south heart comments & objections final
TRANSCRIPT
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 1/22
JamesR.DeutschDirector,ReclamationDivisionNorthDakotaPublicServiceCommission600E.BoulevardAve.Dept.408Bismarck,ND58505-0480
March15,2011
Re:SouthHeartLigniteMineApplicationInformalConferenceRequest,
CommentsandObjections
DearMr.Deutsch:WetheundersignedindividualsandorganizationsrespectfullysubmitthesecommentsonandobjectionstotheminepermitApplication(“Application”)submittedbySouthHeartCoalLLC(“Applicant”)andrequestaninformal
conferenceonthematteratSouthHeart,fortheconvenienceofthosemostaffected.Wealsorequestaccessforourselvesandourexpertstotheminesite(“Site”),forthepurposeofgatheringinformationrelevanttotheforeseeableimpactsoftheproposedminingactivities.Inaddition,werequestthatacopyofanelectronicorstenographicrecordoftheinformalconferencebemadeavailabletotheundersignedassoonaspossibleaftertheinformalconference.WeidentifyourselvesasObjectorstotheproject,andourinterestsinthematterinclude:
• Detrimentalimpactstoourresidencesandpersonalhealthfromthe
proximityofamassivestripminingoperation(“Mine”),blasting,hauling,processing,fugitivedust,wateraccess,watercontamination,etc.,causeddirectlybytheminingoperation;
• DetrimentalimpactstolocalwaterrecreationalopportunitiescausedbydisruptionofanaturalhydrologicalsystemandintroductionofpollutantsintolocalwatersbytheMine;
• Detrimentalimpactsonouragriculturalandbusinessinterests,includingtourismattractedbytheBadlandsandTheodoreRooseveltNationalPark,aswellasthehealthoflivestock,bycommencementofminingactivitiesinproximitytoanareathatiscurrentlyapristineandwildlandscape,withattendantimpactstoairqualityandqualityoflifegenerally;
• DetrimentalimpactsonenjoymentoftheBadlands,TheodoreRooseveltNationalPark,andothernaturalresourcesbyNorthDakotaresidentsandvisitorsfromaroundthecountry;
• Thelikelihood,giventhepatternestablishedtodatebyNorthDakotacoalmineoperators,thatreclamationactivitieswillbewhollyinadequatetorestorethesitetoitscurrentstateanduse,andtheresultingprospectofpermanentdegradationofthelandandwateronandneartheMine;and
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 2/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 2 of 22
• GlobalclimateimpactscausedbycombustionofcoalminedatSouthHeartandmethanereleasedduringtheminingprocess,includingchangesinweatherpatternsthatwilldetrimentallyimpactagricultureinourregionandincreasedlikelihoodofnaturaldisastersduetodisruptedclimatepatterns.
AftermanyvolunteerandprofessionalhoursspentreviewingthelengthyApplication,weconcludethattheApplicationinitscurrentformisincompleteduetomanyomissions,oversights,andincompleteanalyses,includingthelackofotherrequiredenvironmentalpermittingthatwouldprovideimportantinsightintotheactualimpactstobeanticipated.ThereforewerequestthatthePSCreviseitsfindingthattheApplicationiscompleteandsuspendthereviewpendingcompletionofallrelevantenvironmentalpermittingprocesses.Foreaseofreview,weincludeaTableofContentsasaguidetothesecomments:
TableofContentsCOALBEDMETHANERECOVERYACTIVITIES ..............................................................................3
HYDROLOGICALIMPACTS...................................................................................................................3SUMMARYOFOVERBURDENCHARACTERISTICSISINADEQUATE....................................................................3BASELINEMONITORINGANDTHEPROPOSEDMONITORINGPLANAREINADEQUATE ...............................5
GroundwaterMonitoring..................................................................................................................................6 SurfaceWaterMonitoring................................................................................................................................7
IMPACTSTOGROUNDWATERQUANTITY ............................................................................................................7IMPACTSTOGROUNDWATERQUALITY ...............................................................................................................8ALLUVIALVALLEYIMPACTS ....................................................................................................................................8PROBABLEHYDROLOGICCONSEQUENCESANDCUMULATIVEHYDROLOGICALIMPACTASSESSMENT. .10
HYDROLOGICALDAMAGEPREVENTIONRECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................... 11
OTHERIMPACTSOFMININGACTIVITY....................................................................................... 12URANIUMRELEASE ................................................................................................................................................ 12PALEONTOLOGICALRESOURCES.......................................................................................................................... 12CLIMATEIMPACTS.................................................................................................................................................. 12
RECLAMATIONISSUES....................................................................................................................... 13HYDROLOGICRECLAMATIONPLANISINADEQUATE ....................................................................................... 13SOILRECLAMATIONPLANISINADEQUATE....................................................................................................... 14NORTHDAKOTAHASAPATTERNOFINADEQUATECONTEMPORANEOUSRECLAMATION...................... 16
ECONOMICANDSOCIALIMPACTS ................................................................................................. 16
IMPACTSTOAGRICULTURE .................................................................................................................................. 16IMPACTSTOTOURISM ........................................................................................................................................... 17IMPACTSONLOCALCOMMUNITY,INFRASTRUCTURE,SOCIALSERVICES .................................................... 17COALVALUEISOVERESTIMATED ....................................................................................................................... 18ECONOMIC&TECHNICALFEASIBILITYOFCOALPROCESSINGPLANSAREQUESTIONABLE ................... 18
PROCEDURALANDETHICSISSUES................................................................................................ 19OMITTEDANALYSISOFBLMUNSUITABILITYDETERMINATIONANDFEDERALCOALIMPACTS ........... 19CORPORATEDISCLOSURE ..................................................................................................................................... 20
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 3/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 3 of 22
GTLENERGYCOALDRYINGPLANTISAMINEMOUTHFACILITYIMPROPERLYEXCLUDEDFROMTHEAPPLICATION........................................................................................................................................................... 20PSCCOMMISSIONERS’CONFLICTSOFINTEREST ............................................................................................. 20
ContributionstoCramerCampaignbySouthHeartFinanciallyInterestedParties:..........21ContributionstoKalkCampaignbySouthHeartFinanciallyInterestedParties: ................ 21
CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................... 21
CoalBedMethaneRecoveryActivitiesTheApplicationincludesinsufficientanalysisofanymethanepresentattheSiteandofanycoalbedmethanerecoveryactivitiesthatmaytakeplace.Ifsignificantamountsofmethanearepresent,eithermethanerecoverywilltakeplace,whichwillcausequantifiableimpacts,orrecoverywillnottakeplace,whichwillresultinreleaseofapotentgreenhousegasdirectlytotheatmosphere.Somediscussionofthefutureofanymethanecontainedatthesiteisappropriateinanyevent.If
ApplicantshavedeterminedthatthereareonlynegligibleamountsofmethaneattheSite,thosefindingsshouldbenotedintheApplication.WerequestananalysisofmethaneattheSiteandhowitwillbehandled.
HydrologicalImpactsFederalandstatesurfacemininglawsexplicitlyrequireprotectionofthehydrologicbalance.Damagetothehydrologicbalancemustbeminimizedwithinthepermitarea.Outsidethepermitarea,materialdamagetothehydrologicbalanceisprohibited.Thehydrologicbalanceconsistsofthewaterquantityandqualityofeachelementofthehydrologicbalance(i.e.,eachaquifer,eachspring,eachstream,
eachpond,etc.),theflowamongorbetweentheindividualelements,andseasonalvariationsofquality,quantity,andinter-elementflows.TheApplicationassubmitteddoesnotfulfilltheseminimumcharacterizationrequirements.TheProbableHydrologicConsequences(PHC)statementistheApplicant’sintegratedstatementoftheexpectedconsequencesoftheminingandreclamationoperationsproposedintheApplicationtoreducethedamagetothehydrologicbalancetoacceptablelevels.Withoutathoroughunderstandingofthehydrologicbalance,anyprojectionsofconsequencesarespeculative,withnobasisfortheoperatortoassertthatdamagetothehydrologicbalancewithinthepermitareaisminimizedandthatmaterialdamagetothehydrologicbalanceoutsidethepermitareawillnotoccur.ThePHCstatementis,therefore,inadequateandprecludesapprovaloftheApplication.WerequestmodificationofthePHCinresponsetothesecommentsorrejectionoftheApplicationasinadequate.
