# 3. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT

# 

## 3.1 SITE DESCRIPTION, LAND USE, AND AESTHETICS

## 

### 3.1.1 Site of the Proposed Facilities

The proposed facilities would be located in a rural setting adjacent to
the existing Gilberton Power Plant in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
(Figure 2.1.1 and Figure 2.1.2). The main plant for the proposed project
would occupy about 75 acres of nearly level land owned by WMPI PTY, LLC
on top of Broad Mountain. The land is currently unoccupied and covered
by second-growth forest. The new beneficiation plant or expansion of the
existing facility would occupy about 1 acre of land in the adjacent
valley to the north of the main plant area.

### 3.1.2 Land Use

Land use in Mahanoy and West Mahanoy townships in the vicinity of the
proposed facilities is primarily woodland (55%) and mined lands (36%).
Other land uses include residential (2.8%), public (1.6%),
agricultural/open space (1.6%), and smaller areas of retail,
manufacturing, and service (Schuylkill County 1995).

The proposed project site is bounded by woodlands to the north and
south, the Mahanoy State Correctional Institution to the east, and the
existing Gilberton Power Plant to the west. The nearest private
residence is 3,600 ft southeast of the site (Suresh Chandran, Philip
Services Corporation, e‑mail to Cheri Foust, ORNL, September 20, 2004.),
while the commercial and recreational areas closest to the site are
within 3,000 ft and 5,000 ft, respectively (McMullen 2003).

### 3.1.3 Aesthetics

Because the site is located adjacent to the existing Gilberton Power
Plant, the visual landscape is conspicuously marked with structures of
an industrial character, including the boiler building, turbine
building, water storage tanks, mechanical-draft cooling towers,
baghouses, solid waste silo, administration building, and other
associated infrastructure. The tallest structure is the power plant's
326‑ft flue gas stack. The power plant is visible from part of the
surrounding local area, depending on the topography and extent of
vegetation from specific viewpoints. Emissions from the stack and plumes
of water droplets from the cooling towers are occasionally visible. In
addition, several other power plants are located within approximately 20
miles of the proposed facilities, including Schuylkill Energy Resources,
Wheelabrator Frackville Energy Company, Mt. Carmel Cogeneration,
Northeastern Power Company, and Panther Creek (Figure 3.1.1). Strip
mines and anthracite culm piles are also visible in the area.

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="5.383333333333334in"
height="4.266666666666667in"}

Figure 3.1.1. Power plants in the region of the proposed facilities.

## 3.2 CLIMATE AND AIR QUALITY

## 

### 3.2.1 Climate

The proposed site is located in the "ridge and valley province" of
Pennsylvania, in which parallel forested ridges and cleared valleys are
aligned in a west-southwest to east-northeast orientation. The regional
climate, which is classified as humid continental, is influenced by the
passage of multiple types of air masses. Cold, dry air frequently
arrives from the northern interior of the continent, while winds from
the south and southwest transport warm, humid air from the Gulf of
Mexico and adjacent subtropical waters. These two air masses provide the
dominant characteristics of the area's climate. A third type of air mass
occasionally flows inland from the Atlantic Ocean to produce cool,
cloudy, and damp weather conditions.

Winters are generally long and cold, with an average of about 140 days
per year with temperatures below 32°F and an average of 5 days per year
with temperatures below 0°F. In January, the daily maximum temperature
is about 32°F, on average, while the daily minimum is about 16°F.
Average annual snowfall is about 45 in. Summers are pleasant, with an
average of only 2 days per year with temperatures above 90°F. In July,
the daily maximum temperature is about 80°F, on average, while the daily
minimum is about 60°F. Average annual precipitation is about 45 in.
(including melted snowfall). The distribution of precipitation is fairly
uniform during the year, ranging from around 3 in. during the winter
months to around 4.5 in. during the summer months. On an annual basis,
nearly half of the days are cloudy, and during the winter over half of
the days are cloudy. Since 1881, twelve tornadoes have been reported in
Schuylkill County. Although no wind data have been archived from a
location near enough to be representative of the proposed site,
including from any of the power plants in the area, an examination of
wind data from surrounding locations (i.e., Harrisburg, Scranton) about
50 miles away suggests that prevailing winds are likely to be from the
west-southwest, paralleling the ridge and valley orientation.

### 3.2.2 Air Quality

Criteria pollutants are defined as those for which National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS) exist (Table 3.2.1). These pollutants are
sulfur dioxide (SO~2~), nitrogen dioxide (NO~2~), ozone (O~3~), carbon
monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), and particulate matter less than or equal to
10 m in aerodynamic diameter, designated PM-10. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has also promulgated NAAQS for particulate
matter less than or equal to 2.5 m in aerodynamic diameter (PM-2.5) (62
*FR* 38652), and a new 8-hour NAAQS for O~3~ to replace the 1-hour
O~3~ standard

(62 *FR* 38856).

The NAAQS are expressed as concentrations of pollutants in the ambient
air; that is, in the outdoor air to which the general public has access
\[40 CFR Part 501(e)\]. Primary NAAQS define levels of air quality that
EPA deems necessary, with an adequate margin of safety, to protect human
health. Secondary NAAQS are similarly designated to protect human
welfare by safeguarding environmental resources (such as soils, water,
plants, and animals) and manufactured materials. States may modify NAAQS
to make them more stringent, or set standards for additional pollutants.
Pennsylvania has adopted the NAAQS as the state standards without
modifications and has also set ambient air quality standards for
beryllium, fluorides, and hydrogen sulfide. The Pennsylvania beryllium
standard is 0.01 g/m^3^ for a 30‑day averaging period, the fluorides
standard is 5 g/m^3^ for a 24-hour averaging period, and the hydrogen
sulfide standards are 0.005 ppm for a 24-hour average and 0.1 ppm for a
1-hour average.

Schuylkill County is in attainment with NAAQS and state ambient air
quality standards for all pollutants, including the recently implemented
PM-2.5 and 8-hour O~3~ standards (Arleen Shulman, Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection, personal communication to Robert
Miller, ORNL, August 31, 2004). Schuylkill County was formerly
designated as nonattainment for the 1‑hour O~3~ standard, based on
"incomplete data" (the least severe of the classifications), but EPA
revoked the 1‑hour O~3~ standard on June 15, 2005, relying solely on the
8‑hour O~3~ standard as of that date.

