Coal Extraction for the Power River Basin, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Coal refers to a fuel fossil that is obtained from plant materials that were buried and decomposed millions of years ago on the earth’s surface. The Powder River basin is found in Montana and it stretches from Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains to the yellow river found in Montana. This area is a landscape with grass that covers its plains, hills, flood plains, swamps and streambeds. It is the largest coal producing region in the united state of America for years.

Geological history of coal formation in Wyoming State U.S.A

Coal is a brown sedimentary rock made up of carbon and hydrocarbon. It is not renewable source of energy because it takes long time to form. Some millions of years ago, dead plants in the swamps were enclosed with layers of water and debris thereby trapping the energy of the dead plant due to intense heat and pressure from the top layers, debris of dead plant formed coal. The Powder River basin is rich in phanerozic rocks that are thick in nature. The thick parts of these rocks are the basic foundation of coal formation since they are made of rocks known as cretaceous. These rocks are as a result of marine shells and sandstones that were deposited from the sea. Coal beds are said to have began forming 60 million years ago the time when the land started emerging from shallow sea. The black hills and Hartville uplifts on its southeast location formed the present day Powder River. The coal bed started to form during the periods when the climatic conditions were still subtropical about 2500-3000 mm of rainfall annually.

Initially, the floor of the basin was widely covered with lakes and swamps therefore, the swamps organic materials began to build up into the peat bogs rather than being deposited to the sea. The layers on the peat bogs were enclosed with sediments from the nearby mountains. As time went by, the earth’s climatic conditions started to change becoming drier and cooler than the previous wet and warm climate. The existing basin was filled up with sediments and as a result, the peats were buried deep thousands of feat under the ground. The remaining layers of the peat bogs started to compress hence forming coal. Millions of years ago, the sediments gnarled away as coal seams were left near the surface (Dysart & Clawson

36-40). Coal is partitioned into three main parts subbituminous, anthracite, bituminous and lignite. This classification of coal is based on the amount of heat it can produce and which types of carbon it contains. In Wyoming region, subbituminous type of coal is the one that formed. It has 45 per cent of carbon.

Coal stripping in Wyoming U.S.A

The process of coal extraction depends on the depth of the seams either on the surface or underground. Coal mined from both surface and underground mines are cleaned in coal preparation plant. For surface mining, the coal seams are near the surface therefore it is economical to mine it using open strip method. There is use of explosives to break down the surface to be mined. Then coal is extracted using equipment known as dragline or a truck. This process exposes the coal seam that is drilled and mined in number of strips. The mined coal is parked on haulers for transportation (Wesley, 45-53).

Coal can also be mined using a method known as room and pillar that contains the deposits mined by stripping off rooms of coal seams. Then the pillar of coal is left behind in order to maintain the roof; the pillar comprise of three quarters of the coal seams that are extracted at advanced stage.

In addition, advancement in technology has made mining easy and less harmful than it was some years ago. Coal mining companies have adapted the use of new instrument panels, huge trucks equipped end loaders and computer console. The underground walls of the mines are painted white and covered with coating of lime whose function is to prevent coal dust. The mines are also fitted with systems that ensure fresh air is constantly supplied and flows sufficiently this process is aided by big ventilation fans on the surface. However, personal protective equipments are used. For instance, the coal miners usually wore hard hats, steel toed boots and hearing protection gear. Furthermore, purifying systems and high intensity lamps are also used in the mining process (Ulrich, 76-82).

The size of the stream that coal mining company dispose off there waste products stretches downstream from Powder River basin east to southeast of the same river. The number of coal production is estimated at 1, 71.8 million tons.  There are a total of eight companies in Wyoming State that are responsible for coal mining at Powder River basin.

Impacts of coal mining on the environment

Without proper precaution, mining have negative consequences on the environments, ecosystems, water, beautiful sceneries and the landscapes. Remains from the mines can interrupt the landscape with mountains stream because of surface mining; for instance, mountaintop and acid liquid can pour from the underground mine fields(Knibbs,34-67).

Mining of coal also has adverse and harmful effects on the environment. Its effects on water are manifested during flooding days. They cause dangerous damage on housing, roads, carrying away plant activities and the mine itself. Surface mining affects the groundwater this is because of impact of the drainage of usable water from the mines; the level of water can be lowered in the surrounding areas thus making it change its course and the aftermath is the contamination of the usable water due to chemical and poor quality of water from the mine. More so, there is formation of sulphuric acid when the minerals are oxidized with air. This will lead to formation of acidic rain that may corrode the roofs of the houses in the neighborhood and also increase the acidity of the soil leading to infertility of soils. Emissions and byproducts produced after burning coal includes; nitrogen dioxide which lead to formation of photochemical smog and acid after oxidation with air, particulates that can respiratory diseases to both human beings and animals. The carbon monoxide emitted is not fit for human thereby causing respiratory problems to the workers in the mines (Wesley, 51-68).

