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. Wind fences and domes are commercially available, can be installed while terminals continue their regular operations, and 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. The 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 fabric panels affixed to steel or aluminum posts.

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

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.

Domes

A dome is a completely enclosed structure over the coal piles and transloading equipment, preventing the emissions and transport of coal dust into the adjacent neighborhood. A dome can be made of aluminum panels and galvanized steel.

Domes are effective: Domes are airtight and fully enclose the coal piles and transloading equipment, containing most or all produced coal dust within the dome.

Domes are widely-used: Domes are a standard industry technology for industrial bulk storage used in over one hundred locations globally. 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 one hundred locations for dust mitigation for other materials and/or bulk industrial storage, including at 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: A representative from Geometrica reported that their domes can cost from $200 to more than $500 per square meter covered. A representative from LF-BJMB reported that their domes can cost from $330 to $370 per square meter covered. A representative from SAFS Steel Structure reported that their coal silo domes can cost from $70 to $120 per square meter covered.

Domes can be constructed while the 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

Tree Barriers

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