Attainment status for NAAQS is determined primarily by evaluating data
from ambient air quality monitoring stations. The nearest SO~2~ and CO
monitoring stations are located in Shenandoah, about 2 miles north of
Gilberton. The closest NO~2~, PM-10, PM-2.5, and O~3~ monitoring
stations are located in Reading, about 35 miles south-southeast of
Gilberton. A Pb monitoring station is located in Laureldale, immediately
north of Reading.

+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
| **T  |                      |               |      |   |               |
| able |                      |               |      |   |               |
| 3.   |                      |               |      |   |               |
| 2.1. |                      |               |      |   |               |
| Nati |                      |               |      |   |               |
| onal |                      |               |      |   |               |
| Amb  |                      |               |      |   |               |
| ient |                      |               |      |   |               |
| Air  |                      |               |      |   |               |
| Qua  |                      |               |      |   |               |
| lity |                      |               |      |   |               |
| S    |                      |               |      |   |               |
| tand |                      |               |      |   |               |
| ards |                      |               |      |   |               |
| (NA  |                      |               |      |   |               |
| AQS) |                      |               |      |   |               |
| for  |                      |               |      |   |               |
| crit |                      |               |      |   |               |
| eria |                      |               |      |   |               |
| poll |                      |               |      |   |               |
| utan |                      |               |      |   |               |
| ts** |                      |               |      |   |               |
+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
|      | Primary (Health      |               | S    |   |               |
|      | related)             |               | econ |   |               |
|      |                      |               | dary |   |               |
|      |                      |               | (Wel |   |               |
|      |                      |               | fare |   |               |
|      |                      |               | rela |   |               |
|      |                      |               | ted) |   |               |
+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
| P    | Averaging period     | Concentration | A    |   | Concentration |
| ollu |                      |               | vera |   |               |
| tant |                      |               | ging |   |               |
|      |                      |               | pe   |   |               |
|      |                      |               | riod |   |               |
+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
| CO   | 8-hour *^a^*         | 9 ppm (10     | No   |   |               |
|      |                      | mg/m^3^)      | s    |   |               |
|      |                      |               | econ |   |               |
|      |                      |               | dary |   |               |
|      |                      |               | stan |   |               |
|      |                      |               | dard |   |               |
+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
|      | 1-hour *^a^*         | 35 ppm (40    | No   |   |               |
|      |                      | mg/m^3^)      | s    |   |               |
|      |                      |               | econ |   |               |
|      |                      |               | dary |   |               |
|      |                      |               | stan |   |               |
|      |                      |               | dard |   |               |
+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
| Lead | Maximum quarterly    | 1.5 g/m^3^    | Same |   |               |
|      | average              |               | as   |   |               |
|      |                      |               | pri  |   |               |
|      |                      |               | mary |   |               |
|      |                      |               | stan |   |               |
|      |                      |               | dard |   |               |
+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
| N    | Annual arithmetic    | 0.053 ppm     | Same |   |               |
| O~2~ | mean                 | (100 g/m^3^)  | as   |   |               |
|      |                      |               | pri  |   |               |
|      |                      |               | mary |   |               |
|      |                      |               | stan |   |               |
|      |                      |               | dard |   |               |
+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
| O~3~ | Maximum daily 1-hour | 0.12 ppm (235 | Same |   |               |
|      | average *^b^*        | g/m^3^)       | as   |   |               |
|      |                      |               | pri  |   |               |
|      |                      |               | mary |   |               |
|      |                      |               | stan |   |               |
|      |                      |               | dard |   |               |
+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
|      | 4^th^ highest 8-hour | 0.08 ppm (157 | Same |   |               |
|      | daily maximum *^c^*  | g/m^3^)       | as   |   |               |
|      |                      |               | pri  |   |               |
|      |                      |               | mary |   |               |
|      |                      |               | stan |   |               |
|      |                      |               | dard |   |               |
+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
| P    | Annual arithmetic    | 50 g/m^3^     | Same |   |               |
| M-10 | mean *^d^*           |               | as   |   |               |
|      |                      |               | pri  |   |               |
|      |                      |               | mary |   |               |
|      |                      |               | stan |   |               |
|      |                      |               | dard |   |               |
+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
|      | 24-hour *^d^*        | 150 g/m^3^    | Same |   |               |
|      |                      |               | as   |   |               |
|      |                      |               | pri  |   |               |
|      |                      |               | mary |   |               |
|      |                      |               | stan |   |               |
|      |                      |               | dard |   |               |
+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
| PM   | Annual arithmetic    | 15 g/m^3^     | Same |   |               |
| -2.5 | mean *^e^*           |               | as   |   |               |
|      |                      |               | pri  |   |               |
|      |                      |               | mary |   |               |
|      |                      |               | stan |   |               |
|      |                      |               | dard |   |               |
+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
|      | 98^th^ percentile    | 65 g/m^3^     | Same |   |               |
|      | 24-hour *^e^*        |               | as   |   |               |
|      |                      |               | pri  |   |               |
|      |                      |               | mary |   |               |
|      |                      |               | stan |   |               |
|      |                      |               | dard |   |               |
+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
| S    | Annual arithmetic    | 80 g/m^3^     | 3-   | 1 |               |
| O~2~ | mean                 | (0.03 ppm)    | hour | , |               |
|      |                      |               | *    | 3 |               |
|      |                      |               | ^a^* | 0 |               |
|      |                      |               |      | 0 |               |
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|      |                      |               |      | . |               |
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|      |                      |               |      | ) |               |
+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
|      | 24-hour *^a^*        | 365 g/m^3^    |      |   |               |
|      |                      | (0.14 ppm)    |      |   |               |
+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+
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+------+----------------------+---------------+------+---+---------------+

In addition to ambient air quality standards, which represent an upper
bound on allowable pollutant concentrations, national air quality
standards exist for Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)
(40 CFR Part 51.166). The PSD standards differ from the NAAQS in that
the NAAQS specify maximum allowable concentrations of pollutants, while
PSD requirements provide maximum allowable increases in concentrations
of pollutants for areas already in compliance with the NAAQS. PSD
standards are therefore expressed as allowable increments in the
atmospheric concentrations of specific pollutants. Allowable PSD
increments currently exist for three pollutants (NO~2~, SO~2~, and
PM-10). One set of allowable increments exists for Class II areas, which
cover most of the United States, and a much more stringent set of
allowable increments exists for Class I areas, which include many
national parks and monuments, wilderness areas, and other areas as
specified in 40 CFR Part 51.166(e). Allowable PSD increments for Class I
and Class II areas are presented in Table 3.2.2. The PSD Class I area
nearest to Gilberton is Brigantine Wilderness Area in New Jersey, about
130 miles to the southeast.

