By Al Skinner

 On the road to Birch River

Before Webster defined the word “serene” he surely took Route 82 east toward Cowen, West Virginia.  It is a trip of pastoral splendor through country roads that snake through the narrow valleys and expansive dales resplendent with early greenery.  Graying barns and split-wood fences lined the old, but well-maintained asphalt lanes.  Horses in an open field, cows meandering along the banks, munching on a smorgasbord of fresh grasses, gentle little streams gurgling down a rutted path… what a sight.  The sun was bright this day. Blue skies with dots of white, puffy clouds, setting a peaceful mode as your Coal People Magazine writer headed toward Cowen and ICG Eastern’s Birch River Mine Complex.

The beauty of the day didn’t end at the Birch River complex.  If anything, it was a new beginning. The mining company was adding to the scene, although certain parts would take some years to be fully appreciated.  A tall, lean Bill Young, chief engineer, with “runner” legs, gave us the grand tour as he bounded over the reclaimed area, afoot and a-four-wheeler, with the vigor of happy wildlife.  It was obvious that he was proud and happy to be where he is.  That was to be the consensus of the entire group, who took special, special pride in innovative reclamation achievements.  Bill has been with Birch River for 15 of the 16 years the company has been at Cowen.  After graduating from West Virginia Tech (now WVU Tech) in 1989 with a degree in civil/surveying engineering, he worked with Island Creek Coal and several other companies before arriving at Birch Creek. Part of his function here is to oversee reclamation A firm handshake from Bill began the journey...

 Birch River Mine Complex at Cowen has evolved in recent years from a by-the-book reclamation-conscious group to prideful Forest Builders who go beyond federal/state regulations and requirements and into an innovative world of new reclamation ventures.

The latest technology in reclamation is the ripping, or tilling of the old soils and “non-compacting” the reclaimed area so that trees can stretch their roots and grow hardier.  Bill Young explained that in the past the land was compacted so tightly that tree growth was retarded.  Precious waters would run-off the asphalt-hard land and roots strained to stretch out. 

“Now, we make one pass with the dozer and leave the ground loose. This gives the tree a chance to spread its roots and for the ground to absorb and hold moisture,” Young explained.  At first sight, the area appears a mess of rocks strewn about and upended piles of soil, but there is a “method to the madness” which is the new way that calls for less grass and more trees.  The company collaborates with Mother Nature to prepare the area for a forest of the future.  Time and weather deteriorates the sandstone into sand, which blends with the soil composition, thus the forest thrives.

“We started our tree planting in 1996 with Autumn Olives and Locusts that didn’t have a lot of value other than stabilizing the banks, but now we are a part of the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) and so we plant oaks, maples, poplar, ash, sycamore, pine and other hardwoods that will be growing in these mountains 50 years from now.”

This past Arbor Day, the Birch River team and a group of school kids and teachers planted hundreds of American chestnuts, once decimated by blight and now attempting to make a comeback with a hybrid seed that is immune to the blight.  Seed were planted along rows of ripped-up ground that, at first, would seem unsightly, but in a few years will be abundant with healthy chestnut trees.  They also visited the creek sides where stone flies, hellgrammites and other water life lived free of danger.  Needless to say, the students and teachers were enlightened and impressed with an accurate perspective on what reclamation is all about.  The Arbor Day planting is a yearly program that Birch River shares with local school kids and teachers. Over the years, hundreds of trees have been planted within this program, as the children get a “hands-on” understanding of how nature works in collaboration with the company.

This is part of the reason why Birch River Mine Complex won the Greenlands Reclamation Award, issued by the West Virginia Coal Association and WV Division of Environmental Protection (DEP).  In his nomination report, DEP’s Keith A. Evans explains:

“The post-mining land use for the majority of the complex is unmanaged forestland.  This land use requires basic tree planting that does not place consideration on quality or marketability of the timber.  In the spring of 2002, Birch River Mine voluntarily upgraded the tree planting species to include native hardwoods.  This was done prior to the establishment of the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) of 2004 and was based solely on the desire to restore the site with native tree species.  The survivability of the higher quality tree species was acceptable, however, growth rate was severely hindered by highly compacted soils and stifling grass ground cover.  Working with DEP and OSM the inhibiting conditions were observed and the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) was adopted.

“Subsequently, in 2006 the permit planting plans were modified to utilize ARRI’s FRA which incorporate the development of loosely graded topsoil substitutes to create a non-compacted growth medium, the sowing of ground covers that are compatible with growing trees, and the planting of commercially valuable crop trees as a permit condition.”

