METHODS IN ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE ASSESSMENT AND

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE PROTECTION

Environment-related problems of coal mining and utilization continue to dissuade some
coal users and potential coal users although new techniques are currently in vogue that
allow for cleaner and sounder ways to utilize coal. Despite this, continued growth in the
coal industry can be expected throughout the remainder of this century. In the United
States, the growth in use of low-sulfur coal from large western surface coal mines has
been substantial. Due to antipollution requirements on utility power-plant emissions, this
low-sulfur coal is in high demand. Use of high-sulfur eastern coals requires the installation
of expensive pollution-control equipment such as scrubbers for coal desulfurization. Table
15-1 compares characteristics of western U.S. coal with eastern U.S. coal. This
comparison does not take into account the vast deposits of Alaskan low sulfur bituminous
and subbituminous coal. The use of coal, rather than exploration or production, may
represent the most challenging problems to our environment. Ash disposal is a very
important consideration since it usually makes up 5 to 20 percent of the original coal
substance. During combustion, the sulfur impurities of coal are released to the
atmosphere as sulfur dioxide (S02)' This sulfur can be chemically combined in the
combustion chamber by the utilization of fluidized-bed processes, thereby greatly
reducing air pollution. The emission of carbon dioxide (C0 2) into the atmosphere could
be the chief environmental hazard of coal utilization. It is believed by some that this could
ultimately result in a gradual warming of the earth's temperature because of the
destruction of the ozone layer within the atmosphere, thereby neutralizing the
'greenhouse effect.' Eventually, this could lead to climatic changes with the melting of
polar icecaps and shifting of prime agricultural zones.