+----------------------------+-------------+-------------+------------+
| **Table 3.2.2. Allowable   |             |             |            |
| increments for Prevention  |             |             |            |
| of Significant**           |             |             |            |
|                            |             |             |            |
| **Deterioration (PSD) of   |             |             |            |
| air quality**              |             |             |            |
+----------------------------+-------------+-------------+------------+
| Pollutant                  | Averaging   | Allowable   |            |
|                            |             | increment   |            |
|                            | period      | (g/m^3^)    |            |
+----------------------------+-------------+-------------+------------+
|                            |             | Class       | Class      |
|                            |             | I*^a^*      | II*^a^*    |
+----------------------------+-------------+-------------+------------+
| Sulfur dioxide (SO~2~)     | 3-hour      | 25          | 512        |
|                            |             |             |            |
|                            | 24-hour     | 5           | 91         |
|                            |             |             |            |
|                            | Annual      | 2           | 20         |
+----------------------------+-------------+-------------+------------+
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO~2~)   | Annual      | 2.5         | 25         |
+----------------------------+-------------+-------------+------------+
| Particulate matter less    | 24-hour     | 8           | 30         |
| than 10 m aerodynamic      |             |             |            |
| diameter (PM-10)           | Annual      | 4           | 17         |
+----------------------------+-------------+-------------+------------+
| *^a^* Class I areas are    |             |             |            |
| specifically designated    |             |             |            |
| areas in which the         |             |             |            |
| degradation of air quality |             |             |            |
| is to be severely          |             |             |            |
| restricted. Class II areas |             |             |            |
| (which include most of the |             |             |            |
| United States) have a less |             |             |            |
| stringent set of allowable |             |             |            |
| increments.                |             |             |            |
+----------------------------+-------------+-------------+------------+

Contaminants other than the criteria pollutants are present in the
atmosphere in varying amounts that depend on the magnitude and
characteristics of the sources, the distance from each source, and the
residence time of each pollutant in the atmosphere. In the ambient air,
many of these pollutants are present only in extremely small
concentrations, requiring expensive state-of-the-art equipment for
detection and measurement. Measurements of existing ambient air
concentrations for many hazardous pollutants are, at best, sporadic.
Regulation of these pollutants is attempted at emission sources based on
the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (40 CFR
Part 61; 40 CFR Part 63).

## 

## 3.3 GEOLOGY AND SOILS

### 3.3.1 Physiography

The proposed project site is located in the Anthracite Upland section of
the Ridge and Valley physiographic province of the Appalachian Mountains
(Sevon 2000). The regional landscape is characterized by a series of
northeast-trending linear ridges and valleys, reflecting the structure
of the underlying folded and faulted bedrock. Stream drainage has a
trellised pattern defined by major streams that follow linear courses in
the valleys, fed by tributaries that flow down the slopes of ridges. The
elevation difference between ridges and adjacent valleys ranges from 500
to 1,000 ft. The landscapes of many of the valleys and ridges have been
extensively altered by surface and underground mining of the underlying
anthracite coal. Landforms created by past mining include water-filled
mine pits, coal refuse piles, and spoil banks.

The proposed main plant would be located on the crest of Broad Mountain
at an elevation of about 1,700 ft above mean sea level (amsl). Broad
Mountain is an east-northeast trending ridge with steep flanks and a
broad, flat to gently rolling crest. Topographic relief across the main
plant site is about 40 ft. Other project-related facilities and
activities, including coal preparation, rail transfer, extraction of
groundwater, and discharge of wastewater, would occur on the northern
slope of Broad Mountain and in the valley of Mahanoy Creek north of
Broad Mountain, which has an elevation of about 1,150 to 1,200 ft amsl.
Topographic features of this valley have been extensively altered by
past strip mining.

### 3.3.2 Stratigraphy and Structure

The site area is underlain by sedimentary rocks of Mississippian and
Pennsylvanian age (about 290 to 360 million years old) deposited
primarily in rivers, swamps, and bogs. The oldest geologic unit mapped
in the area is the Mauch Chunk Formation, which was deposited in Late
Mississippian and Early Pennsylvanian time. This formation consists of
shale, siltstone, sandstone, and some conglomerate. Above the Mauch
Chunk is the Pennsylvanian age Pottsville Formation, which consists of
conglomerate and sandstone interbedded with siltstone, shale, and
anthracite coal. The Pottsville Formation has a total thickness of up to
1,600 ft. Above the Pottsville Formation, the Pennsylvanian age
Llewellyn Formation consists primarily of sandstone and siltstone,
interbedded with shale, conglomerate, and anthracite coal. In Schuylkill
County, the Llewellyn Formation is as much as 4,400 ft thick and
includes as many as 40 mineable coal layers.

Regional bedrock structure is very complex. Multiple cycles of regional
deformation resulted in an east-northeast-trending system of folds and
thrust faults, within which are complex sets of subsidiary folds and
faults. In the vicinity of the proposed project site, coal-bearing
formations typically are exposed in synclinal structures that form
valleys.

At the proposed main plant site on top of Broad Mountain, bedrock units
are the Mauch Chunk Formation and the overlying Tumbling Run Member,
which is the basal unit of the Pottsville Formation. The Tumbling Run
Member, which consists primarily of sandstone and conglomeratic
sandstone, is stratigraphically below the coal layers in the Pottsville
Formation. These geologic units are relatively erosion-resistant and
form several prominent ridges in the area.

