National Coal Utilization Assessment. An integrated assessment of increased coal use in the Midwest: impacts and constraints. [14 states Midwest region]

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5538468· OSTI ID:5538468

This study examines the impacts and constraints to increased coal production and use for a 14-state Midwestern region. The assessment considers technology characteristics, energy supply and demand trends, siting constraints, impacts on water availability and coal reserves, impacts on air and water quality, and ecosystems, effects of trace elements, social and economic impacts, and health risks. The significant air quality constraints to coal use are related to the short-term National Ambient Air Quality Standards, PSD standards, and exposure to sulfates. In general, cumulative water supply in the 14-state region is adequate to satisfy foreseeable energy requirements; however, on a localized basis significant water shortages may develop which could constrain a smaller portion of the energy development. Water quality impacts are primarily restricted to areas with insufficient water resources. Coal mining will continue to have significant effects on water quality in smaller streams draining the major coal regions unless strict control practices are maintained. Coal-conversion plants may cause localized water quality problems; however, the effluent characteristics of these plants are not well-known. A significant amount of the coal development is anticipated to occur in counties with high susceptibility to social and economic impacts. The timing, magnitude, and nature of these impacts could be mitigated by the development of effective management strategies.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., Evanston, IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5538468
• Report Number(s): ANL/AA-11
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
294001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Coal
530100 -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Social & Economic Studies-- (-1989)
AIR POLLUTION
AIR QUALITY
ARKANSAS
ARSENIC
AVAILABILITY
CADMIUM
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COAL INDUSTRY
COAL MINING
COAL RESERVES
DEMAND
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY DEMAND
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SUPPLIES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FORECASTING
FOSSIL FUELS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUEL CONSUMPTION
FUELS
GREAT LAKES REGION
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
INDUSTRY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
IOWA
KANSAS
METALS
MICHIGAN
MIDWEST REGION
MINING
MINNESOTA
MISSOURI
NEBRASKA
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH DAKOTA
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POWER PLANTS
PRODUCTION
PUBLIC UTILITIES
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
RESERVES
RESOURCES
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SITE SELECTION
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
SOUTH DAKOTA
SOUTHWEST REGION
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TRACE AMOUNTS
USA
WATER QUALITY
WATER RESOURCES
WISCONSIN