Wind Fences, Domes, and Tree Barriers
Coal dust can be effectively mitigated with infrastructure, in particular, wind fences and domes, which are used in hundreds of locations across the U.S. and around the world. The negative impacts of coal dust on residents and their property are preventable. Wind fences and domes are commercially available from multiple companies, can be installed while terminals continue their regular operations, and cost a fraction of a percent of the profits of Alpha Metallurgical Resources (Dominion Terminal Associates is their subsidiary) and Kinder Morgan.
Wind Fences
Domes
Tree Barriers
Vegetative barriers, which are rows of trees and bushes, have been used to reduce dust downwind of coal mines and other sources.[1] 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%.[2] Multiple rows of trees are more effective than one or two rows, with the type of tree species planted also having an influence.[1] 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
Wind Fences
Domes
Tree Barriers
- U.S. EPA, Fugitive Dust Background Document and Technical Information Document for Best Available Control Measures, September 1992
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Korean Air Grows Forest in Mongolia, The Korea Herald, September 3, 2023.
- ↑ Přikryl, Estimate of vegetation efficiency on reducing dust concentration produced by a surface coal mine. In: Programs and Algorithms of Numerical Mathematics, Proceedings of Seminar. Hejnice, June 24-29, 2018. Institute of Mathematics CAS, Prague, 132–139, 2019.