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Mining in Barboursville: Dust
One of the environmental concerns raised by the proposed mine is the fugitive dust that would be raised. According to the latest version of General Shale's mining permit application, they plan to initially disturb 18.26 acres of land. The EPA's "Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors" estimates PM10 emissions for construction operations as 1.2 tons per acre per month. By this model, potential PM10 emissions from the proposed mine could equal 263 tons per year. If Virginia included fugitive emissions in determining whether a facility constituted a "major source" of air pollutants, the proposed site's potential PM10 emissions alone would put it over the requisite 250 tons per year limit, and would require a PSD permit.Remember that twenty-five homes lie within 1000 feet of the site. The NOAA lists an average wind speed of 7 mph for this area. At this wind speed, PM10 particles can easily traverse much larger distances. This is illustrated by the many dust-related complaints DEQ has received from people living almost a mile from General Shale's Marion, Virginia facility.
According to the CDC's "Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 1999", mining machine operators lead the list of occupations with significantly elevated Proportionate Mortality Ratios (PMR) for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Nonmetal mining and structural clay products are among the five industries with the highest PMRs for COPD. Structural clay production is one of the industries for which silicosis is most frequently recorded on death certificates. At the Barboursville site, the nearest residents are so close, and potential dust emissions are so great, that those unlucky enough to live near the facility would face similar risks. There is a great potential for new disease, especially among the children who would grow up in the homes and yards surrounding the mine, and great potential to aggravate existing medical conditions. At least one of the residents within 1000 feet of the site already suffers from COPD, and is on oxygen.
Although dust abatement techniques exist, and are used by General Shale at its mines, we must conclude that they are inadequate protection for homes in such close proximity. Again, recall the many dust-related complaints that DEQ has received about General Shale's Marion, Virginia site, from neighbors a mile distant. Because of the many nearby homes, the high volume of potential dust emissions, and the potential danger to the health and welfare of neighboring residents, this site is unsuitable for the proposed mine.
Finally, note that concerns about dust are exacerbated by the presence of elevated levels of uranium in the area.
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