Since this “green light” a green thumb Birch River has planted nearly one million trees over some 3,500 acres of reclaimed land, with another 1,500 acres on the tree planting board.

Young viewed a four-year-old site where trees were barely four feet high.  He compared this to a non-compacted area and the year-old trees were already equal in growth to the old site.  He referred to the old reclamation jobs as “lettuce gardens” where grasses of Kentucky 31, annual rye, red top clover and other species spread across the acreage.  A pretty sight, but stifling for tree growth.  One section started in 1996 is a full-grown forestland, dense with young, strong trees.  No sign of mining, or disturbance.  The idea of non-compacted ground, the engineer believes, came from a project at Virginia Tech, and has since become a criterion.

With the current permit good until 2012 and extensions forthcoming, Birch River will have created a forestland, second to none, rich in hardwoods and someday to be harvested by the landowners, who happen to be lumber people.

In the pursuit of a production goal of 3 million “clean tons” of coal a year or more, the 250 employees can’t help but temporarily rip into the mountains, but the pride of reclamation takes over in the aftermath and soon it takes on the appearance of a pleasant drive down scenic Route 82 east.  Primarily steam coal to make electricity; the coal quality is less than 1.5 percent sulfur, low ash and with a Btu of approximately 12,300.  The complex currently consists of 16 permits encompassing 4,688 bonded acres.

A fully enclosed overland belt system spreads across the mountain and highway in order to eliminate dust emissions and truck traffic in the quiet local communities that surround the operation, including Cowen. The company also donated land and electricity to the Webster County Emergency Services 911 communications center for erection of a needed transmission tower on the East Refuse Disposal Area.

Young stopped at a spot that overlooked a green pastureland.  Across the way, dozers churned up the soil and a dragline silhouetted against the blue sky worked diligently on an upcoming project. On the lower end, duck ponds were strategically placed with tall reeds and rock structures lining the banks.  Several mother ducks and ducklings cavorted in the water this day, flying off as we neared the shore. Nesting boxes were situated along the bank, home for wood ducks, golden eyes, mergansers and buffleheads.  The boxes may also attract kestrels, tree swallows, and great crested flycatchers or screech owls.

While driving to an on-bench refuse disposal, the Birch River engineer pointed out that the company utilizes this method of disposal.  It eliminates the need to construct hollow-fill type refuse impoundments.  He explained that the initially combined refuse was placed into constructed cells within the back stack. The preparation plant separates the coarse and fine refuse material.  Coarse refuse is placed on alkaline pads with the re-graded areas. Fine refuse is then pumped as slurry into large cells constructed on the mine bench.  Cells were built over alkaline under-drains capped by coarse refuse to act as a filter media and prevent migration of refuse fines.  Kiln dust is applied to all refuse to amend the final product alkalinity.  This method has resulted in seepage that meets required post mining water quality limits.  The plan has prevented the development of acid mine drainage discharges.

ICG Eastern President/General Manager Art Hale is a proponent of reclamation teamwork.  All 250+ employees are involved in the reclamation belief that permeates the company like prideful incense.  “We’re trying to look above the bond release,” Hale said.  “We’re looking at long term reforestation efforts.  We want the site to be useful 30 years after the bond release.

“We work strictly as a team. We get together prior to beginning a project to see what the needs will be, including reclamation, proper drainage control and compliance with the permit requirements.”  What better land use than a forest for the lumber company that owns the property.  “We have two contractors doing reclamation work on a daily basis. First and foremost, we are a reclamation team.”

Young added that the DEP is very helpful in the initial planning and during the actual reclaiming.  “They are here on a daily basis, and once a month we have a formal meeting with inspectors and supervisors to make certain we’re heading in the right direction.  The inspectors are knowledgeable about rules and regulations and they know what they’re looking at on the job.”

In his nomination, Evans summarized:

“Birch River Mine Complex has invested substantial capital and time to prepare an effective mine plan, train employees, and utilize the innovative technology necessary to mine the Birch River reserve in a profitable and environmentally successful manner.  ICG Eastern, LLC’s Birch River Mine has eliminated documented AMD Inventory Sites, un-reclaimed highwalls, and clean up pre-existing acid producing materials.  The company has researched and properly conducted special materials handling that has produced excellent post mining water quality.

“As a result conditions in the Birch River have improved dramatically.  The operation maintains concurrent reclamation and has performed exemplary re-vegetation.  Deer, turkey, bear, ducks and other wildlife are common sights on the reclaimed areas.  The Birch River mine is a leader in the industry in safety, production, and environmental compliance.”

Birch River Mining Complex:  Builders of our Forests of the Future!