Broad Mountain is the topographic expression of an anticline formed by
the Mauch Chunk Formation and other geologic units stratigraphically
below the coal-bearing formations. The axis of the anticline lies a
short distance south of the site of the proposed main plant. At the
site, bedrock dips approximately 26° to the north-northwest.

The Mahanoy Creek valley north of Broad Mountain occupies a broad
syncline. Several subsidiary folds and faults are within the syncline.
Rock units stratigraphically above the Mauch Chunk Formation, including
the Pottsville Group and the Llewellyn Formation, are exposed in the
Mahanoy Creek valley and on the north slope of Broad Mountain.

Coal-bearing units of the Pottsville Group and Llewellyn Formation also
are exposed south of Morea in an east-west-trending syncline outcropping
along the south flank of Broad Mountain. This exposure is truncated on
the south by a fault.

### 3.3.3 Mineral Resources

The region surrounding the proposed project site is rich in anthracite
coal. The anthracite coal-bearing rocks of eastern Pennsylvania cover
about 484 square miles within a 3,300 square mile region in Carbon,
Columbia, Dauphin, Lackawanna, Lebanon, Luzerne, Northumberland,
Schuylkill, Susquehanna, and Wayne counties, and are estimated to have
originally held 22.8 billion tons of coal (Edmunds 2002), representing
most of the United States' anthracite coal resources.

The region has a long history of coal production. Some mining and use of
anthracite occurred before 1800. Large-scale mining began early in the
1800s, primarily in underground mines using the room-and-pillar mining
method. In this method, large "rooms" of coal are excavated and
intervening "pillars" of coal are left to hold up the roof. Mine spoil
known as "culm," including coal that did not meet size or purity
standards for commercial sale, was deposited on the surrounding
landscape. As early as the late 1800s miners began extracting coal from
this old waste material by excavating culm deposits on the land surface
(called "culm banks") and dredging rivers and streams for coal that had
been deposited in them. Strip mining also began to supplement
underground mining and increased in prevalence during the
20^th^ century. The peak year for anthracite production in the region
was 1917, when about 100 million tons were mined, almost all from
underground mines (USGS 1968; PDEP 2000). Underground mining activity
declined through the middle years of the 20^th^ century, and most deep
mines were eventually forced to close due to the difficulty of mining in
steeply dipping and faulted rocks and the high cost of pumping
increasing volumes of water out of the mines. For example, the mine
served by the Gilberton Shaft in Gilberton was abandoned in 1967 when
dewatering operations were terminated (Yaccino 1976). Annual production
of anthracite from river dredging and culm banks has fluctuated over
time in response to market conditions, peaking at more than 10 million
tons per year during World War II and declining to as little as 500,000
tons per year during the 1980s. Strip mining peaked in 1948, when more
than 13 million tons were produced by this method (USGS 1968; PDEP
2000). In recent years, annual production from mines has generally been
less than 3 million tons, while culm utilization rates (which include
some non-coal material that is mixed with the coal) have been variable
(Figure 3.3.1). In 2002, 40% of the region's anthracite output came from
Schuylkill County (PDEP 2003).

In total, more than 5.5 billion tons of coal have been produced from the
anthracite region (Milici and Campbell 1997). Much of the coal remaining
in the ground cannot be mined (for example, because it forms the pillars
in old room-and-pillar mines). The Energy Information Administration
(1999) has estimated the demonstrated reserve base of anthracite as
7.2 billion tons, but most of the potentially mineable coal is
inaccessible or cannot be recovered. Based on Energy Information
Administration estimates of accessibility and recovery factors, only 788
million tons of recoverable anthracite remained in the ground, including
485 million tons recoverable by surface mining methods and 303 million
tons recoverable by underground mining. Authoritative estimates are not
available for the total quantity of potentially recoverable anthracite
culm remaining on the land surface in eastern Pennsylvania, but the
quantity is considered to be very large. WMPI controls 65 million tons
of surveyed culm reserves plus an estimated 85 million tons that have
not been surveyed. Accordingly, a conservative estimate of the amount of
locally available culm is 100 million tons.

![](media/image2.wmf){width="6.372222222222222in"
height="3.301388888888889in"}

Figure 3.3.1. Anthracite coal production in Pennsylvania, 1983-2002.
Culm processing reflects the total amount of culm material produced,
including noncoal waste materials. *Source:* Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection, Office of Mineral Resources Management, Annual
Reports on Mining Activities.

### 3.3.4 Soils

The proposed main plant site on top of Broad Mountain has residual soils
formed from weathering of the underlying sandstone bedrock. Soil
thickness in the site vicinity ranges from 2 to 14 ft, with rock
fragments frequently encountered in the deeper layers. The soil is
generally a silty fine to coarse sand with some clay and gravel. Site
soils are classified in the "Hazleton-Clymer soil association, gently
sloping to sloping." These units are described as consisting of deep,
well drained, permeable, stony soils formed in sandstone, siltstone, and
shale residuum on uplands. The "Buchanan extremely stony loam" soil
series is also present in one area of the site. This is a deep,
moderately well to somewhat poorly drained soil formed on upland
colluvium derived from sandstone, siltstone, and shale. None of these
soils are classified as prime farmland or Pennsylvania farmland of
statewide importance.

Soil classifications in the valley north of Broad Mountain reflect the
area's history of disturbance. The predominant soil map unit in the
valley is "Udorthents, strip mine," a classification that indicates
mined land and mine spoil in which no evidence of natural soil
development exists. Other areas in the valley are mapped as "mine
dumps," "coal waste dumps," and "urban land."

