Wet Dust Suppression: Difference between revisions
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== Water Suppression == | == Water Suppression == | ||
[[File:Dominion Terminal Water Application.jpg|alt=Dominion Terminal Water Application|thumb|While the sprinklers are not on at the moment of the photograph, large amounts of standing water are visible at the Dominion Terminal.]] | [[File:Dominion Terminal Water Application.jpg|alt=Dominion Terminal Water Application|thumb|While the sprinklers are not on at the moment of the photograph, large amounts of standing water are visible at the Dominion Terminal.]] | ||
Coal dust emissions in Southeast Newport News and Lambert's Point are primarily managed using wet suppression methods that consist of spraying water, or water with chemical additives, over coal storage piles, railcars, and/or transloading equipment using a system of sprinklers. Water application is often adjusted based on terminal activity and ambient humidity conditions. | Coal dust emissions in Southeast Newport News and Lambert's Point are primarily managed using wet suppression methods that consist of spraying water, or water with chemical additives, over coal storage piles, railcars, and/or transloading equipment using a system of sprinklers and water trucks. Water application is often adjusted based on terminal activity and ambient humidity conditions. | ||
Water suppression is mentioned in the record as early as the 1920s, when the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railroad Company installed a custom pipe system to spray water on coal-filled railcars where and when the cars were emptied through overturning.<ref>[https://voicesinthedust.org/File:Daily_Press_1927_11_23_Page_2.pdf Railroads of Port Adopt Coal Sprinkle: Growing demand for Sprinkled Coal Said to Be Made by Trans-Shippers], ''Daily Press'', November 23, 1927.</ref> Following an air monitoring study in 1956 demonstrating coal was a major portion of airborne dust in Southeast Newport News and pressure from the Newport news City Council, C&O installed equipment to create a water fog over the coal piers to suppress dust.<ref>[https://voicesinthedust.org/File:Daily_Press_1956_12_12_Page_3.pdf C&O to Install Costly Equipment for Control of Air Pollution in NN], ''Daily Press'', December 12, 1956.</ref> | Water suppression is mentioned in the record as early as the 1920s, when the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railroad Company installed a custom pipe system to spray water on coal-filled railcars where and when the cars were emptied through overturning.<ref>[https://voicesinthedust.org/File:Daily_Press_1927_11_23_Page_2.pdf Railroads of Port Adopt Coal Sprinkle: Growing demand for Sprinkled Coal Said to Be Made by Trans-Shippers], ''Daily Press'', November 23, 1927.</ref> Following an air monitoring study in 1956 demonstrating coal was a major portion of airborne dust in Southeast Newport News and pressure from the Newport news City Council, C&O installed equipment to create a water fog over the coal piers to suppress dust.<ref>[https://voicesinthedust.org/File:Daily_Press_1956_12_12_Page_3.pdf C&O to Install Costly Equipment for Control of Air Pollution in NN], ''Daily Press'', December 12, 1956.</ref> | ||
Today, the coal export terminals continue to rely on water suppression despite community calls for other forms of dust mitigation, particularly a [[Wind Fences, Domes, and Tree Barriers|wind fence or dome]] in Southeast Newport News or [[Covering the Train Cars and Dumpers|railcar coverings]] in Lambert's Point. The [[Companies: railroads, terminals, and coal|Kinder Morgan Bulk Terminals]] use a system of 44 sprinklers to spray water that suppresses dust emissions from the piles and transloading equipment. | Following community pressure on politicians and [[Coal dust complaints|complaints to Virginia Air Pollution Control Board]] and additional research in the 1980s, water suppression infrastructure was expanded in Southeast Newport News and Lambert's Point, Norfolk.<ref name=":0">Vogelsong, [https://virginiamercury.com/2022/04/19/virginia-will-begin-monitoring-air-pollution-around-hampton-roads-coal-terminals/ Virginia Will Begin Monitoring Air Pollution around Hampton Roads Coal Terminals: Residents of Newport News’ East End Say There’s Been Too Many Studies and Too Little Action], Virginia Mercury, April 19, 2022.</ref> According to the [[Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ)]], the new water suppression system at the terminals in Southeast Newport News reduced coal dust emissions by 80%. In 2022, Kinder Morgan spokesperson Amy Baek claimed the Kinder Morgan Terminals used 20,000 gallons of water every hour to suppress dust emissions.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
Today, the coal export terminals continue to rely on water suppression despite community calls for other forms of dust mitigation, particularly a [[Wind Fences, Domes, and Tree Barriers|wind fence or dome]] in Southeast Newport News or [[Covering the Train Cars and Dumpers|railcar coverings]] in Lambert's Point. The [[Companies: railroads, terminals, and coal|Kinder Morgan Bulk Terminals]] use a system of 44 sprinklers to spray water that suppresses dust emissions from the piles and transloading equipment. The Dominion Terminal now used 79 sprinklers, turned on about four times per day or more depending on the weather, as well as a water truck dispatched to locations not covered by the sprinklers.<ref>[https://www.dailypress.com/2011/07/16/coal-dust-piles-an-issue-for-southeast-newport-news/ Coal dust, piles an issue for southeast Newport News], ''Daily Press'', July 2011, Updated: August 18, 2019.</ref> | |||
