Surface coal mining in West Virginia has supplied energy to the eastern coast of the United States for over a century. Over the years, the coal mining industry has been forced to adapt as societal demands regarding health, safety, and environmental impacts have changed. More recent pressure has called for another iteration of change: long-term post-mining sustainability. The research presented in this thesis investigates one potential solution—or component of a solution—to improve the sustainability of surface coal mining in West Virginia: post-mining wind power. This thesis intends to demonstrate and explain the feasibility of synergistic mine closure and wind development. Wind conditions at three reclaimed mine sites in West Virginia were monitored in order to develop representative case studies for post-mining wind power. This report contains a summary of the literature consulted to plan the site assessments, the methodology employed to execute them, the analysis steps undertaken to derive conclusions, and a discussion of all findings. This research has found that significant cost savings can be yielded from synergistic mine closure and wind development, as compared to greenfield wind development. Though wind conditions themselves remain the primary driver for site feasibility, post-mining wind power is a practice with significant promise for improving project economics, contributing to renewable energy development, enhancing company-community relations, providing local employment opportunities, and exemplifying sustainable business practices in Appalachia. / Master of Science

Coal surface-mining is often implicated for its negative impacts on native flora and fauna. However, some studies suggest that, in reclaiming land after mining, there may be potential to create early successional habitat needed by many avian species currently in decline throughout eastern North America. I evaluated nest-site selection and nest success for on reclaimed mine lands in southwest Virginia during the summers of 2010 and 2011. For this nest-site analysis, I focused on 2 bird species common to reclaimed mine lands in southwest Virginia: field sparrows (Spizella pusillia) and indigo buntings (Passerina cyanea). In addition, I assessed bird community attributes in relation to various surface-mine reclamation regimens over a 5-year period from 2007-2011. For both species, I found estimates of daily nest success to be higher than other estimates reported in the literature; however, empirical estimates of adult and juvenile survival are needed to provide better estimates of population status. For field sparrows, models of avian nest success support the hypothesis that a tradeoff exists between nest concealment and a view of the surroundings for field sparrows. For indigo buntings, year explained the most variation in nest success, with much lower estimates of daily nest survival in 2010, possibly as a result of increased precipitation. I also assessed avian community dynamics in relation to vegetation changes on reclaimed mine sites and observed a total of 96 species throughout the 4 years of sampling. Local species persistence and species turnover were comparable to another continental scale study conducted using breeding bird survey (BBS) data. Observed changes in community vital rates were likely a result of changes in certain habitat attributes over the 5-year period. Lastly, seven species were unique to certain cover types, suggesting the need to consider landscape level processes when developing restoration guidelines for reclaimed coal surface-mines. / Master of Science

The development of southwest Virginia’s coal mining areas is severely hampered by a lack of building sites and waste disposal facilities. New technologies to reclaim mined lands have the capacity to produce large level expanses of land suitable for building sites by using the minespoil to reshape the land contours. Because these areas are generally too remote for centralized sewer to be economically feasible, the problem of waste disposal remains. Also, the current Virginia Department of Health regulations forbid placement of on-site waste water treatment and dispsoal systems (OSWTDS) in any fill material, including minespoil. The objective of this research is to examine alternative OSWTDS technologies for their applicability to treating wastewater in fill materials with respect to both removal of biological and chemical contaminants and hydraulic performance. In the fall of 1989, topsoil and minespoil materials were transported from southwest Virginia to Blacksburg, Virginia. The soil material was screened, air-dried, and packed into large plastic cylinders. Septic tank effluent and sand filter effluent was applied to the soil columns daily at three different loading rates for a period of 5 months. Wastewater samples were collected after passing through the soil columns and analyzed for several chemical parameters as well as fecal coliforms. Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia Coli and bacteriophage T-1 (virus) were introduced into the columns and analyzed in the filtrate. The soil material in the columns was also characterized for selected physical parameters. The results indicate that the concentration of total inorganic N was reduced 15 to 60% after the effluent was passed through the soil columns. However, the NO₃ - N concentrations were still above the 10 mg/L drinking water standard indicating that housing density should be considered when fill material is used for OSWTDS. The quantity of P emerging from the columns was higher than anticipated in minespoil column effluent which is probably related to the indigenous P present in the minespoil. The P concentration in topsoil column effluent increased with influent application and this relationship could be described by quadratic functions. The numbers of fecal coliforms were reduced (93 to 99%) by passing effluent through the soil columns. The concentration of indicator organisms indicated a gradual decline in viable bacterial cells and viral particles over time, with the indicator virus assays being completely negative by day 11. The tracer organism study also indicates that the survival time of these organisms can be effectively controlled in topsoil by reducing the influent loading rates, and in minespoil by reducing the influent loading rates and using some type of pretreatment, such as a sand filter. This study indicates that OSWTDS can be placed in selected topsoil areas in reclaimed minelands. It further indicates that at least 60 cm of unsaturated topsoil should be available for wastewater renovation. Minespoils were also effective at renovating wastewater, but may require pretreatment before application, a lower loading rate, a deeper unsaturated zone, or perhaps a combination of these factors. / Master of Science