### 3.3.5 Geologic Hazards

### 

#### 3**.3.5.1 Mines**

Subsidence of underground coal mines is a significant potential hazard
in all portions of the project area that are underlain by active or
abandoned mine workings. Damage can result from either sudden collapses
or gradual subsidence. One particularly severe event in the region was
the collapse of an underground coal mine in Wilkes-Barre (about 35 miles
northeast of the proposed project site) in 1954 (von Hake 1973). This
collapse damaged hundreds of homes, broke gas and water mains, and
caused streets and sidewalks to buckle and collapse. Many older
buildings in the valley of Mahanoy Creek have structural damage
resulting from gradual subsidence of abandoned underground coal mines.
Dewatering of mine pools (man-made aquifers resulting from a network of
voids produced during underground mining activities) can lead to surface
subsidence because the presence of water helps to support the overlying
rock. However, the state of Pennsylvania has not observed any mine roof
collapses or other subsidence related to pumping from the mine pools at
Gilberton or other locations in the region (Buckwalter 2004; Veil et al.
2003).

Abandoned mines and mining waste also are potential fire hazards. Fires
in culm banks and underground mines can be ignited by surface fires,
mining activities (such as welding or use of explosives), or spontaneous
combustion of coal fines or combustible trash materials mixed in with
the culm (Stracher et al., undated). Once started, these fires can be
very difficult to extinguish and may become long-term hazards to public
health and safety. Underground fires in coal seams emit carbon monoxide
and other toxic gases that can migrate through cracks and voids and
enter buildings. Also, ground surface subsidence often occurs above
burned-out coal seams. The borough of Centralia, about 8 miles west of
Gilberton, has been permanently evacuated due to an underground coal
fire that has been burning since 1962. Fires in culm banks threaten the
safety of people occupying the area and degrade air quality by the
uncontrolled release of smoke. Long-lasting smoldering fires in culm
banks were common in the region in past decades, but have nearly been
eliminated by improved fire-suppression capabilities.

The site of the proposed main plant is located over rock units that do
not contain coal. Therefore, the site is not subject to hazards
associated with past coal mining.

Extensive underground mining has occurred in the Mahanoy Creek valley,
where some buildings have visible damage due to subsidence. Culm banks
also are present in the valley.

#### 3.3.5.2 Seismic Activity

The proposed project site is in a region of relatively low earthquake
risk. It is included in Seismic Risk Zone 1 of the Uniform Building Code
(ICBO 1994). Under the newer International Building Code (International
Code Council 2002) most types of structures would be assigned to Seismic
Design Category B. No earthquakes centered in Schuylkill County have
been recorded. Southeastern Pennsylvania has a history of seismic
activity, however, and is rated as having somewhat higher seismic risk
than the area of the project site. The largest seismic event measured in
southeastern Pennsylvania was a magnitude 4.6 earthquake in January 1994
at Wyomissing Hills in Berks County, about 40 miles south of the
proposed project site. Seismic activity in southeastern Pennsylvania is
associated with two different source areas: (1) a north-south trending
zone in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties and (2) the margins of a
Triassic-age rift basin that crosses southeastern Pennsylvania
(including Wyomissing Hills) and New Jersey (Scharnberger 1989 and
2003).

The U.S. Geological Survey (1996) estimates that a peak ground
acceleration of 0.12 g[^1] due to seismic activity has a 2% probability
of occurring at the proposed project site during a 50-year period.
Ground accelerations above about 0.1 g can cause damage to residential
buildings that were not designed to resist earthquakes (USGS 1996), but
significant earthquake damage is generally not expected unless ground
accelerations exceed 0.15 g (Scharnberger 2003).

## 3.4 WATER RESOURCES

Pennsylvania has a humid climate, with precipitation distributed
relatively evenly through the year. In the area of the proposed
facilities, the average annual precipitation of about 45 in.
(Section 3.2.1) substantially exceeds the average annual
evapotranspiration, which is estimated to be about 26 in. (Fleeger
1999), leaving nearly 20 in. as average annual runoff. Rates of
evapotranspiration are typically lower and runoff correspondingly higher
on mined land with little or no revegetation. Statewide, approximately
12 to 15 in. annually, or about one-third of the precipitation, is
estimated to infiltrate to the groundwater system, with the remainder of
the runoff going directly to surface waters (Callaghan et al. 1998).

### 3.4.1 Surface Water

Broad Mountain forms a watershed boundary, dividing the Susquehanna
River watershed to the north from the Schuylkill River watershed to the
south. The Susquehanna River flows south and southeast, entering
Chesapeake Bay at Havre de Grace, Maryland. The Schuylkill River flows
southeast to Philadelphia and the Delaware River, which flows to
Delaware Bay.

The north slope of Broad Mountain drains to Mahanoy Creek, which flows
50 miles westward from headwaters east of Mahanoy City to the
Susquehanna River, entering the river about 10 miles south of the city
of Sunbury. The southern side of Broad Mountain is in the watershed of
Mill Creek, which enters the Schuylkill River near Pottsville. No
streams are located on the sites for the main plant or ancillary
facilities, but old strip mining pits and artificial ponds in the
Mahanoy Creek valley and on the southern side of Broad Mountain collect
precipitation, stormwater runoff, and other wastewater. Because most
activities associated with the proposed facilities would occur in the
Mahanoy Creek watershed and facility effluent discharges would be
directed into the Mahanoy Creek watershed, Mahanoy Creek is the focus of
the remainder of this discussion.

Mahanoy Creek drains a watershed (Figure 3.4.1) with an area of
approximately 157 square miles (PDEP 2002a). At Gilberton, the creek has
a surface watershed area of less than 18 square miles (NWISWeb accessed
September, 2004; site 0155521140).

![](media/image3.wmf)

Past mining in the region has altered both surface and groundwater
hydrology on a large scale. Mine workings and other underground openings
act as large drains or sinks for groundwater. During active underground
mining this water was removed by pumping and by tunnels that provided
gravity drainage to nearby streams. After mining ceased, the underground
openings flooded. The interconnected mine shafts, tunnels, gangways, and
other workings now collect and divert both groundwater and surface
streams, forming highly transmissive man-made aquifers that in many
instances transfer water between surface watersheds. Disturbance of the
land surface by surface mining, deposition of coal waste, and collapse
of underground openings also has altered hydrology by modifying stream
courses and forming artificial ponds where surface water collects and
infiltrates into the man-made aquifer system. Numerous seeps, boreholes,
and mine tunnel discharges enter Mahanoy Creek and its tributaries. The
creek segment near the proposed project area receives mine-water inflow
from pumping of the Gilberton mine pool (Section 3.4.3) and from several
uncontrolled mine-water discharges upstream from Mahanoy City
(PDEP 2002a).

