Coal USA

Coal Dust Mitigation Update

Surface Transportation Board – RETAC

September 10, 2009

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Rain Impact on Ballast Contaminated
with Coal Dust

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Undercutter Work – Normal Ballast is
not Black

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Schematic of Typical BNSF/UP Dustfall
Collector Orin Subdivision Site

Service                     Road
Service                    Road
5 2 1

4 3

12’ 12’

35’

60’ 60’

Note: Distances
from centerline
of track will vary
N
slightly due to site
geography

Western  Eastern 
Track Track
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Dustfall Collectors

z Measure amount of dust deposited in the railroad right-

of-way

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Trackside Monitor (TSM)

Propeller
MP 90.7 TSM Anemometer

Dust Monitor

Temperature/
Relative Humidity
Sensor

Data Logger

Precipitation Gauge

Dustfall Collector

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Trackside Monitors

z Measures dust emission of each passing train

z Locations:
z MP 90.7 on Orin Sub
z Towers on East and West sides of tracks
z Approximately 50% of trains useable
z MP 558.2 on Black Hills Sub
z Towers on North and South sides of tracks
z Approximately 75% of trains useable
z MP 693.4 on Big Horn Sub
z Data collection only at this time

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Post-Processing of Train Data

z Train Removal Criteria for Compliance Analysis

z Additional train (loaded or empty) passing TSM
site within 6 minutes
z High/Erratic background dust

z Bin data into proper wind components

z e.g., East dust monitor uses data with westerly
wind component
z e.g., West dust monitor uses data with easterly
wind component

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Coal Dust Train Measurement

Dust Values for Passing Train at

TrackSide Monitor
120
100
Dust Value

80
60
40
20 Train arrives at MP 90.7
0
-60 0 60 120 180 240 300
Time (Seconds)

Environmental
Train Passage at
Background
MP 90.5 According to
Dust
BNSF Train Data 8
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Integrated Dust Value (IDV.2)

Dust Values for Passing Train at

TrackSide Monitor
120 Integrated Dust Value
Version 2 = 412
100
Dust Value

80
60
40
20
Train arrives at MP 90.7
0
-60 0 60 120 180 240 300
Time (Seconds)

Dust Value Threshold = 10 + Background Average

Front Diesel: Ignore
Environmental Train Passage at first 30 seconds of Rear Diesel: Ignore last
Background MP 90.5 According to values once dust signal 15 seconds of dust
Dust BNSF Train Data exceeds threshold signal > threshold
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Improved Loading Profile

Redesigned Chute Normal Chute

Flared to 7 ft. wide 5 ft. wide
Same height as normal chute Promotes center peaked load
Promotes bread loaf shape Allows loading heights 3’ to 4 ‘
Limits height chute can be raised
above sill

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Impact of Modified Chutes

BEFORE AFTER
Note Peaked Loads, Sharp Lines, Note Rounded Contour, No Sharp
Steep Angle of Repose and other Angles, Flatter Angle of Repose and
irregular surfaces which are few irregular surfaces which are
susceptible to erosion susceptible to erosion

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Field Profile Audits

z Monthly unannounced audits

z Trains found not in compliance, provide mines
z Written report

z Photograph

z Video of train

z Audited 225 trains year to date

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RTEPS and Passive Collectors

RTEPS typically applied on last car of 
train with Passive Collector to 
determine external forcings (Wind 
Speed/Direction, Precipitation, Ambient 
Temp/RH, Coal Surface Temp, and Airborne 
Dust)

Passive Collectors applied in sets of 5 – 10 
to test effectiveness of dust suppression 
method compared to control technique

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Instrumentation

z Rail Transit Emission

Profiling System
(RTEPS)
z Airborne Dust Monitor
z Precipitation Gauge
z Ambient
Temperature/Relative
Humidity Sensor
z Propeller Anemometer
z Infrared Sensor for Coal
Surface Temperature
z Global Positioning System
z Passive Dust Collector
(PC)

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Nacco Bridge – Undercut 2006

Coal has filtered down to the top of the bridge deck

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