SummaryofOverburdenCharacteristicsIsInadequate
TestingconductedonoverburdenmaterialsthatwillbedisturbedduringminingindicatedhighpotentialforSHLMtoimpairsurfaceandgroundwaterqualitywithinandoutsideofthepermitarea.Sodiumadsorptionratio(SAR)testingwas
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 4/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 4 of 22
performedbytheapplicantonoverburdensoilslocatedabovetheDcoalseamasrequiredbyNDAC69-05.2-08-05-2(c).ResultsoftheSARtestingreportedinthepermitApplication(Section2.3.4.2)establishedthatapproximately57%ofthesampleshaveSARvaluesgreaterthan12and35%haveSARvaluesgreaterthan20.PSCPolicyMemorandumNo.3setsaSARvalueof12asthethresholdfortoxic
overburdenmaterials.Incasessuchasthis,wheretoxicoverburdenmaterialispresent,supplementalinformationisrequiredtoevaluatethehydrologicconsequencesofmining.SyntheticPrecipitationLeachingProcedure(SPLP)testingwasconductedtoevaluatefurtherthepotentialforoverburdenmaterialstoimpactwaterquality.TheSPLPisanon-buffered,short-duration,highliquid-to-waste,agitated,laboratoryleachingprocedureusinganextractingfluidtheapproximatecompositionofprecipitation.ThetestusestheanalyticalproceduresofEPAMethod1312,anacceptedUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgencymethod.WhiletheSPLPprovidesanindicationofthetypeandrelativeconcentrationsofcontaminantsthat
mightbeexpectedtoleachfromoverburdenmaterialsaswatertravelsthroughoverburden,liketheTCLP,itcannotpredicttheconcentrationsinleachatethatdoesform.AmongthefindingsoftheSPLPanalysesreportedinSection2.3.4.9are:
• ElevatedTotalDissolvedSolids(TDS)concentrations,16ofwhichwereabovetheEPASecondaryDrinkingWaterStandardof500mg/l,weredetectedintheSPLPleachate.TheApplicationacknowledgesthatanincreaseinTDSisexpectedduetodissolutionofsaltsandmineralsintheoverburdenmaterials.
• Selenium(2samples)andzinc(43samples)weredetectedintheSPLPleachateatconcentrationsgreaterthantheirNorthDakotaAcuteAquaticLife
Standards(NDAC33-16-02.1).Othermetalsincludingcadmium,copper,leadmercury,andnickelweredetectedinconcentrationsinexcessoftheNorthDakotaChronicLifeStandards(NDAC33-16-02.1).IneachofthesecasestheApplicantstheorizethatmixingofthere-placedoverburdenwilleffectivelydecreasetheconcentrationsofthesemetalsinfieldleachatetobelowapplicablestandards.Thispostulationiscuriousbecause,a)theSPLPleachateconcentrationsareoftensignificantlybelowtheconcentrationsthatactuallyforminthespoilduetotheextremelylongcontacttime(essentiallyforever)andhighsolid/liquidratioexperiencedbygroundwaterflowingthroughreclaimedoverburdenrelativetothetestprotocol,andb)thepatternsofexceedancesofgroundwaterandsurfacewaterqualitystandards,
asisseenatotherpreviouslyminedlocationsinNorthDakotawithsimilaroverburdenstrata.
• Arsenicwasdetectedin105of122leachatesamplesand66ofthosewereabovetheEPAPrimaryDrinkingWaterStandard0.01mg/l.TheApplicantshypothesizethatactualfieldconditionsliketherock/waterratioandhigherpHofstockpilerunoffwillresultinlowerarsenicconcentrationsthanweredetectedbytheSPLP.Studiesofarsenicmobilityingeologicsystemsestablishthatneitherhigherrock-to-waterratiosinthespoilnorhigherpH
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 5/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 5 of 22
argueforlowerarsenicconcentrationsthanreportedfromSPLPtests.Further,otherfieldconditionssuchasthepresenceofacid-formingmaterialsinoverburden,competingspeciesforadsorptionsites,andextremelylongcontacttimesmayalsoproducemoreconcentratedfieldleachatethanSPLPleachateandresultinwaterqualitythatexceedsstandardsmoreoftenorat
higherlevels.
ResultsoftheSPLPtestpromptedtheApplicantstodevelopandruntheGroundWaterLeachProcedure(GWLP)test.1GWLPisanunofficialandun-reviewedleachingtestdevelopedbyGolderAssociatesandNorthernAnalyticalpurportedlytodevelopabetterunderstandingofthehighlevelsofleachedarsenicfromSHLMoverburden.TheGWLPusedwaterobtainedfromoneon-sitewell,ratherthansyntheticprecipitation,asthelixiviantintheSPLPprocedure.ResultsobtainedfromtheGWLPshowedlower,butstillsignificantconcentrationsofarsenicinsimulatedleachate.Theobviousunderstandingfromthealternativetest–thatdifferentleachingfluidsleachdifferentconcentrationsunderlaboratoryconditions–does
nothelppredictactualimpacts.UnfortunatelyeventhesomewhatlowerlevelofarseniccontaminationpredictedbytheunofficialGWLPtestisnotlikelytoberealized.Forwaterqualityaftermining,thecontrollingfluidwillbespoilleachatereactingwithspoilatrock-to-waterratios50-foldthatofthelaboratoryconditionsovervirtuallyunendingperiodsoftime.ThelaboratoryleachingtestsconfirmthatTDSandmetalmobilityarealikelyproblemforthesespoils.Post–mininggroundwaterwillbeofsignificantlydifferentchemistrythanthepre-mininggroundwaterusedintheGWLP.Theleachingandacidformingpotentialofreclaimedoverburden,notedabove,islikelytoresultindegradationofgroundwaterandsurfacewaterqualityin
theareaofSHLM.ApplicantsdoconcedethatatleastarsenicshouldbeexpectedtobedetectedinthesurfaceandgroundwatermonitoringprogramsatSHLM,evenifnosuchconcessionismadewithregardtoothermetalslikelytodegradethegroundwaterandsurfacewatersystemsinthearea.TheabilityoftheproposedmonitoringsystemtodetectcontaminationfromSHLMwillbediscussedinaseparatecomment.
BaselineMonitoringandtheProposedMonitoringPlanAreInadequate
Applicants’waterlevelmonitoring,whichtookplace“monthlybetweenNovember2006andOctober2007andquarterlyfromthefirstquarterof2008throughthe
fourthquarterof2009”isinadequatebecausetheareawasexperiencingdroughtconditionsduringmostofthisperiod.Duringthefewtimeswhenwaterwasplentiful,anumberofmonitoringstationsbecameinundatedandlikelyprovided
1The relationship between the GWLP of the Applicants and the synthetic groundwater leaching procedure
(SGLP), a procedure developed in the mid-1980s by the Energy and Environmental Research Center at the
University of North Dakota (David Hassett, 1987) has not yet been determined. The SGLP has similar
design and has demonstrated similar problems to the SPLP and the TCLP.
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 6/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 6 of 22
unreliableinformation.TheApplicationdiscussesneitherproblemanddoesnotappeartoaddresstheseissues.Upgradientanddowngradientgroundwatermonitoringarerequiredtoprovideacompletepictureofthewateraccessandqualityimpactsofminingactivities.The
Applicationprovidesinsufficientevidencethatmonitoringsitesadequatelyevaluatethehydrologicalfunctionofthefullareathatmaypotentiallybeaffectedbyminingactivities.ThemonitoringprogramsproposedintheApplicationarealsoinadequate.Themonitoringplanmustmonitoratallplaces,atalltimes,andforsufficientdurationsthatarenecessarytoidentifywhere/whenconditionsofconcernmayexistordevelopasaresultofminingandreclamation.Themonitoringplansmustcollectdataattimesandplacesthatallowtheapplicant(andtheagencyandpublic)toverifythattheactualimpactsofminingandreclamationareconsistentwiththeprojectedimpactslaidoutintheProbableHydrologicConsequences(PHC)
statement.IntheeventthattheresultsofminingandreclamationdepartfromtheprojectionsofthePHC,themonitoringplanmustbeabletodiscernchangesinquantityandqualitythatareofconcern.Further,that“concern”mustbequantifiedwithnumericalvalues,rangesofvaluesortrends(i.e.,standardsortriggerlevels)thatallowandcauseactionstobetakentopreventmaterialdamagetothehydrologicbalanceoutsidethepermitarea.Anadequatemonitoringplan,inconjunctionwiththeHydrologicReclamationPlan(HRP),willrequirethatspecificactionsbetakenwhenconcernsareidentifiedandwhatthoseactionswillbe.Themonitoringprogramsdelineatedaredeficientin,orsimplymissing,eachoftheseelements.