Limited flow data are available for Mahanoy Creek in the proposed
project area (USGS NWISWeb). In August 2001 creek discharge at Gilberton
was measured as 2.8 ft^3^/s. About 3 miles downstream at Girardville,
below the entry point for discharges from the Girard Mine, measured
stream discharge on the same day was 7.8 ft^3^/s. About 2 miles farther
downstream at Ashland, discharge that day was 50 ft^3^/s. Other flow
measurements at Girardville range from 4.8 to 32 ft^3^/s, and other
measurements at Ashland range from 40 to 88 ft^3^/s. For the purpose of
water quality calculations, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection (2002a) assumed an average discharge at Girardville of 9.5
ft^3^/s (6.15 million gal per day). Measured discharges at Gilberton and
the assumed average discharge at Girardville are much smaller than the
average annual discharges of 27 ft^3^/s and 31 ft^3^/s, respectively,
calculated from the watershed sizes and estimated annual runoff of 20
in. At Ashland, however, observed stream flow compares reasonably well
with calculated stream flow of 63 ft^3^/s. The discrepancy between
observed and calculated stream flow at Gilberton and Girardville may
indicate that some runoff generated within the upper Mahanoy Creek
watershed normally bypasses the stream in the area of these communities,
probably as groundwater that emerges farther downstream.

Water quality in Mahanoy Creek is considered to be severely impaired
from the source to the mouth (Edwards 1998). The principal cause of
water quality degradation is acidic mine drainage. Aquatic life is
severely diminished due to low pH conditions and high concentrations of
dissolved metals. Sewage also is reported to contribute to water quality
degradation in the upper watershed (where the proposed facilities would
be located), but sewage effects are largely masked by the effects of
mine drainage. Water quality has improved over time, possibly due to
reclamation of abandoned mines, but does not meet the water-quality
objectives established for the creek, which are based on a designated
use as warm-water fish habitat (PDEP 2002a).

Table 3.4.1 presents two sets of results from water quality sampling of
Mahanoy Creek near the proposed project site. State water quality
criteria applicable to the creek also are shown. The water is acidic
(indicated by the measured values for pH and acidity) and has elevated
levels of sulfate and metals (aluminum, iron, and manganese) that are
typical of waters affected by acid mine drainage. Water quality factors
adverse to fish habitat are the acidity, which promotes release of
metals such as aluminum and lead in forms that are toxic to aquatic life
and the elevated manganese and iron levels which can cause deposition of
metal oxide precipitates that physically degrade streambed habitat.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (2002a) has
published preliminary calculations of the total maximum daily load
reductions required in Mahanoy Creek above Girardville (which includes
the stream segment in Gilberton) in order to achieve water quality
criteria in the creek at least 99% of the time. The agency estimated
that reductions of 69 lb per day of manganese (73% less than the current
load), 32 lb per day of aluminum (78% less than the current load), and
657 lb per day of acidity (63% less than the current load) would be
needed. The agency did not estimate a load reduction for iron in this
segment of Mahanoy Creek because the targeted reduction in iron would be
achieved at other stream locations.

### 3.4.2 Groundwater

Groundwater is present at relatively shallow depth throughout the site
area, in intergranular pore space, fractures, and man-made bedrock
voids. Recharge to groundwater is primarily from infiltration of
precipitation. The Mauch Chunk and Pottsville Formations are productive
sources of groundwater throughout the region, storing and transmitting
water primarily in interconnected fractures. Saturation is continuous at
depths below the water table, but discrete water-bearing zones are
identified in these aquifers where wells intersect well-connected
fracture zones. Productive water-bearing zones are most commonly found
at depths between 50 and 300 ft. Wells finished in these aquifers and
developed for maximum production have a median yield of 75 gpm, with
some wells in the Mauch

+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| **Table 3.4.1. Water    |          |             |                 |
| quality data for        |          |             |                 |
| Mahanoy Creek near      |          |             |                 |
| Gilberton**             |          |             |                 |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Analyte                 | Conce    |             | Applicable      |
|                         | ntration |             | water quality   |
|                         | (mg/L,   |             | cr              |
|                         | except   |             | iteria^*b*,*c*^ |
|                         | as       |             | (maximum except |
|                         | noted)   |             | as noted)       |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
|                         | U.S.     | P           |                 |
|                         | Ge       | ennsylvania |                 |
|                         | ological | Department  |                 |
|                         | Sur      | of          |                 |
|                         | vey*^a^* | En          |                 |
|                         |          | vironmental |                 |
|                         |          | Prot        |                 |
|                         |          | ection*^b^* |                 |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| pH (field; pH units)    | 5.0      | \--*^d^*    | 6.0 - 9.0       |
|                         |          |             | (range)         |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Oxidation-reduction     | 440      | \--         | \--             |
| potential (mV)          |          |             |                 |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Dissolved oxygen        | 6.7      | \--         | min. 5.0 (daily |
|                         |          |             | average)        |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Silica                  | 9.5      | \--         | \--             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Specific conductance    | 660      | \--         | \--             |
| (μS/cm)                 |          |             |                 |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Acidity, as calcium     | 11       | 16.25       | \--             |
| carbonate               |          |             |                 |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Alkalinity              | \--      | 16.50       | \--             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Cations                 |          |             |                 |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Aluminum                | 0.3      | 0.75        | 0.75            |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Calcium                 | 61       | \--         | \--             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Iron, total             | 0.63     | \--         | 1.5             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Iron, dissolved         | 0.41     | 5.18*^e^*   | 0.3             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Lead, dissolved         | 0.0004   | \--         | \--             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Magnesium               | 26       | \--         | \--             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Manganese               | 1.8      | 2.5         | 1.0             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Nickel, dissolved       | 0.049    | \--         | \--             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Potassium               | 4.3      | \--         | \--             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Sodium                  | 25       | \--         | \--             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Strontium               | 0.38     | \--         | \--             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Zinc                    | 0.17     | \--         | \--             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Anions                  |          |             |                 |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Chloride                | 26.9     | \--         | \--             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Fluoride                | 0.1      | \--         | \--             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Nitrate, as nitrogen    | 1.95     | \--         | \--             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Sulfate                 | 320      | \--         | \--             |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+
| *^a^*Measured August    |          |             |                 |
| 20, 2001. *Source*:     |          |             |                 |
| NWISWeb.                |          |             |                 |
|                         |          |             |                 |
| *^b^Source*: PDEP       |          |             |                 |
| (Pennsylvania           |          |             |                 |
| Department of           |          |             |                 |
| Environmental           |          |             |                 |
| Protection) 2002a.      |          |             |                 |
|                         |          |             |                 |
| *^c^*Pennsylvania Code  |          |             |                 |
| Title 25, Environmental |          |             |                 |
| Protection, Section     |          |             |                 |
| 93.7, Specific water    |          |             |                 |
| quality criteria.       |          |             |                 |
|                         |          |             |                 |
| *^d^*Not available.     |          |             |                 |
|                         |          |             |                 |
| *^e^*Not identified as  |          |             |                 |
| total or dissolved.     |          |             |                 |
+-------------------------+----------+-------------+-----------------+

