Distribution and Management of Natural Resources in PA
Pennsylvania Coal
ä PA produces more than half of its electricity in coal-burning power plants.
ä Most of the coal used is bituminous (mined from the nearly 22 billion tons of coal reserved in western PA)
ä Anthracite coal is only found sporadically in deposits in the eastern half of the state.
Mining PA Coals
Bituminous Coal Mining
2 Methods
ä room and pillar method– rooms are cut into the coal bed, a series of pillars are left behind to support and provide air flow
ä coal is removed from the rooms first…then the pillars are plucked until the roof caves in and then the mine is abandoned…
ä longwall method – accounts for more than 1/3 of underground coal mining in PA
ä a cutting head moves back and forth cutting the coal seam…pieces of coal fall onto a conveyor belt for removal from the mine…uses special roof supports that are moved as the seam is cut…the roof falls in as the supports advance
ä Surface Mining (Contour Surface Mining/Open Pit Mining) – “Strip Mining”
Coal and the Environment
ä PA Bituminous coal contains high amounts of pyrite which contains high levels of sulfur and iron
ä Pyrite exposed to air/water forms sulfuric acid and iron hydroxide = ACID MINE DRAINAGE
ä AMD lowers waters pH and covers river channels with iron hydroxide (yellow-orange)
ä AMD is THE major source of water pollution in PA
ä As a result of the problems in PA, DEP (Dept of Environmental Protection) CAN NOT (by LAW) issue a coal-mining permit that will cause additional AMD.
ä Prior to the late 70’s mines were abandoned and NOT RECLAIMED
ä The 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act requires ALL mining companies to restore mined land to it’s original condition by reconstructing the land’s topography and replanting vegetation.
ä Burning coal also is an environmental concern.
ä Emissions such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide combine with water vapor to form sulfuric and nitric acids, which lead to ACID PRECIPITATION
ä Acid Precip. Lowers the pH in waterways and harms living organisms…can also leach aluminum, which is harmful.
Pennsylvania Power Plants
ä 50% PA electricity comes from coal…40% from nuclear…10% from hydroelectric, etc…
Coal-burning Power Plants
ä How do coal-burning power plants produce electricity? (page 55-56, last paragraph)
Nuclear Power Plants
ä How do nuclear power plants produce electricity?(page 56)
Hydroelectric Power Plants
ä How do hydroelectric power plants produce electricity?(page 56)