GroundwaterMonitoringTheApplicationdescribesgroundwaterflowintheOverburden–DCoalAquiferasgenerallynortheasttowardtheHeartRiver.DischargefromtheOverburden–DCoalAquiferismainlytotheHeartRiverthroughalluviumandsubsurfaceoutflowtothenortheast(Section2.5.2.7).Unfortunately,duringactivemining,groundwaterflowinthealluvialandshallowbedrockaquifers(abovethebaseoftheDcoal)willbedominatedbypumpingattheactiveminepits.Aconeofdepressionwilldevelopthatwillinducegroundwaterflowtowardthepitswithexcesswaterbeingdischargedunderasurfacedischargepermit.Thisinwardflowtowardtheconeofdepressionwillbringunimpactedwaterfromsurroundingareas,pasttheperimetermonitoringwells,effectivelyrenderingtheproposedgroundwatermonitoring
systemunabletodetectgroundwaterdegradationcausedbymineoperationsuntilminingoperationsarecompleteandsufficientrechargehasoccurredtore-introduceoutwardflowfromtheminedarea.Onceminingiscompleteandpumpingisterminated,groundwaterwilleventuallyreboundtoequilibriumconditions,ultimatelyexitingthesitepastthepermitboundaryorintotheSouthHeartRiveroritstributaries.However,bythetimeequilibriumflowconditionsarere-established,themonitoringsystemwillhave
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 7/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 7 of 22
beenremovedandbondsreleased,leavingthelocalresidentsandStatetodealwiththeresults.Hydrologicconditionsmustbemonitoreduntilthefinalequilibriumconditionhasbeenestablishedifatrueindicationoftheeffectsofminingongroundwaterqualityistobeobtained.TheApplicationshouldbedeniedunless,amongotherthings,themonitoringplanrequiresmonitoringuntilequilibrium
conditionsarere-establishedandthefateandtransportofcontaminantsisunderstood.
SurfaceWaterMonitoring
ThesurfacewatermonitoringplanprovidedwiththeApplicationprovidesacursorydescriptionofaminimalsurfacewaterflowandqualitymonitoringthatmightbeimplementedunless“analternative(i.e.,reduced)listofmonitoring
locationsandparametersmaybeimplementedifwarrantedandapprovedbythe
PSC.”ThesurfacewatermonitoringprogramdescribedincludesonlyonemonitoringpointontheHeartRiverlocatedwelldownstreamofthesiteinthetownofSouthHeart.Thatmonitoringpointwillbeinsufficienttodetectdepletionof
baseflowintheHeartRivernearthesitecausedbydewateringactivitiesatSHLM.Monitoringofsurfacewaterisproposedtooccuronlythroughcompletionofthe“active(e.g.,non-reclamation)miningperiod” .Directdischargefromthereclaimedoverburdenaquiferisnotexpectedtobeginuntilequilibriumconditionsareestablished,wellaftertheplanneddiscontinuanceofsurfacewatermonitoring.Inaddition,therearenoproposedmonitoringlocationsalongtheHeartRiveradjacenttotheSHLMtodetectdischargefromgroundwaterintotheriver.TheproposedsurfacewatermonitoringplanwillnotsampleattheappropriatetimesorlocationsnecessarytodetectimpactstotheHeartRiverfromminingatSHLM.TheApplicationprovidesnoevaluationoftheamountofexpectedHeartRiver
baseflowdepletionthatwillbeinducedbyactiveminedewatering.Neitherdoesitcontainanevaluationoftheeffectofdischargeofcontaminatedgroundwateronpost-miningwaterqualityintheHeartRiver.TheApplicationshouldbedenieduntilthesurfacewatermonitoringplanrequiresmonitoringintheHeartRiverattimesandlocationscapableofdetectingdepletionofbaseflowduringmining,anddischargeofcontaminatedgroundwaterpost-mining.Wethereforerequestmodificationoftheproposedmonitoringprogramsandaugmentationofthebaselinemonitoringsubmitted,orrejectionoftheApplicationbasedonthelackthereof.
ImpactstoGroundWaterQuantity
ThetextdescribesaconeofdepressionthatwillresultfromdewateringtheDCoalandoverlyingunitsthatwillextendtothedepthofexcavation(bottomoftheDCoal)andclaimsthattheextentofsignificantdrawdownwill“likelybewithinonemileoftheminepits”.Noexplanationofhowthisestimatewasdevelopedisprovided.Withdrawalofgroundwaterdoesmorethansimplycreateaconeofdepression.Itreducestheactualquantityofgroundwaterwithintheareaofimpact
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 8/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 8 of 22
anditchangesthedirection(s)ofgroundwaterflow.Eachofthesemodificationstothehydrologicbalancehastheabilitytomateriallydamagethehydrologicbalanceorimpactgroundwaterusesandusers.Adetailedevaluationofthedecreaseingroundwaterquantity,includingthedistancethattheconeofdepressionwillextendpastthepermitarea,aswellastheeffectsthatthewithdrawalofgroundwaterwill
haveontheSouthHeartRiver,otherareasurfacewaterbodies,andhuman,animal,andenvironmentalusesandusersofthegroundwaterisneededtoadequatelydeveloptheProbableHydrologicConsequencesoftheSHLM.
ImpactstoGroundWaterQuality
TheApplicationstatesthat,“BasedonliteratureandobservationsatotherNorthDakotacoalmineoperations,TDSconcentrationsmayincreasetwotothreetimesrelativetopre-miningconditions”.Thisistheonlyquantificationprovidedfortheexpecteddegradationofgroundwaterquality,eventhoughtheoverburdentestingperformedbytheApplicantsconfirmsthatmetalswillbeleachedfromtheoverburdenandcriticalsoilchemistryproperties,e.g.,SAR,maybeunacceptable.No
evaluationorplanstomitigatetheseimpactsareidentified.Nostandardsortriggerlevelsthatcauseactionstobetakenbeforematerialdamagetothehydrologicbalanceoccursoutsidethepermitarea,nostandardsortriggerlevelsthatcauseactiontominimizedamagewithinthepermitarea,andnospecificactionsareincludedthatwouldbetakenwhentrendsindicatematerialdamageislikelyoutsidethepermitarea.Thetimeperiodoverwhichgroundwaterqualitywillbeimpactedisdescribedasbeingtemporary,witheventualequilibriumwaterqualityconditionsbeingsimilartopre-miningwaterquality.Whatisnotmentionedisthattheactiveminelifeisplannedtobe30yearsandthatreturningthegroundwatersystemtoany
equilibriumchemicalconditionswillrequiremanydecadesafterthat,letalonereturningittoconditions“similartopre-mining.”Ineffect,thegroundwaterresourceoftheSHLMmineareaandtheSouthHeartRiverwillremainimpactedforseveralgenerationsofNorthDakotans.AcompletediscussionofProbableHydrologicConsequencesmustidentifytheexpectedflowdirection,flowrates,contaminantconcentrations,contaminantfatesandseasonalvariationthereofthatareexpectedasaresultofmining.Itmustthen,inconjunctionwiththeHydrologicReclamationPlan,identifystepstobetakentomitigateimpactstooff-sitegroundwaterresourcessufficientlytopreventmaterialdamagetothehydrologicbalanceoutsidethepermitarea.Noneofthisisinthis
Application.TheApplicationisdeficientandtheagencyisrequiredbylawtodenythepermituntiltheminingplanactuallyaddressesprotectionofthequantityandqualityofgroundwater.
