Overview of the effects of the coal fuel cycle on hydrology, water quality and use, and aquatic ecology

Technical Report · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5443160· OSTI ID:5443160

Cushman, R. M.; Gough, S. B.; Moran, M. S.

Literature is summarized for the effects of the coal fuel cycle (mining, mine-site processing, transportation, storage, onsite processing, combustion, and waste collection and disposal) on water resources. Aspects considered include surface- and ground-water hydrology, water quality and use, and aquatic ecology. Water use is discussed with regard to both availability and water quality constraints on use. Requirements of the recently enacted Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act are introduced where appropriate. For the combustion step in the fuel cycle, only those effects which are specific to coal as a fuel are addressed. Effects not specific to coal use (such as thermal effects, impingement, and entrainment resulting from cooling water withdrawal and use) are not considered. Reference is made to more exhaustive studies of the topics reviewed. A summary of the major environmental effects of the coal fuel cycle is given below.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5443160
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-7152
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
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& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
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520500 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
ASHES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL INDUSTRY
COAL MINING
COAL PREPARATION
COMBUSTION
COMMINUTION
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
DISSOLUTION
ECOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EQUIPMENT
FREIGHT PIPELINES
HYDROLOGY
INDUSTRY
INFORMATION
LAND RECLAMATION
LEACHING
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MINING
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDATION
PIPELINES
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
RESIDUES
RUNOFF
SCRUBBERS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SLUDGES
SLURRY PIPELINES
STORAGE
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSPORT
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER QUALITY
WATER REQUIREMENTS