Coal related issues identified by state and regional groups in the Midwest

Technical Report · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:6830992

Hilton, M L

Coal-related problems of general concern include increased air pollution; effects of Prevention of Significant Deterioration and other Federal air quality regulations; potential water use conflicts; acid mine drainage and other problems related to reclamation of ''orphan'' lands; price and availability of alternative energy sources; transportation constraints; and lack of information on new coal technologies. Perhaps the most important problem stressed was the increase in air pollution that will result from increased coal use unless advanced emission-control technologies are used. This issue is of particular importance to states in the eastern half of the region. Here the increased use of local high-sulfur coals could aid the economy of coal-producing states such as Ohio and Illinois, but would also result in higher sulfur dioxide emissions. While there is a general concern over the impacts of increased air pollution, a related problem is that of meeting Federal standards designed to control pollution. Many states are having difficulty meeting National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Conflicts over water use related to coal development are expected to increase. While both coal-fired generating plants and the gasification plants require much water, demands for municipal and industrial supply, agriculture, and recreation are also increasing. Adequate disposal of solid and liquid wastes from emission-control systems is of concern to many Midwestern state governments. Transportation problems may also slow development of coal in the Midwest. Existing rail networks, cars and engines may not be adequate to haul the amount of low sulfur coal required in the next 20 years. Several other coal-related problems were mentioned at several meetings but were not as common as those discussed above.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6830992
• Report Number(s): ANL/IAPE/TM-78-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
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)
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
AEROSOL WASTES
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEAN AIR ACT
COAL
COAL GASIFICATION PLANTS
COAL MINING
COMBUSTION
ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATORS
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FINANCING
FLY ASH
FOSSIL FUELS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUELS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
LAND RECLAMATION
LAWS
MANAGEMENT
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDATION
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
POLLUTION LAWS
POWER PLANTS
RAILWAYS
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
REGULATIONS
SCRUBBERS
SLUDGES
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSPORT
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER REQUIREMENTS