AlluvialValleyImpacts
IntheApplicationasaccepted,ApplicantshavenotsubstantiatedtheirclaimsthattheSiteisnotanalluvialvalleyfloor.Objectorsrequestacopyofanyinformation
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 9/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 9 of 22
submittedtothePSConthequestionofalluvialvalleyimpacts,andsubmitthefollowingobjectionstotheApplication.Thestructureoftheminingoperation(seeApplicationFig.3.1-1)appearsdesignedtoallowconvenientaccesstothefirststrippingandminingareawithrelatively
loweroverburdentocoalseamratio(easternhalfofPitNo.1inSection22)bysitinghaulroad,holdingponds,andminingoperationsbuildingswithintheSouthBranchHeartRiver(SBHR)alluvialvalley.Infurtheranceofthisgoal,mineoperatorshave(a)soughtadeclarationfromtheNDPublicServiceCommission(PSC)thattheSBHRalluvialvalleyisnotanalluvialvalleyforlegalcoalstripminingpurposes,and(b)bypositioningtworelativelysmallproposedminingareas(No.3,2038-2040,andNo.4,2040-2042)tothesoutheastsideoftheSBHRalluvialvalley,expandingthecontiguousproposedpermitareatotheoppositesideofthevalleyfromthemuchlargerproposedminingareas,No1(2014-2021)andNo2(2021-2038).OfparticularnoteisamassivehaulroadproposedtobebuiltthroughtheSBHRalluvialvalleywithonesectiontightlywedgedbetweenportionsoftheSBHR
andtheeasternedgeofproposedPitNo.1,attheedgeofwhichminingoperationsareslatedtobegin.Aspartofstripminingoperations,watersflowingintotheactivepitfromsurfaceandgroundsourcesareremoved(dewatered)toholdingpondsforsettlingofsuspendedsolidsandthendischargedtosurfacewaters.ProposedPondsNo.1andNo.2arelocatedwithintheSBHRalluvialvalleyinSection22withshortdischargeditchestotheriver.Qualityofwaterspumpedtoholdingpondsfrompitdewateringcanbeinferredfromanalysesofgroundwaterinbothoverburdenandthe“D”coalstratumtargeted
formining(Section2.5.2.5).Overburdenwaterswerevariableintotalsaltload(measuredaselectricalconductivity,EC),buttendedtohaveelevatedsodicity,meaningthattheanionicratioofsodiumtocalciumplusmagnesium(measuredasthesodiumadsorptionratio,SAR)iselevated.Watersincoalstratawerehighlyvariable,butmanysamplesshowedelevatedECandSARvalues.Thequalityofsurfacewatersresultingfromcontactwithstripminedoverburdenmaybeinferredfromleachingtests(Section2.3.4.9):
• 25%ofsamplesshowedSARvaluesgreaterthan12,anelevatedbenchmarkvalueindicatinglackoffitnessforirrigation,animal,orhumanuse;
• Totaldissolvedsolids(TDS)ofmultiplesampleswereaboveEPAsecondarydrinkingwaterstandards;
• Multiplesampleshadmaximumleachateconcentrationsofaluminum,iron,andmanganeseaboveEPAsecondarydrinkingwaterstandards;
• RelativetoNDchronicaquaticlifestandardsdefinedinthestateAdministrativeCode,severalmaximumleachatetestsexceededsetlevelsforthefollowingelements:cadmium,copper,lead,mercury,nickel,selenium,andzinc;and
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 10/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 10 of 22
• 66outof122leachatetestsyieldedarseniclevelsaboveEPA’sdrinkingwatermaximumcontaminantlimit(MCL).
Asnotedabove,proposedholdingpondsaredesignedtoreceivepitwatersandactivepitzonerunoffwaters.Aftersedimentationiscompleted,dischargewill
occur.Asnotedinthedraftpermitnarrative,inordertocomplywithwaterqualitystandards“…ponddischargewaterwillbedilutedwithothersources.”Injudgingenvironmentalrisksfromwatercontroloperationsconductedaspartofcoalstripmining,oneimportantconsiderationistherelativehydraulicconductivitiesofvarioussoilandlandtypes.Unminedalluviallands,suchastheSBHRalluvialvalley,haverelativelyhigherhydraulicconductivity,andholdingpondsmayingeneralbe“leaky”unlessprovisionsaremadeintheirconstructiontoachieverelativeimpermeability.UnmineduplandsintheSouthHeartareahavegenerallylowsubsoilpermeabilityduetodominancebysmectiticclaymineralogy,howeverpermeabilityisconferredbysuchfactorsasdeeprootpenetrationandsoil
animalaction.Sodicminespoils,thetypethatwouldpotentiallybecreatedbytheproposedminingactivity,arerelativelyimpermeable,butaresubjecttocatastrophicpipingerosionthatcanemptywaterimpoundmentsveryquickly.
ProbableHydrologicConsequencesandCumulativeHydrologicalImpact
Assessment
Thepermittingagencyisrequiredtoconsiderthehydrologicimpactsofall anticipatedmininginacumulativehydrologicalimpactassessment,orCHIA.NDCC§38-14.1.21(3)(c).The7000acrefootprintofthesiterezonedforminingraisesthepossibilitythattheminingApplicationisincompleteinscopeanddoesnotevaluatethefullimpactsofminingactivitiescontemplatedbyApplicants,includingthosethat
mayaffectfederalcoalatthesite.TheApplicationdescribesconsiderablecharacterizationofthecurrentflowandchemistryoftheHeartRiver,itstributaries,andotherpondsspringsandseeps.ThecurrentHeartRiverisdescribedasagainingstreaminthevicinityoftheproposedmine,meaningthatgroundwaterdischargestoriversedimentsandaddswatertoriverflow.Section2.6.3describesflowintheHeartRiverashavinganaveragebaseflowof1.1cubicfeetpersecond(cfs),excludingthemonthsofMarchandAprilwhenstreamflowisdominatedbysnowmelt.TheeffectthatdewateringoftheOverburden–D
CoalaquiferwillhaveonflowintheHeartRiverinnotincludedasaPHC.DevelopmentoftheconeofdepressionintheOverburden–DCoalaquiferwillreducegroundwaterheadinthataquiferuptoamile(unsupportedestimate,seecommentonSection2.5.3.1)awayfromthemine.ThelocationoftheHeartRiverimmediatelyadjacenttotheentirenorthernpermitboundary,andwithintheconeofdepression,willreducegroundwaterdischargetotheHeartRiverandpotentiallyturnseveralmilesoftheHeartRiverintoalosingstream.Alosingstreamisonein
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 11/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 11 of 22
whichwaterisleavingthestreamtorechargegroundwater.LossofbaseflowintheHeartRivertogroundwaterrechargeinducedbyminedewateringhasthepotentialtosignificantlyreduceandpossiblyeliminateflowinlongstretches(miles)oftheHeartRiverneartheSHLMandimpactdownstreamwaterrightswithrespecttoquantity,timing,andquality.Interactionbetweenthegroundwaterandsurface
waterflowsystemsarenotevaluated,norevenacknowledged,asPHCsoftheproposedSHLM.TheApplicationshouldbedenieduntiltheeffectofdewateringtheOverburden-DCoalAquiferonflowintheHeartRiverisfullyevaluated,quantified,andunderstood.Equilibriumconditionswillslowlyredevelopinthereclaimedoverburdenaquiferonceminingiscompleteandthedewateringpumpsareturned-off.GroundwaterdischargefromthereclaimedoverburdenaquifertotheHeartRiverwilltransportcontaminantsintotheriverthat,asdiscussedpreviously)hasverylowbaseflowduringmuchoftheyear.DirectdischargeofcontaminatedgroundwaterintotheHeartRiverisnotevaluated,norevenacknowledged,asaPHCoftheproposed
SHLM.TheApplicationshouldbedenieduntilthepost-miningeffectofdirectdischargeofcontaminatedgroundwaterintotheHeartRiverisfullyevaluated,quantified,andunderstood.