Water suppression is argued to be effective at fairly low cost,<ref>[[:File:RACM2.pdf|Ohio Office of Air Pollution Control, Reasonably Available Control Measures for Fugitive Dust Sources (Part 2)]], September 1980.</ref> and the terminals in Southeast Newport News and Lambert's Point have fought against other dust mitigation methods because of their associated costs.<ref>[[:File:Notes on email correspondence between Richard Posner of Dust Solutions.pdf|Email Correspondence with Richard Posner, President of Dust Solutions Inc.]], 2023.</ref> Despite decades of dust control using water suppression, nearby [[Interviews and oral histories|residents continue to report evidence]] that coal dust affects local air quality, outside and in their homes. | Water suppression is argued to be effective at fairly low cost,<ref>[[:File:RACM2.pdf|Ohio Office of Air Pollution Control, Reasonably Available Control Measures for Fugitive Dust Sources (Part 2)]], September 1980.</ref> and the terminals in Southeast Newport News and Lambert's Point have fought against other dust mitigation methods because of their associated costs.<ref>[[:File:Notes on email correspondence between Richard Posner of Dust Solutions.pdf|Email Correspondence with Richard Posner, President of Dust Solutions Inc.]], 2023.</ref> Despite decades of dust control using water suppression, nearby [[Interviews and oral histories|residents continue to report evidence]] that coal dust affects local air quality, outside and in their homes. | ||
== Chemical Coatings == | == Chemical Coatings == | ||
Many private companies offer chemical sprays that coat the coal, usually within the train car, with a sealant that prevents fugitive dust emissions.<ref>[https://nodust.com/application/rail-loading-unloading/ | Many private companies offer chemical sprays that coat the coal, usually within the train car, with a sealant that prevents fugitive dust emissions.<ref>Dust Solutions Inc., [https://nodust.com/application/rail-loading-unloading/ Rail Loading & Unloading], August, 7 2023.</ref> | ||
== Documents == | == Documents == | ||
Revision as of 12:47, 17 June 2025
Water Suppression
Coal dust emissions in Southeast Newport News and Lambert's Point are primarily managed using wet suppression methods that consist of spraying water, or water with chemical additives, over coal storage piles, railcars, and/or transloading equipment using a system of sprinklers and water trucks. Water application is often adjusted based on terminal activity and ambient humidity conditions.
Water suppression is mentioned in the record as early as the 1920s, when the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railroad Company installed a custom pipe system to spray water on coal-filled railcars where and when the cars were emptied through overturning.[1] Following an air monitoring study in 1956 demonstrating coal was a major portion of airborne dust in Southeast Newport News and pressure from the Newport news City Council, C&O installed equipment to create a water fog over the coal piers to suppress dust.[2]
Following community pressure on politicians and complaints to Virginia Air Pollution Control Board and additional research in the 1980s, water suppression infrastructure was expanded in Southeast Newport News and Lambert's Point, Norfolk.[3] According to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ), the new water suppression system at the terminals in Southeast Newport News reduced coal dust emissions by 80%. In 2022, Kinder Morgan spokesperson Amy Baek claimed the Kinder Morgan Terminals used 20,000 gallons of water every hour to suppress dust emissions.[3]
Today, the coal export terminals continue to rely on water suppression despite community calls for other forms of dust mitigation, particularly a wind fence or dome in Southeast Newport News or railcar coverings in Lambert's Point. The Kinder Morgan Bulk Terminals use a system of 44 sprinklers to spray water that suppresses dust emissions from the piles and transloading equipment. The Dominion Terminal now used 79 sprinklers, turned on about four times per day or more depending on the weather, as well as a water truck dispatched to locations not covered by the sprinklers.[4]
Water suppression is argued to be effective at fairly low cost,[5] and the terminals in Southeast Newport News and Lambert's Point have fought against other dust mitigation methods because of their associated costs.[6] Despite decades of dust control using water suppression, nearby residents continue to report evidence that coal dust affects local air quality, outside and in their homes.
Chemical Coatings
Many private companies offer chemical sprays that coat the coal, usually within the train car, with a sealant that prevents fugitive dust emissions.[7]
Documents
- Railroads of Port Adopt Coal Sprinkle: Growing demand for Sprinkled Coal Said to Be Made by Trans-Shippers, Daily Press, November 23, 1927
- Ohio Office of Air Pollution Control, Reasonably Available Control Measures for Fugitive Dust Sources (Part 1), September 1980
- Ohio Office of Air Pollution Control, Reasonably Available Control Measures for Fugitive Dust Sources (Part 2), September 1980
- Ohio Office of Air Pollution Control, Reasonably Available Control Measures for Fugitive Dust Sources (Part 3), September 1980
- Ohio Office of Air Pollution Control, Reasonably Available Control Measures for Fugitive Dust Sources (Part 4), September 1980
- Email Correspondence between Richard Posner of Dust Solutions, Inc. and Repair Lab Team Member, 2023
References
- ↑ Railroads of Port Adopt Coal Sprinkle: Growing demand for Sprinkled Coal Said to Be Made by Trans-Shippers, Daily Press, November 23, 1927.
- ↑ C&O to Install Costly Equipment for Control of Air Pollution in NN, Daily Press, December 12, 1956.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Vogelsong, Virginia Will Begin Monitoring Air Pollution around Hampton Roads Coal Terminals: Residents of Newport News’ East End Say There’s Been Too Many Studies and Too Little Action, Virginia Mercury, April 19, 2022.
- ↑ Coal dust, piles an issue for southeast Newport News, Daily Press, July 2011, Updated: August 18, 2019.
- ↑ Ohio Office of Air Pollution Control, Reasonably Available Control Measures for Fugitive Dust Sources (Part 2), September 1980.
- ↑ Email Correspondence with Richard Posner, President of Dust Solutions Inc., 2023.
- ↑ Dust Solutions Inc., Rail Loading & Unloading, August, 7 2023.