Economic feasibility analysis of water-harvesting techniques for mined-land reclamation

Nieves, L A; Marti, M H

doi:10.2172/6198524

Title: Economic feasibility analysis of water-harvesting techniques for mined-land reclamation

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Abstract

A water harvesting, agricultural production system, field tested as a means of reclaiming strip-mined land is described. Though the technical feasibility of the system is becoming increasingly apparent, economic feasibility and legal issues may determine its potential application. The purpose of this study is to explore the economic feasibility of the system and to provide information for use in assessing whether further investigation of water harvesting reclamation techniques is warranted. The economic feasibility of the PNL reclamation system hinges on whether its net benefits exceed those of conventional reclamation. This preliminary feasibility study assesses the net private benefits of each system using data for the Peabody Coal Company's Kayenta mine on the Black Mesa in Arizona. To compare the alternative reclamation systems, the present value of direct net benefits (income minus production and reclamation costs) is calculated for grazing (conventional reclamation) or for cropping (PNL reclamation). Three of the PNL system slope treatments have lower estimated total costs than conventional reclamation. The difference is $3895/acre for compacted slope, $3025/acre for salt-compacted slope and $2310/acre for crop-on-slope. These differences constitute a substantial cost advantage for the system on the basis of the present value of land reclamation and maintenance costs. Themore »« less

Authors:: Nieves, L A; Marti, M H

Publication Date:: Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981

Research Org.:: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (United States)

OSTI Identifier:: 6198524

Report Number(s):: PNL-3737
ON: DE81028262

DOE Contract Number:: AC06-76RL01830

Resource Type:: Technical Report

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; LAND RECLAMATION; ECONOMIC ANALYSIS; SURFACE MINING; ARIZONA; COAL MINES; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; COST; CROPS; DATA COMPILATION; FEASIBILITY STUDIES; PRODUCTIVITY; REVEGETATION; DATA; ECONOMICS; INFORMATION; MINES; MINING; NORTH AMERICA; NUMERICAL DATA; USA; WESTERN REGION; 510500* - Environment, Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989); 010900 - Coal, Lignite, & Peat- Environmental Aspects

Citation Formats


                    Nieves, L A, and Marti, M H. Economic feasibility analysis of water-harvesting techniques for mined-land reclamation.  United States: N. p., 1981. 
        Web.  doi:10.2172/6198524.

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                    Nieves, L A, & Marti, M H. Economic feasibility analysis of water-harvesting techniques for mined-land reclamation.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.2172/6198524

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                    Nieves, L A, and Marti, M H. 1981.  
        "Economic feasibility analysis of water-harvesting techniques for mined-land reclamation".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.2172/6198524.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6198524.

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@article{osti_6198524,

  title        = {Economic feasibility analysis of water-harvesting techniques for mined-land reclamation},

  author       = {Nieves, L A and Marti, M H},

  abstractNote = {A water harvesting, agricultural production system, field tested as a means of reclaiming strip-mined land is described. Though the technical feasibility of the system is becoming increasingly apparent, economic feasibility and legal issues may determine its potential application. The purpose of this study is to explore the economic feasibility of the system and to provide information for use in assessing whether further investigation of water harvesting reclamation techniques is warranted. The economic feasibility of the PNL reclamation system hinges on whether its net benefits exceed those of conventional reclamation. This preliminary feasibility study assesses the net private benefits of each system using data for the Peabody Coal Company's Kayenta mine on the Black Mesa in Arizona. To compare the alternative reclamation systems, the present value of direct net benefits (income minus production and reclamation costs) is calculated for grazing (conventional reclamation) or for cropping (PNL reclamation). Three of the PNL system slope treatments have lower estimated total costs than conventional reclamation. The difference is $3895/acre for compacted slope, $3025/acre for salt-compacted slope and $2310/acre for crop-on-slope. These differences constitute a substantial cost advantage for the system on the basis of the present value of land reclamation and maintenance costs. The system also has advantages based on the estimated value of agricultural production capacity. Even the lowest yield levels considered for alfalfa, corn, and pinto beans had higher net present values than grazing.},

  doi          = {10.2172/6198524},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6198524},
  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981},

  month        = {Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981}

}

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