HydrologicalDamagePreventionRecommendations
AlargerbufferzoneshouldbeconsideredbetweenpermitboundariesandthealluvialvalleyoftheSouthBranchHeartRiver(SBHR)tothewestsideofthiswaterbody.WebelievethatproposedPitsNos.3and4,whichappeartobeservingasmerelandpositioners/holders,shouldbeabandoned.PermitboundariesshouldalsobedrawnbackfromtheHeartRivertothenorthofproposedPitNo.2inSections9and10withabufferzonealsoestablished.Alluvialvalleysandthewater
coursestheybeararetooimportanttolocalagriculturetobepollutedanddamagedbymassivehaulroadsandminingsupportfacilities.Sedimentationpondsholdingpitwatersandminespoilrunoffmustnotbesitedinsuchamannerthatthereisappreciableriskoftheircontentscontaminatingalluvialwatercourses.DownstreamusesintheHeartRiverdrainage,whetheranimalorhuman,currentorfuture,mustbeprotectedfrompollution.BetterandsaferdesignofholdingpondsmustberequiredofApplicants,includingsitingpondsawayfromdrainagewaysthataresubjecttofloodingandcarefulreviewofponddesigntoensuresafetyunderstressofhighervolumestorms.Asageneralcomment,thewholesystemofmanagingsurfaceandgroundwaterin
coalstripminingneedstoberethought.Pitdewateringandrunoffcapturepondsshouldbekeptseparatedifwaterqualitydifferencesinthesetwotypesofwatercanbeshowntowarrantit,asappearslikely.ThePSCshouldactivelystudyandpromotetheconceptofpitwatersbeingreintroducedtocoalseamaquiferstotheextentthatthiscanbeshowntolowerenvironmentalriskswithoutraisingcountervailingrisks.Runoffandsedimentcontrolpondsshouldbedesignedtofeeddesignedwetlandareas,spreadingwatersothatevaporationismaximized,wildlifeissupported,anddownstreampollutantriskislessened.
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 12/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 12 of 22
ThekindofproblemsandcontradictionsuncoveredintheexaminationoftheproposedreclamationofPitNo.1indicatetheneedforthoroughredesignofthebasicplanforthisarea.Perhapstheplancouldstartwithalongerinitialcutalonganortheast-southwestaxislocatedmorenearthemiddleofthepitarea.Shapedspoil
dumpsandsurfacematerialsstockpilescouldbelocatednearertonorthandsouthboundariesthaninthepresentpermitdraft.Higherriskdewateringpondscouldbelocatedupgradientofactivecutandspoilingormaterialpilesformaximumriskreduction.Longercutsorientedonamorenortheast-southwestoreast-westaxisthanthepresentplanwouldcutacrosslocalareaswithagreaterdiversityofreclamationdepthrequirementsandsuitablerespreadmaterialdepthsthanthecurrentplan,perhapsallowinggreateropportunityforshorteningstripping/stockpiling/respreadingcycles.Cutting/spoilingwouldproceedtotheeastandthesouthortoboththeeastandthewest.SuchaplanwouldaffordmuchgreaterprotectiontotheSBHRalluvialvalley.
OtherImpactsofMiningActivity
UraniumRelease
LocalresidentshaveexpressedconcernaboutthepresenceofburieduraniumattheSiteandthepotentialpublichealthimpactsofconstantexposuretoairborneuraniumreleasedbyminingactivities.WerequestinclusionintheApplicationofaliteraturesearchaboutthepublichealthimpactsofuraniumreleasedduringsurfaceminingactivities,andproposalsformitigationofanyknownrisks.
PaleontologicalResources
A100footavoidancezonearoundareaswithknownpaleontologicalorarcheologicalvalueappearsinadequateinlightoftheheavyindustrialactivity–blasting,hauling,etc.-tobeconducted.FossilsandartifactshavebeenrecoveredatandneartheSite.Werequestdocumentationsupportingthe100footavoidancezoneanddemonstratingthatitwillbeprotectiveoftheseresources.
ClimateImpacts
TheproposedproductionoftheSouthHeartLigniteMineis2.4milliontonsperyearoflignitecoal,whichwillproduceroughly218.8poundsofCO2permillionBtuwhencombusted,2barringuseofCO2capturetechnologiesthathavenotyetproveneconomic.TheenergycontentofligniteconsumedintheU.S.averages13million
Btuperton.Basedonthataverage,SouthHeartlignitewillreleasemorethan3milliontonsofCO2peryear.Stripminingwillalsoreleasemethane,afarmorepotentgreenhousegasthanCO2.TheMinethereforehasthepotentialtobethesourceofannualgreenhousegasemissionsroughlyequivalenttothoseofNepal,orapproximately.01%ofcurrentannualUSgreenhousegasemissions,forthenext30
2http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/coal/quarterly/co2_article/co2.html
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 13/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 13 of 22
years.Thisisanontrivialsourceofgreenhousegasemissionsthatshouldbeconsideredinthepermittingdecision.Werequestsuchananalysis.
ReclamationIssues
HydrologicReclamationPlanIsInadequate
Federalandstatesurfacemininglawsexplicitlyrequireprotectionofthehydrologicbalance.Damagetothehydrologicbalancemustbeminimizedwithinthepermitarea.Outsidethepermitarea,materialdamagetothehydrologicbalanceisprohibited.TheProbableGroundWaterHydrologicConsequences(Section2.5.3.2)areincompleteandarenotadequatelyaddressedintheGroundWaterHydrologicReclamationPlan(2.5.3.3).Interactionsbetweengroundwaterandsurfacewatersystemshavebeenparticularlyneglected.Inadequatelyaddressedgroundwaterhydrologicconsequencesinclude:
• TheconeofdepressioncausedbydewateringoftheOverburden–DCoalaquiferwilldiminishandpotentiallyremovegroundwaterfromalluvialandOverburden–DCoalaquifersinareasonandadjacenttothepermitarea.TheHydrologicReclamationPlandoesnotaddresshydrologicchangestotheseaquifersorprotectionofthehydrologicbalanceoutsidethepermitarea.TheHRPmerelycommitstoprovidealternativewatersuppliesforusersoftheresource.ThereisnoactivitydescribedintheHRPtopreventreductioningroundwaterquantityinareasofftheminepermitunderanticipatedminingoperationsandnothingdescribedintheeventthatthemonitoringprogramshowsthatimpactsfromminingaregreaterthanthoseanticipatedinthePHC. • TheconeofdepressioncausedbydewateringoftheOverburden-DCoalaquiferwillreduceflowonandaroundthepermitareainthealluvialaquifersassociatedwiththeHeartRiverandSouthBranchHeartRivers.ThisreductioningroundwaterflowhasnotbeenaddressedineithertheProbableGroundWaterHydrologicConsequencesortheGroundWaterHydrologicReclamationPlan.
• Groundwaterflowduringactiveminingwillbeprimarilytowardtheactivepit.Oncedewateringisstoppedflowdirectionswilleventuallyreestablishequilibriumandmigrationfromtheminedareawillbegin.TheProbableHydrologicConsequencesacknowledgethatdowngradientgroundwaterqualitywillbeimpactedbymining,butwithnoassessmentastothedegree
ofimpact.TheGroundWaterHydrologicReclamationPlanidentifiesnoactionsaspartofminingoperationstominimizedamagetothehydrologicbalancewithinthepermitareaandnoactionstopreventmaterialdamagetothegroundwatercomponentsofthehydrologicbalanceoutsidethepermitarea.TheHRPforgroundwaterissimilarlysilentonfurthermeasuresthatwouldbeavailableaspartofthereclamationplantoremediateimpactsweredatafromthemonitoringplantoindicategroundwaterimpactsbeyondthoseprojectedinthePHC.
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 14/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 14 of 22
TheProbableSurfaceWaterHydrologicConsequences(Section2.6.5)areincomplete.NoSurfaceWaterHydrologicReclamationplanisprovidedwiththePermitapplication.Unaddressedsurfacewaterhydrologicconsequencesinclude:
• TheconeofdepressioncausedbydewateringoftheOverburden-DCoal
aquiferwillreducebaseflowintheoff-permitHeartRiverandtheon-permitSouthBranchHeartRiver.Reductioninbaseflowinthesestreamsduetodewateringisnotaddressednorquantifiedinthepermitapplicationasaprobablehydrologicconsequence.Thepermitapplicationissimilarlysilentwithrespecttoremedialplansaspartoftheproposedminingoperationsorcontingentplansintheeventofunanticipatedimpactsthatbecomedocumentedindatafromthesurfacewatermonitoringplan.