###  

Chunk aquifer yielding several hundred gpm. Most of the smaller wells in
both aquifers yield sufficient water to supply a household. A specific
yield (the fraction of the aquifer volume that consists of drainable
void space) of 0.034 has been calculated for the Mauch Chunk aquifer in
the region (Becher 1991). This value is characteristic of an unconfined
(water-table) aquifer in which groundwater is stored primarily in
fractures. The zone of influence around pumped wells is much larger
parallel to bedrock strike than perpendicular to bedrock strike, and may
extend to a distance of 1,500 ft or more from a high-capacity production
well (Becher 1991).

Under natural conditions, groundwater flow is from upland areas, such as
Broad Mountain, laterally and downward toward natural discharge sites in
springs and seeps in valleys, such as the valley of Mahanoy Creek.
Groundwater flow patterns generally mirror the topography. However, the
influence of bedrock structure on subsurface flow may cause groundwater
divides to be located updip from surface water divides. Downward flow
gradients would typically be observed in the uplands, which are net
recharge areas. Upward flow would occur in valleys, which are net
discharge areas, and might have artesian conditions under which deep
wells flow at the ground surface.

Previous underground mining activities, which created extensive networks
of voids that are now filled with water, have substantially altered
natural groundwater systems. Abandoned mine workings function as highly
permeable man-made aquifers, known as mine pools. Because mining removed
much of the rock that once impeded upward groundwater flow, the higher
groundwater heads that existed at depth under valleys are now expressed
at the ground surface. The valley mine pools function similarly to large
artesian wells, often producing upwelling groundwater at the ground
surface and causing flooding in the valleys. The Mahanoy Creek valley in
the area of the proposed facilities is underlain by an extensive system
of mine pools (Section 3.4.3).

Particularly during active mining, underground mines also act as
groundwater drains or sinks, and could possibly cause lower water levels
in upgradient portions of a groundwater flow system. However, valley
mines in the proposed project area have not been reported to affect
groundwater levels in uplands.

The quality of groundwater is generally good in the Mauch Chunk
Formation and portions of the Pottsville Formation that are not affected
by mining. Water from both aquifers is low in dissolved solids content.
Median concentrations of total dissolved solids are 80 mg/L in the Mauch
Chunk Formation and 53 mg/L in the Pottsville Formation. Water from the
Pottsville Formation is soft (median hardness of 15 mg/L, as calcium
carbonate), while the Mauch Chunk Formation produces water that is soft
to very hard (median hardness of 90 mg/L) (Becher 1991). Some wells in
the region naturally produce water with undesirably high levels of iron
and manganese, and contamination is reported in some wells due to nearby
septic systems, underground storage tanks, and other localized sources
(Becher 1991, Edwards 1998).

### 3.4.3 Mine Pool

An extensive system of mine pools (man-made aquifers resulting from a
network of voids produced during underground mining activities) exists
under the Mahanoy Creek valley in the vicinity of the proposed project
site. Inflow comes from groundwater that would naturally discharge in
the valley, seepage of surface water from Mahanoy Creek (the water
elevation in the mine pools is generally lower than that of the creek),
and seepage from tailings ponds in the valley.

The Gilberton mine pool consists of water-filled underground mine
workings located beneath the borough of Gilberton and connected with the
Gilberton Shaft. The mine extended as deep as 1,200 ft, to an elevation
of -66 ft amsl (Parulis 1985). The underground mining operation closed
and dewatering stopped in 1967, after which the workings filled with
water (Yaccino 1976). The water-filled volume of the mine pool has been
estimated at 1.868 billion gal (Parulis 1985). The Gilberton pool has
been reported to be interconnected with the Lawrence and West Bear Ridge
mine pools to the west and with the Boston Run, St. Nicholas, and Tunnel
Ridge mine pools to the east (Parulis 1985). Together, these pools have
been estimated to hold over 7.1 billion gal of water (Parulis 1985).
Hydraulic testing demonstrated a direct interconnection only with the
Lawrence mine pool (Leaver 1976), which has an estimated volume of 2.127
billion gal. However, water from the three mine pools east of the
Gilberton pool probably flows as groundwater into the Gilberton pool.

Based on records of pumping during active mining, the Gilberton mine
pool and other interconnected mine pools were estimated to have average
inflow of about 6,200 gpm (13.8 ft^3^/s or 3.25 billion gal per year).
Parulis (1985) estimated the inflow to be about 8,200 gpm, based on
pumping rates for a 29-month period in the early 1980s.

