referred to as "Legacy sites"). Two of these sites were on State Forest land, and one was a private landowner. Analyses described in the active reclamation section were also used at legacy sites. Dozer operating time per acre was captured with GPS units and 3-D models. Soil samples were collected in compacted areas to describe growing conditions of conventional reclamation. After the dozer used deep tillage to loosen compacted soils, another round of soil samples were collected to describe the relative change in physical properties.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
4th Biennial Forest Landowners Conference (03/22/2019), State College, PA.
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Progress 10/17/17 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Coal industry, Policy makers, Rresearch scientists, Landowners Changes/Problems:Problems with finding willing industry particpants. Difficulty getting full economicaccountsfrom industry. Conditions on active mining sites unpredictable and call for frequent changes in project design. Accomodating collecting datawithout disrupting mine operations. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Jacob Johnson has successfully completed federal mine safety training to conduct this research on active mine sites. In addition, he consulted with colleagues in the Penn State department of mine engineering for the project design. He has completed courses in remote sensing techniques to navigate the technological and experimental design needs of this study. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Oral presentations have been given at three technical and professional meetings: The National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, The Appalachian Region Reforestation Initiative's Mined Land Reforestation Conference, and The Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference. Preliminary results were presented and implications discussed. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Remote Sensing activities in PA will be completed by the Spring season. Additional mine operator interviews will be conducted in late Spring/early Summer. All associated permits will be requested, compiled, and summarized. Economic analysis will be conducted using data from interviews, permits, industry handbooks, regional cost data, 3-D computer models, and equipment tracking. A final report will be compiled for both McIntire-Stennis and the Appalachian Region Reforestation Initiative's technical advisory.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1 accomplishments:Collected permits and interviewed mine operators in states ofPennsylvania (PA), West Virginia (WV), Kentucky (KY), and Tennesseeusing three key methods (area mining, conventional contour, smalltruck) on both small and large acre permits for both conventional andforest reclamation approaches. Started using drone and time motionanalysis to determine production rates in PA.An unmanned aerial vehicle has been used to generate imagery of reclamation activities at various stages of production. Structure-from-motion has been used to compile aerial images into 3-D computer models for accurate calculation of overburden and topsoil yardage. Six out of a total ten models have been completed. These models will be paired with GPS tracking data from bulldozing and haulage operations to calculate operation costs for both conventional and forest reclamation approaches. Goal 2 accomplishments:Have collected seeding, seedling and planting costs of two mine sites in PA.
Publications
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