• SurfaceWaterProbableHydrologicConsequencesincludedintheapplicationdonotincludecontributionofcontaminantsfromgroundwaterthatwilldischargetotheHeartRiverandSouthBranchHeartRiveroncedewateringincompleteandtheminespoilhasrechargedtoitspost-miningequilibrium
levels,levelsthatpresumablywillagaindischargetotheserivers.Theeffectofdischargeofcontaminatedgroundwateronsurfacewaterqualityisneitherquantifiednoracknowledgedintheapplicationasaprobablehydrologicconsequence.Thepermitapplicationissimilarlysilentwithrespecttoremedialplansaspartoftheproposedminingoperationsorcontingentplansintheeventofunanticipatedimpactsthatbecomedocumentedindatafromthesurfacewatermonitoringplan.
SoilReclamationPlanIsInadequate
Theminingandreclamationprocessbeginswithdeterminationofdepthsofdevelopedsoilmaterials(suitableplantgrowthmaterials,SPGM)thataretobe
strippedoffthelandandstockpiledpriortomining(orinfavorablecircumstances,strippedfromonetractoflandandrespreadonanotherareawherestripmining,backfillingandreshapingofoverburdenhasbeencompleted).Topsoilandsubsoilmaterialsarestrippedandstockpiledseparately,anddepthsoftopsoilandsubsoiltobestrippedaremarkedininchesonthesoilsurveymapforeachsoilmappingunit(seeFigs.2.4-2aand2.4-2b).Thetotaldepthsofsoilandsoil-likematerialsthatmustberespreadonanyparticularpieceoflandisdeterminedfromanalysisofthechemicalandphysicalpropertiesoftheoverburdenmaterialandreferencetostandardssetinNorthDakotaAdministrativeCode(NDAC).ParticularlyrelevanthereisNDAC69-05.2-15-
04.Ifthereisaninsufficientdepthofregularsoilmaterials(SPGM)availableatagivenlocation,thenadditionalsuitableoverburdenmaterial(SOBM)mustbestripped,stockpiled,andrespreadaftermining.ThedraftpermithasanestimateofdepthsofadditionalSOBMmaterialthatneedstobeusedfortheentire5-pit,30-yearminingplaninSection3.Calculatedbytwodifferentmethods,thisdepthwaseither1.1feetorapprox.1/3foot.ThefirstareaproposedforproductionisPitNo.1,andwehavemadeanestimatehereofdepths
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 15/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 15 of 22
ofadditionalSOBMmaterialneededforoperationsinthepitbecauseofinsufficientdepthsofregularSPGMtosatisfyrespreaddepthrequirementsmandatedbyprovisionsinNDAC.First,amapofthelocationsofoverburdensampling(Fig.4.1-10a)wasexamined
alongwiththetabulationofrelevantoverburdencharacteristics(Table4.1-1).Thedraftpermithasindicatedinthistablethatdepthsbetween2.5and10feetarebeingconsideredassourceforSOBM.Eachsampledlocationwasexaminedtodetermineifoverburdeninthisdepthintervalmetprincipalsuitabilitycriteria,whichare:salinity(EClessthan4)andsodicity(SARlessthan10).Anadditionalcriterionwasexamined:saturationpercentage(Sat%),ameasureofwateradsorption.HighSat%hasbeenshowntorendersoilmaterialsundesirableforsupportofplantgrowth,andSat%greaterthan90wasusedhere,withaccountingofsuitabilitybeingmadewithandwithoutthiscriterion.ItwasfoundthatoverburdencharacteristicsoftheeastsideofthePitNo.1area
weresomewhatdifferentfromthoseonthewestsideofthispit,andsoaccountingwascarriedoutseparatelyforthetwoportionsofthepitarea.Foreachoverburdensamplinglocation,thepercentageofoverburdenabove10ft.depththatmetsuitabilitycriteriawasdetermined.DepthsofSPGMdesignatedforstrippingandstockpilingweredeterminedfromthesoilsurveymaps(Figs.2.4-2aand2.4-2b)bysamplingoveragridpatternatapprox.30points.DepthsofoverburdenbelowSPGMstrippingdepthsthatmetsuitabilitycriteriawerethendetermined.Finally,requiredtotaldepthsofsoilrespreadmaterial(SPGMplusadditionalmaterial(SOVM))weretabulatedforeachsamplinglocationinPitNo.1fromFig.4.1-10a.FortheeasternhalfofPitNo.1,theaveragetotaldepthofsoilandnearsoil
materialsrequiredtobestrippedis3.50ft.Theaveragedepthofsoilmaterials(SPGM)designatedfromsoilsurveyasavailableis2.18ft.Thisleavesadifferenceof1.32ft.thatrequiresadditionalsuitableoverburden(SOVM).Ofoverburdenmaterialatdepthslessthan10ft.ontheeastside,wecalculatethat43.8%meetsthesuitabilitystandard,whichleavesadepthof3.42ft.ofSOVM,morethanenoughtomeettheneedfor1.32ft.OnthewestsideofPitNo.1,theaveragetotaldepthofsurfacematerialsrequiredtobestrippedis3.75ft.,andtheaveragedepthofSPGMavailableis1.51ft.,leavingadifferenceof2.24ft.needingtobesupplied.However,bythemostrealisticsetofsuitabilitystandardsthatincludesthe90Sat%cutoffcriterion,only6.3%ofthe
overburdenabove10ft.depthbutbelowSPGMissuitable(18.8%issuitablewithouttheSat%criterion).Thismeansthatonly0.53ft.ofoverburdenabovethe10ft.depthissuitableforreclamationpurposes,creatinganeedfor1.71ft.ofadditionalSOVMtobebroughtfromtheeastsideofPitNo.1tomeettherespreadrequirements.Thus,thesoilscientific,legal-administrative,andengineeringlogicoftheproposedreclamationplanforPitNo.1requirestheremoval,transport,stockpiling,
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 16/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 16 of 22
retransport,andrespreadingofsome1,100,000tonsofadditionalsuitableoverburdenmaterial(SOVM)fromtheeastsidetothewestsideofthePitNo.1area(assuminganaveragemoistbulkdensityof1.8gpercm3).Thisistheequivalentof7300150-tondumptruckloadsor20,00044-cubicyardmotortractorscraperloads.IftheSat%criterionisnotusedfordeterminationofoverburdensuitability,
thenapproximately40%ofthisamountofmaterialneedstobetransportedfromtheeasttowestsidesoftheminingarea.Assumingamultiplierof1.5forroadtortuosity,thetotaldistancehaulvehicleswouldtraveltomakeoneaveragelengthroundtripfromtheeastsideofPitNo.1toSOVMstockpilessited(accordingtothedraftplan,Fig.3.1-1)approx.1/2milenorthofthesectionboundaryplusanotheraverageroundtripfromastockpiletothewestsidewouldamountto7.4miles.Thisisallinadditiontoanyoftheotherformsofmaterialstransportinvolvedinmineoperation.Thesefiguresbringoutaproblematiccontradiction.Difficulttoreclaimsodicminespoilsrequiregreaterdepthsofrespreadsoilmaterialstoachieveagivenlevel
ofsoilproductivity.However,areasofNorthDakotainwhichsodicminespoilsarelikelytobegeneratedbyminingtendtohavealowerpercentageofgoodquality,deepertypesoils.Achievingthesoildepthsrequiredbylawwillbecostlyandtheproposedminingplandoesnotbegintoaddressthescaleofreclamationeffortsneeded.Majormodificationstotheplanwillbenecessarytocomplywithstateandfederallaw.WerequestsuchmodificationsorrejectionoftheApplicationinlightofthelackthereof.
