Assessment of environmental impact of digging and loading equipment in surface coal mining

Transactions of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration , 2013, Vol. 334, No. 1, pp. 465-471

Lashgari, A.; Kecojevic, K.

This paper presents research on the environmental impact of digging and loading equipment used in surface coal mining. Environmental impact was assessed through the measurement of equipment exhaust and dust emissions, and sound level. In this study, exhaust emission refers to carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), sulfur oxides (SO_x) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Dust generation refers to fine particles (PM_2.5), inhalable particles (PM₁₀) and total suspended particulate matter (TSP). Sound level refers to the sound pressure level at different distances from the equipment. Modeling of the environmental impact of digging and loading equipment was conducted using the Microsoft Visual Studio.NET software package. This research was a part of a broader project involving the development of a software system for the selection of productive, cost-efficient and ecofriendly mining systems, sponsored by the Appalachian Research Initiatives for Environmental Sciences (ARIES). This research may assist mining professionals in quantifying the environmental impact of digging and loading equipment, and developing strategies for reducing the overall impact of such equipment in surface mining.