Wind Fences, Domes, and Tree Barriers

Coal dust can be effectively mitigated with infrastructure, especially wind fences and domes. Wind fences and domes are used in hundreds of locations across the U.S. and around the world. They cost a fraction of a percent of the profits of the companies that operate the coal terminals in Hampton Roads.

Wind Fences

Wind fences reduce windblown dust, also known as fugitive dust, by acting as a windbreak. A wind fence is constructed upwind of the source, slowing winds as they pass over the coal storage piles (or similar materials). This causes less dust to be uplifted to the atmosphere and, therefore, carried by winds into adjacent neighborhoods. Wind fences are made of panels of a variety of porous fabrics affixed to steel or aluminum posts. If the storage yard is large, a dust collection mechanism may also be required on the downwind side. Wind fences can be added on top of other barriers, for example, in Richmond, California, where a recent settlement mandated putting a wind fence on top of shipping containers that were set in place to serve as a windbreak.

Wind fences are effective: Wind fences have been shown to reduce dust emissions by 70–86% on average.

Wind fences are widely used technology: Wind fences are a common industry technology to mitigate dust around the world. The Repair Lab compiled data on global wind fence use, finding more than 70 locations were using wind fences to reduce dust specifically for coal or petcoke in the U.S. and globally. There are also more than 100 additional locations using wind fences for dust mitigation from the storage of grain, dry clay, clinker, paper, gypsum, limestone, construction, copper, nickel, nitrate, soda ash, bauxite, gold, solar, and steel.

Costs are negligible compared to company profits: Wind fences are commercially available and can be constructed while the terminals continue to operate normally. Wind fence cost estimates of $4–30 million.

Put into context, Dominion Terminal Associates is a subsidiary of Alpha Metallurgical Resources, which reported $4.1 billion in revenue and $1.45 billion in profits in 2022. Kinder Morgan reported $19.2 billion in revenue and $9.95 billion in profits in 2022. A $4–30 million wind fence is <1% (0.04–0.26%) of their combined 2022 profits and 0.02–0.13% of their combined 2022 revenue.

For a person making $50,000 per year, this is equivalent to $9–64 from one year's wages to protect their community.

Wind fences do not require electricity or a water supply to operate and have minimal maintenance requirements.

Domes

A dome is a fully enclosed structure over the terminal, including the coal storage piles and transloading equipment. A dome can be made of aluminum panels and galvanized steel.

Domes are effective: Because domes enclose terminal storage areas, they contain most if not all coal dust produced through terminal activities.

Domes are widely-used: Domes are a common technology for industrial bulk storage. Domes are used specifically for coal or petcoke storage in at least 19 locations in the U.S. and globally. Domes are also used in over 100 locations that include power plants, grain dealers, mines, cement plants, ports, and other industries which stock large quantities of dry bulk materials.

Costs are negligible compared to company profits: Domes costs range $200–500 (Geometrica), $330–370 (LF-BJMB), and $70–120 (SAFS Steel Structure) per square meter covered. Domes can be constructed while terminals operate regularly.

Tree Barriers

Vegetative barriers, which are rows of trees and bushes, have been used to reduce dust downwind of coal mines and other sources. Tree barriers are more effective when trees are fully grown, with a barrier of fully-grown trees in one location measured to lowered PM₁₀ concentrations by 36%. Multiple rows of trees are more effective than one or two rows, with the type of tree species planted also having an influence. It stands to reason that vegetative barriers are more effective during seasons when there are leaves than in winter.

Funds and labor are required not only for tree planting but also for tree maintenance.

Documents

• Repair Lab, Coal Dust in Southeast Newport News is a Nuisance and There Are Solution, August 2024 (Corrected)

Wind Fences

• Larson, Fugitive Dust Mitigation Solutions for Coal Stockpiles, Power, September 1, 2015
• Jha et al., Handle with Care: The Local Air Pollution Costs of Coal Storage, National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series, May, 2017
• Jha, Even When It’s Sitting in Storage, Coal Threatens Human Health, The Conversation, September 13, 2017
• An Impressive Wind Fence to Prevent Coal Dust Pollution is under Construction on Krievu Island, Freeport of Riga, August 30, 2018
• Kireeva et al., The Murmansk Commercial Seaport Seeks to fence in Clouds of Coal Dust, Bellona, September 20, 2018
• City of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Minutes from the Plan Commission Meeting, February 12, 2019
• Durian, WE Energies to Build Wind Barrier in Hopes of Eliminating Coal Dust, TMJ4 WTMJ-TV Milwaukee, February 12, 2019
• Hanley, We Energies to Build Large Windscreen to Combat Coal Dust Issue in Oak Creek, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 13, 2019
• Kireeva et al., Murmansk Port Hopes Huge Screens Will Trap Coal Dust, The Maritime Executive, April 11, 2019
• Using Agglomerative Dust Suppression and Wind Breaks for Fugitive Dust Abatement, Australian Mine Safety Journal, April 17, 2019
• WeatherSolve Structures, Productive Environments for All Weathers, 2020
• Anderson, Oak Creek Neighbors Renew Coal Dust Concerns After Fence Falls, Racine County Eye, January 24, 2020
• Settlement Agreement between the City of Richmond, California, and the City Council of the City of Richmond and Levin Richmond Terminal Corporation, Richmond Pacific Railroad Corporation, and Levin Enterprises, Inc., Wolverine Fuels Sales, LLC, Phillips 66 Company, and the State of Utah, 2021
• Soares et al., Wind-Fence Efficiency Controlling Particulate Matter Emissions from Coal Stockpiles in an Industrial Site, IEEE, 2021
• WeatherSolve Structures, Coal Ports Are in Operation Around the World, January 26, 2021
• WeatherSolve Structures, Coal Stockpiles and BTU Losses, June 7, 2021
• U.S. EPA, Fugitive Dust Control Measures and Best Practices, January, 2022
• BHP, BHP Awards Contract for Australian-First Wind Fences in Port Hedland, June 1, 2022
• Email Correspondence between Mike Robinson of WeatherSolve and Repair Lab Team Member, 2023
• Email Correspondence between Richard Posner of Dust Solutions, Inc. and Repair Lab Team Member, 2023
• Almeida, Let's Face it Coal is Dirty, Gomantak Times, February 11, 2023
• Mining Dust Control and Suppression Solutions for the Mining Industry, Mining Technology
• Dust Control Technologies, Inc., Wind Fencing Gallery
• Dust Solutions Inc., Wind Fence Dusttamer™ Systems
• American Galvanizers Association, Comanche's Coal Pile Wind Fence
• Billman et al., Windbreak Effectiveness for Storage-Pile Fugitive-Dust Control: A Wind Tunnel Study
• Cowherd et al., Control of Open Fugitive Dust, Final Report to the U.S. EPA, September, 1988

Tree Barriers

• U.S. EPA, Fugitive Dust Background Document and Technical Information Document for Best Available Control Measures, September 1992