NorthDakotaHasaPatternofInadequateContemporaneousReclamation
ItisourunderstandingthatstripminereclamationeffortselsewhereinNorthDakotahavebeenlessthanfullysuccessful,tosaytheleast,inreturninglandtoits
prioruseorabetterone,andinmanycircumstanceshavenotbeencontemporaneous,asrequiredbystateandfederallaw.Thispatterndemonstratesaneedforaheightenedlevelofscrutinyforanynewreclamationplan.Werequestfromtheagencyacomparativediscussionofthesuccessandtimelinessofreclamationeffortsundertakenelsewhereinthestate.
EconomicandSocialImpacts
ImpactstoAgriculture
Asdescribedingreaterdetailabove,significantimpactstosurfacewatersand
alluvialvalleysurfaceandassociatedstreambedgroundwaterswillbefelt.Thesenaturalresourcesareimportanttoareaagriculturebecauseofrestrictedgroundwaterquantityandquality.Currently,cropproducersareundereconomicstressduetovolatilemarketsandescalatinginputcosts.Livestockproducersfacepricecyclesandmarketdominationbyaverysmallnumberofcorporationsempoweredbydecadesoffederalnon-enforcementofthePackersandStockyardsAct.Integratedcrop-animalagricultureoffersapathforwardforproducerstomakeprogressinovercomingproblemsofexternalmarketforcesandinputcosts.
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 17/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 17 of 22
However,afullydevelopedintegratedcrop-livestocksystemdependsonlocalavailabilityofqualityanimalfeedsuchascornandalfalfa.Inasemiarid,northernlocalareawithrestrictedacreageofhigherqualitycropland,theavailabilityofalluvialvalleylandsbecomesveryimportanttotheeffectivefunctioningofsustainableintegratedcrop-animalagriculture.Werequestananalysisofimpactsto
agriculturepriortoanypermittingdecision.
ImpactstoTourism
Manylocalresidentsrelyinwholeorinpartfortheirlivelihoodsonthe475,000visitorswhocometotheBadlandsandTheodoreRooseveltNationalParkeveryyear.NoseriousanalysishasbeenperformedonthelikelyeffectonthetourismeconomyofamassivestripmineandassociatedprocessingfacilitiesvisiblefromtheapproachtoNorthDakota’smostvaluabletouristsites.Theeffectoftouristsfromotherpartsofthecountrygoinghometotelltalesofdustcloudsblowingacrosstheinterstate,blastingshakingtheearth,andiconicviewscloudedwithfugitivedustcanonlybeimagined.AccordingtoU.S.BureauofLaborStatistics,as
ofDecember2010,miningandloggingtogetheremployedonlyabout12,000NorthDakotans,afigurethatincreased75%inthelastyear.Atthesametime,leisureandhospitalitybusinessesemployedover35,000NorthDakotans,up3%overthelastyear.ThenumberstellusthattourismisbothamuchlargerandamuchmorestablesourceofemploymentforNorthDakotans.Tocompromisethestate’slargesttouristattractionforthesakeofaminingfacilityiseconomicallyfoolishindeed.Werequestananalysisofimpactstotourismpriortoanypermittingdecision.
ImpactsonLocalCommunity,Infrastructure,SocialServices
JobimpactsclaimedbyApplicantsareexaggerated.StatisticsprovidedbytheCityofDickinsonindicatethatmining,quarrying,andoilandgasextractiontogetheremployedonly11%oflocalmenfrom2005to2009,andonly3%statewide.WhilethepovertyrateintheDickinsonareahoversaround10%,theinfluxofout-of-stateworkersforthefossilfuelextractionindustryhascausedhousingpricestoshootupinthelastdecade.Themedianpriceofalocalhouseorcondoin2000was$70,500,whilein2010themedianpricewas$182,000.Thephenomenonhasbecomeevenmorepronouncedinthelastyear.Mediangrossrentin2009was$532,butcurrently,atatrailerparksiteinBelfield,FEMAcabinsarerentingfor$1200plusutilities.InthegreaterDickinsonarea,includingSouthHeart,thereisashortageofhousing,rentalunits,anddaycareservices.
Socialservicesandpublicschoolsarealsostrainedbyincreaseddemand,includingaquicklygrowingspecialneedspopulationthatisespeciallycostlytolocalschooldistricts.Thelocaltaxbaseisnotgrowingquicklyenoughtoprovidetheinfrastructureassociatedwithasuddenboom.Anotherwaytosaythesamethingisthattheoilandgasindustryisnotbringingenoughmoneyintothecommunitytopayfortheservicestheindustryanditsemployeesrequire.WeseelittleindicationthatthelocalcommunitywouldprofitsufficientlyfromtheMinetocounterbalance
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 18/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 18 of 22
thesocialinfrastructureneedstheminingoperationwillcreate.TheApplicanthasofferednoanalysisofthehousing,educational,andsocialservicesneedslikelytobecreatedbytheminingoperation,noranydiscussionofhowsocialinfrastructurerequirementswillbepaidfor.Wethereforerequestsuchananalysispriortothepermittingdecision.
CoalValueIsOverestimated
If,asseemspossible,theproposedcoal-to-hydrogen-to-electricityprojectprovesnottobeviable,thentheMinewillserveasasourceofexportcoalinregional,national,andperhapsinternationalmarkets.Theeconomicsofthisscenarioareweak.AccordingtoGTLEnergy’sownpublishedresultsforitscoal-dryingprocess,driedligniteisnotcompetitivewithPowderRiverBasincoal.EvenwiththeGTLEdryingprocess,lignite’senergyvalueismerelyonparwithorslightlyhigherthanPRBcoal,whilethecostpertonforligniteremainsmorethan50%higher.Asignificantadditionalcost–notpubliclydisclosedtodate,asfaras
weareaware–islikelyalsoassociatedwiththedryingprocess.InmarketcompetitionwithPRBcoal,SouthHeartlignite,evendried,willbefarmoreexpensiveonaperBTUbasisandthereforeuncompetitive.Thisisanimportantreasontoensuretheviabilityoftheproposedgasificationplant,orareliablemarketforGTLE’sdriedlignite,beforeapprovingtheMineorinvestinganymoretaxpayerdollarsinwhatmaybealosingproposition.GTLEnergyDryingProcessResults3Typeofcoal Original
BTUsReductionofmoisture
IncreasedBTUsby%
FinalBTUValue
Average2009
costpershortton4
NDLigniteI 6000 71% 53% 9200 $19.61NDLigniteII
6600 67% 42% 9400 $19.61
PowderRiverBasin
8600 67% 25% 10800 $12.49
Economic&TechnicalFeasibilityofCoalProcessingPlansAreQuestionable
WeobjecttotheApplicationinpartbecauseitisbasedonthedeveloper’sunsupportedassertionsthatacoal-to-hydrogenfacilitywillbefeasibleattheSiteandaddvaluetowhatisotherwiselow-valuenaturalresourceextractionthatwillbeanetlosstothelocaleconomyandourqualityoflife.
3http://www.gtlenergy.com.au/technology/technical-results.html4http://www.eia.doe.gov/aer/txt/ptb0708.html
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 19/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 19 of 22
The175MWcoal-to-hydrogen-to-electricityfacilitycontemplatedintheSouthHeartEnergyDevelopment,LLC(SHED)letterofintentfiledDecember13,2010withthePSCisonlythelatestinaseriesofpie-in-the-skyideasfloatedbyGreatNorthernPowerDevelopment(GNPD)anditsvarioussubsidiaries,whoseidentitiesseemtoshiftasfrequentlyasitsprojectvisions.Thefirstletterofintent,dated
August18,2005,contemplateda500MWlignite-poweredelectricgeneratingstationatthesite.ThenonJanuary23,2008,anotherLOIenvisionedacoal-to-syntheticnaturalgasfacility.TheonlyconsistentthingsabouttheselettersofintentaretheSouthHeartsiteandthelackofanytechnicalspecificationsorfinancingdetails.Atthispoint,theonlyprovenfeasibleprojectisalignitemine.Thereislittleinformationcurrentlyavailableaboutthepollutionprofileofproposedminemouthfacilities.Wearenotawareofanyanalysisofthepotentialeconomicimpactofairqualityregulationsanticipatedtotakeeffectpriortofinalpermittingforfacilitiesproposedattheminesite,whichcouldpotentiallyrendertheproposaluneconomic
duetotheunacceptablyhighcosttopublichealthandtheenvironment.