Alkaline fly ash has been studied as a liming agent within coal refuse fills to reclaim acid-forming refuse. Previous studies focused on bulk blending ash with acid-forming (pyritic) refuse. A better representation of field conditions is a "pancake layer" of ash above the refuse. A column study was initiated to evaluate the leachate chemistry from acid-forming refuse-ash bulk blends vs. ash over refuse layers. An acidic and an alkaline ash were blended with, or layered over, acid-forming refuse and sandstone and packed into columns which were leached with deionized water twice a week for 24 weeks under unsaturated conditions. Leachates were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, and a suite of elements with a focus on the oxyanions of As, Cr, Mo, and Se. A sequential extraction procedure revealed a significant portion of the elements in the residual fraction for the refuse/spoil substrates and in metal-oxide bound fractions for the ashes prior to leaching, and a general trend for a greater proportion of oxyanion elements to be associated with metal oxide fractions after leaching. Bulk-blended treatments maintained higher leachate pH than corresponding layered treatments. The acidic ash and refuse pancaked treatments exhibited relatively high initial concentrations of most elements analyzed. Pancake layers of ash over refuse are an inadequate co-disposal method to prevent and mitigate acid mine drainage. Blending alkaline ash with refuse to acid-base accounting specifications should improve leachate quality overall, but there may be water quality concerns for loss of Se and other soluble ions during initial leaching events. / Master of Science

The use of blasted rock overburden as a topsoil substitute during surface-mined land reclamation is practiced in areas with thin, unrecoverable topsoil. The long-term productivity of topsoil substitutes has often been difficult to maintain under forage and row crops. The objective of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an unamended topsoil substitute as a tree growth medium compared to both topsoil- and organic matteramended minesoils based on the accumulation and mineralization of carbon and nitrogen pools. A factorial experiment was established in 1987; treatments (5 cm of a Jefferson series topsoil, 8 cm of whole-tree woodchips, and an unamended control) were assigned to lysimeters filled with blasted overburden. All lysimeters were planted with a treecompatible ground cover of grasses and legumes and 10 pitch pine x loblolly pine hybrid seedlings (Pinus rigida L. x P. taeda L.). The control treatment was designed based on principles hypothesized as necessary for the success of reclamation forestry; i.e., the selection of a suitable spoil material (slightly acid, low salt concentration), placing that material in an uncompacted (rough-graded) condition, and planting a tree-compatible ground cover of grasses and legumes. It was hypothesized that, under these conditions, C and N accumulation and N supply would be comparable to topsoil- and organic matteramended minesoils. Two years after treatment, net accumulated total organic C in the fine-earth fraction was 4.4, 3.7, and 9.2 g kg⁻¹ for the control, topsoil, and woodchip treatments, respectively; after 8 years, concentrations were 12.7, 16.0, and 18.2 g kg⁻¹. Net accumulated total Kjeldahl N after 8 years was 784, 1132, and 679 kg ha⁻¹! for the control, topsoil, and woodchip treatments, respectively, but amended minesoils were not significantly different from the control. Total Kjeldahl N accumulation rates were 103, 149, and 89 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Aerobic N mineralization potential after 1 year was 31, 63, and 56 mg kg⁻¹ for the control, topsoil, and woodchip treatments and increased to 112, 157, and 118 mg kg⁻¹ after 8 years. The woodchip treatment seemed to confer no additional benefits, relative to N accumulation and cycling, compared to the control. The topsoil treatment increased the amount of N and the N mineralization capacity of the minesoil, but did not affect the N accumulation rate or the N mineralization rate relative to the control. While maximum plant productivity would probably be realized in a topsoil-amended minesoil, pine tree volume between the control and topsoil treatments was not significantly different after 5 years. / Master of Science

Sweden’s landscapes are all marked by human activities, even in the landscapes today perceived as an untouched wilderness, remains of previous human resource extraction can be found. Historical imprints left in our surroundings speak of past memories and life; this allows us to evoke feelings and connect to a site. These sites are often celebrated as places of value since they store knowledge of our past – landscapes that can speak about us. Today these landscapes are reshaped by industrial machinery and our impact has reached a new global scale. Vast areas are laid to waste, extracted, transformed and finally forgotten. This thesis derives from the study of these types of important territories called landscapes of extraction. The thesis introduces Slite, a small mining town located on Gotland, where the impacts of these industrial Badlands have split both the town and its community in half. It is an investigation of possible scenarios and opportunities for the post-treatment after the industry has left. Furthermore, it is a continuation of my previous research, where concepts and instruments such as Mythology, Planetary urbanization and Reclamation are adapted to post-industrial landscapes (Högberg 2023, 3, 6-7). As a result, this thesis aims to support a reclamation process where these damaged territories can be rediscovered, revalued and reintegrated with the local ecosystem and community. A process that promotes a more productive, sustainable and responsible future for these sensitive but important landscapes. I consider these landscapes key territories, since they allow us to experience the true impact of our own consumption, thus they are essential spaces to fully grasp the consequences of our own usage of resources.

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

Lin Yee Mei Jennifer. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 2001-2002, design report." / Chapter 01 --- Thesis Interest / Chapter 02 --- Hong Kong Situation / Chapter 03 --- Land Research / Chapter 04 --- Site Selection / Chapter 05 --- Scope of works & Programmes / Chapter 06 --- Site planning strategies / Chapter 07 --- Building design strategies / Chapter 08 --- Design Development / Chapter 09 --- Final design

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management