Water that is drained in the streams affects aquatic life for example, fish because this water contains harmful chemicals that contaminate streams. More over, wildlife is also affected in that when the land surface is redistributed and removed, these species are displaced from areas of mining. Those animals that move like birds, game and other animals vacate these areas while reptiles and other burrowing rodents are destroyed for ever. Furthermore, since most animals depend on grass grown in drainages as food, for nesting and protection from enemies, these activities distorts their lives completely leaving them vulnerable to death.

To some extend mining activities have some positive impact on wildlife in that when these fields are broken, it creates openings which acts as there home. Food and cover plants can be introduced to these places for the benefit of the entire wildlife (Dysart & Clawson 55-68).

Number of miles mined in U.S.A before and today

So far approximately 50 miles have been mined while it is said that since there are many companies operating in the area; it is possible that around 10 miles are being mined nowadays. More so, 1,146 metric tons of coal is being produced. Between 1982-1996, 42.6billion tons of underground coal was mined while 26.1 billion tons of surface coal was extracted totaling to 68.7 billion tons of coal mined.

Impacts on Thunder Basin National Grassland

Activities of coal mining in Wyoming have had severe effects on the thunder basin national grassland since their land has been snatched by these companies for mining purposes. The trains that traverse the grassland every day have split the ranches to an extend that when they pass, sometimes they cause grass fires. More so, water from the existing lakes and stream is being used to suppress dust instead of watering the reserve. This has led to depletion of water in the area. Species that are present in the grassland are endangered because the mining companies continue to take up the land for mining activities (Knibbs, 78-89).

Impacts on ranches

The ranches that are situated near mining activities are prone to dangers. The sheep ranch in Montana has been adversely affected by coal mining in the area in that the water that they use in the farm may be contaminated because of the chemicals and dust from the mines. This water pollution poses great threat to the life of those living in the ranch and the livestock. More so, their landscape has been altered hence hindering them to carry out their ranching activities effectively. Surface mining has made water from the streams and lakes to drop by half because more water is being cut off from these streams as their tributaries are distorted due to diversions. More so, tree cutting in the area has affected these water bodies from getting enough supply from rain water. Carbon, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide when oxidized, they form acidic rain. When this falls, it contains dangerous chemicals of sulphur and nitrogen thus easily water.

The land that used to belong to the ranch has been taken for mining activities. In addition, the aquifers, wells and rivers that the ranches initially used for irrigating crops and watering livestock has been used for setting up power plants and suppressing dust from the mines. The surface was used to house the ranches has been depleted, well water, creek water and aquifers are being lost to coal mining (Ulrich, 83-94).

Impact on Indian reservation

Montana state and its environs used to be a host of native tribes including the red Indians but duo to coal mining activities that are taking place, these tribe have moved to other location therefore affecting the socio-economic sectors of Montana. These Native Americans reservations contain coal mines thus posing an environmental threat to the inhabitants. The Indian reservations have been severely affected by mining activities. Despite the fact that mine companies are situated on Indian reservations, it is ironical that it is the same Indians who are suffering from the problem of unemployment.

Reclamation program

So far 36,000 acres of land have reclaimed while there is 86,000 acres which has not been reclaimed. The mining companies have not fully reclaimed the land because of poor politics and authority. This means that it will take some years to fully reclaim the land (Dysart & Clawson 91-101).

Conclusion

In a nut shell, mining of coal has helped United States to grow strong economically but the activity poses severe threat to population living in the area. Coal mining causes environmental problems such as water pollution so; the companies should look for efficient way of using used water instead of realizing it downstream. More so, the state should put more pressure on mining companies to fully reclaim the land on completion of mining.

Works cited

Dysart, Benjamin & Clawson, Marion. Managing public land in the public interest:  Environmental regeneration. New York: Praeger publishers, 1988.

Knibbs, H. Herbert. The Ridin’ Kid from Powder River. New York:  Kindle publishers, 2009

Wesley, Fox. Powder River Coal and BN’s Denver Division. New York: fox publishers, 1993.

Ulrich, Glen. Active Biogenesis: Microbes are Making Natural Gas in Wyoming Powder River   Basin. California: Thomson Gale Publishers, 2005.