ProceduralandEthicsIssues
OmittedAnalysisofBLMUnsuitabilityDeterminationandFederalCoalImpacts
TheApplicationprovidesinsufficientinformationabouttheMine’sprobableimpactsonfederalcoalandadjacentlanddesignatedbyBLMasunsuitableforcoalmining.AMarch3,2011letterfromtheBureauofLandManagement’sPhillipPerlewitztoJimDeutschstates:
UnleasedfederalcoalliesadjacenttoproposedminingoperationsinT139N,R98W,Sections14,20,28,and34.Itwasnotdiscussedinthepermitapplicationhowtheoperatorwillpreventthefederalcoalbearingformationsfrombeingwasted,damaged,ordegradedwhentheproposedminingoperationsapproachtheboundarylinesadjoiningfederalcoal.Thecurrentminingplanofoperationscannothinderthefutureminingoffederalcoal.ItisBLM’sdeterminationthatthisdiscussionbeincludedinthepermitapplication.
Withthisletter,BLMhasdeterminedthattheApplicationisincomplete.ObjectorshaverequestedinseparatecorrespondencethatthePSCdeclaretheApplicationincompleteinlightofBLM’sposition.TheApplicationisincompleteforthisand
manyotherreasons.ItisunclearwhetherornotBLMisawarethatGTLEnergy’sminemouthcoalprocessingplanthasalreadybeenconstructedatopfederalcoalresourcesandwhatimpactthisfactmayhaveonthelegalityofaminingpermit.InadditiontothemodificationrequiredbyBLM,werequestafullanalysisofimpactsonareasdesignatedunsuitableforsurfacemining,andfurtheropportunitiesforpubliccommentandhearingwhentheseanalyseshavebeensubmittedtothePSC.
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 20/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 20 of 22
CorporateDisclosure
Theuseofnewlyformedcorporateentitiesmayinsomecasesobscuredevelopers’pastSMCRAviolationsthatshouldbealegalbarriertopermittinganewmine.Becausesomanynewlyformedentitiesarepartiestotheproposeddevelopment,werequestthatthePSCrequireallpartieswithownershipinterestsintheMineto
disclosefullyanyotherminingownershipinterests,pastorpresent,nomatterwhatthecorporateorpersonalformofownership.
GTLEnergyCoalDryingPlantIsaMinemouthFacilityImproperlyExcludedfrom
theApplication
BeginninginJuly2008,GTLEnergy(GTLE)hasrepeatedlyassertedinfilingsbeforethePSCthatitsSouthHeartcoaldryingplantisnotaminemouthfacilityandthereforeshouldnotbeevaluatedaspartoftheSouthHeartmineapplication,asfederalandstatelawwouldotherwiserequire.InspiteofthePSC’sjurisdictionalfindingsinGTLE’sfavor,GTLE’sownfilingsconfirm:
AftertheSouthHeartMinehasbeenpermittedandisinoperation,amajorityofthecoalwilllikelybesuppliedbythatmine.SHC(SouthHeartCoal)isanentityownedandcontrolledbyassociatesofGreatNorthernPowerDevelopmentLP(GNPD)andAlliedSyngasCorporation(Allied).SHCwillbeseekingacoalminingpermitfromtheNorthDakotaPublicServiceCommissionfortheSouthHeartMine.CoalwillthenbesuppliedtotheplantbySHC.
RepresentativesofGTLEnergyhavestatedinpubliconseveraloccasions,includinginmeetingswithBLM,thattheyplantomovetheircoal-dryingplanttothe
minemouthassoonasthemineisoperational.Theplantisclearlyintendedtobeacoalpreparationplant,eitherforon-sitecoaluseorforshippingofSouthHeartcoal.WeaskthatthePSCrevisititsdecisionthattheGTLEplantisnotaminemouthfacilityandrequireanalysisofthisfacilityaspartoftheApplication.
PSCCommissioners’ConflictsofInterest
Inthelastthreeyears,CommissionersCramerandKalkhavetogetheracceptedcampaigncontributionsfrompartieswithdirectfinancialinterestsinthedevelopmentoftheSouthHeartmineandadjacentfacilitiestotalingatleast$16,650.Onecontributor,CorbinRobertson,themanagingpartneroftheentitythatownsGreatNorthernPowerDevelopment,ofwhichSouthHeartCoalisasubsidiary,
isthesourceof$15,800ofthosefunds.Thesearesignificantsumsincampaignswhosetotalelectionyearcontributionswere$174,772(Cramerin2010)and$159,836(Kalkin2008).PartieswithadirectfinancialinterestintheproposedSouthHeartdevelopmentmadecontributionsinthelastthreeyearsequaltoatleast6.3%ofCramer’s2010campaigncontributionsand3.4%ofKalk’s2008contributions.
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 21/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 21 of 22
ContributionstoCramerCampaignbySouthHeartFinanciallyInterestedParties:
ContributingParty NatureofInterest ContributionAmount
Date
BrianBjella,
Bismarck,ND
CounseltoGTL
Energy
$600 10/13/2010
CorbinRobertsonHouston,TX
Managingpartner,QuintanaCapitalGroup,ownerofGreatNorthernPowerDevelopment.ApplicantisasubsidiaryofGNPD.
$4800 9/7/2010
RobertFrench,
Wellington,COGTLEnergyCEO $250 8/25/2010
CorbinRobertson Seeabove $2500 8/6/2009
BarbaraRobertson SpouseofCorbinRobertson
$2500 8/6/2009
CorbinRobertson Seeabove $500 8/14/2008
ContributionstoKalkCampaignbySouthHeartFinanciallyInterestedParties:
ContributingParty NatureofInterest Contribution
Amount
Date
CorbinRobertson Seeabove $500 5/1/2009CorbinRobertson Seeabove $5000 8/24/2008
WebelievethatthesecontributionsbypartieswithdirectfinancialinterestsintheSouthHeartdevelopmentcreateconflictsofinterestforCommissionersCramerandKalk.WethereforerespectfullyrequestthatCommissionersCramerandKalkrecusethemselvesfromanyfurtherdeliberationonissuesrelatedtotheproposeddevelopmentatSouthHeart.
ConclusionThedraftpermitplanfortheMineisdeeplyflawedandmustnotbeacceptedbythePSC.Initspresentform,theplanappearsdesignedtomaximizeoperationalconveniencetothecorporateoperatorswhileforcingvariouspublicintereststobearenvironmentalrisksandcostsofnoxiousexternalities,includingdamagetothelargerlocaltourismindustry.
8/7/2019 South Heart Comments & Objections FINAL
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/south-heart-comments-objections-final 22/22
SouthHeartCoalitionCommentsandObjectionstoSHLMApplication
Page 22 of 22
Forthereasonsoutlinedinthesecomments,webelievethattheproposedMinewillhaveanetnegativeimpactontheSouthHeartcommunity,thatthemanyimpactshavebeeninadequatelyanalyzed,thatproposedmitigationsareinadequate,andthatremediationwillbeinadequatetorestorethelandtoitscurrentuseandvalue.WeaskthePSCtorequireApplicantstosubmittheadditionalinformationrequired
byapplicablelawandoutlinedinthesecomments,toprovidefurtherinformationrequestedofthePSC,toprovidefurtherpubliccommentandhearingopportunitieswhenrequestedinformationhasbeensubmitted,andultimatelytorejecttheApplication,fortheprotectionofNorthDakotans’health,economicinterests,andirreplaceablenaturalresources.Sincerelyyours,MaryHodellNeighborsUnited1189027thSt.SW
DickinsonND58601CarrieLaSeurPlainsJusticeP.O.Box1398Billings,MT59103NathanMillerNationalParksConservationAssociationMidwestRegionalOffice8S.Michigan,Suite2900
Chicago,IL60603WaydeSchaferDacotahChapterofSierraClub311EastThayer#113Bismarck,ND58501MarkTrechockDakotaResourceCouncilP.O.Box1095Dickinson,ND58602