An underground pump supplies water from the mine pool at an average rate
of 1,500 gpm to use as cooling water at the Gilberton Power Plant. An
additional 1,667 gpm are withdrawn for use in the existing culm
beneficiation plant. Evaporation and other losses consume almost all of
the cooling water and some of the culm preparation water. About
1,280 gpm (100 gpm from the power plant and 1,180 gpm from the culm
beneficiation plant) are discharged as treated wastewater to a tailings
pond in the Mahanoy Creek valley.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection operates another
subsurface pump to control the mine pool elevation in order to prevent
flooding in Gilberton. This pump, with an estimated capacity of
11,300 gpm, is run as needed to keep the water elevation between
1,096 and 1,113 ft amsl (Jack Buckwalter, Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection, personal communication to Ellen Smith, ORNL,
May 17, 2004). This protects the lowest basements in Gilberton, which
extend down to about 1,117 ft amsl. The pumping operation began in 1972,
five years after underground mining operations ended (Yaccino 1976). The
pumping rate varies. During dry periods, the pump may operate just a few
days a month or not at all, but during wet periods it may run
continuously. Annual pumpage over the 12-year period 1992 to 2003
averaged more than 2.5 billion gal, which equates to almost 4,800 gpm
(11 ft^3^/s) (Jack Buckwalter, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection, personal communication to Ellen Smith, ORNL, May 17, 2004).
The pumped water is discharged directly to Mahanoy Creek and is a source
of mine-drainage contamination in the creek. The site where pumped water
enters the creek is stained with iron precipitate.

Mine pools in the anthracite region typically are chemically stratified
into "top water" with near-neutral pH and "bottom water" with low pH and
much higher concentrations of dissolved metals, sulfate, and other
constituents associated with acidic mine drainage. Top water is believed
to reflect shallow groundwater circulation and relatively short
residence times, while bottom water is drawn from greater depths and has
longer residence times (Brady et al. 1998). The chemical analysis of the
mine pool water withdrawn for use at the Gilberton Power Plant
(Table 3.4.2) exhibits the characteristics of acid mine drainage. A grab
sample of water withdrawn by the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection had pH 5.9 and an iron concentration of
30 mg/L, all in the divalent ferrous form (Jack Buckwalter, Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection, personal communication to Ellen
Smith, ORNL, May 17, 2004), which is more soluble than the trivalent
ferric form. The near-neutral pH of these samples is consistent with top
water, but the high concentrations of iron, manganese, and sulfate are
more typical of bottom water. The chemistry of water pumped from the
mine pool is likely to vary.

  --------------------------------------- -------------------------------
  **Table 3.4.2. Chemical analysis of     
  Gilberton mine pool water**             

  Analyte                                 Concentration (mg/L, except pH)

  pH (at 25°C)                            6.3‑6.4

  Silica                                  13

  Total dissolved solids*^a^*             966

  Cations                                 

  Magnesium                               19.4

  Manganese                               9.3

  Sodium                                  14.5

  Calcium                                 47.6

  Potassium                               2.0

  Strontium                               0.0

  Iron                                    43.0

  Anions                                  

  Chloride                                12

  Fluoride                                0

  Nitrate                                 0

  Sulfate                                 723

  Bicarbonate                             95

  *^a^*Determined from sum of individual  
  parameter concentrations.               
  --------------------------------------- -------------------------------

Treated wastewater from the existing Gilberton Power Plant is discharged
to a 6‑acre tailings pond in the Mahanoy Creek valley. Pond capacity is
approximately 156 million gal. Water seeps from the pond into the
underlying mine pool. Discharge to the pond is regulated by Pennsylvania
NPDES industrial wastewater discharge permit 278784, issued in 1997. No
violations of permit requirements have been recorded.

### 3.4.4 Water Supply

Schuylkill County's water supplies are obtained from a combination of
surface water and groundwater sources (PDEP 2002b). About 56% of the
population is supplied from surface reservoirs operated by public water
supply systems. The remaining 44% use groundwater. Most groundwater
users are supplied by public water systems, but about 9% of the
population is served by private wells. Surface reservoirs and wells used
for public drinking water supply are located in upland areas and receive
inflow from watersheds that are unaffected by past mining.

The proposed project site is not in the watershed of any surface water
supply reservoirs. A small reservoir on Broad Mountain about 1 mile
southwest of the site is in the headwaters of Stony Creek (a tributary
to the Schuylkill River), which does not receive flows from any area
where project activities would occur.

Several active groundwater supply wells are within a 1-mile radius of
the proposed facilities. For a source of sanitary water, the Gilberton
Power Plant maintains two 440-ft-deep wells, both completed in the Mauch
Chunk Formation, near the southern perimeter of the proposed project
site. One of the two wells is pumped intermittently at 70 gpm, while the
other well serves as a backup source. The pump operates about 15 hours
per day on average to withdraw approximately 63,000 gal per day.

The Morea Citizens Water Company, which serves a population of 350 in
the village of Morea, obtains water from a 380-ft-deep well located
about 1,000 ft southeast of the proposed project site. This well is
completed in the Pottsville Formation (Becher 1991). Average daily water
use of 20,500 gal (about 14 gpm) compares with an estimated safe yield
of 144,000 gal per day (100 gpm) (PDEP 2002b). Two nearby wells include
a well that the Morea water company maintains as a backup source and a
well used by a state police facility. At least four domestic wells are
located west and south of the proposed project site at distances between
about 1,200 ft and one mile of the site. These wells, which supply
residents and small businesses, are completed in the Pottsville
Formation or the upper portion of the Mauch Chunk Formation and extend
70 to 90 ft below ground surface. Other water users in the area,
including the Mahanoy State Correctional Institution east of the
proposed project site, are supplied by municipal water systems that
obtain supplies from surface water reservoirs.

Schuylkill County's public water supply systems are estimated to have a
total safe yield of more than 48 million gal per day. This substantially
exceeds current average daily usage of about 23 million gal, current
peak demand of almost 31 million gal, and projected future demand, which
is expected to be less than current usage due to population decline
(PDEP 2002b). However, concerns about the adequacy of water supplies
have been raised in past drought periods (Becher 1991) and some water
suppliers have problems with water treatment and distribution systems
(PDEP 2002b).

The Morea water utility's source of water is judged to have adequate
capacity, but the utility has experienced difficulties in maintaining
adequate water pressure through its distribution system. Other water
supply utilities that operate near the proposed project site have been
identified as having sufficient unused capacity to serve additional
customers in Morea and the Broad Mountain area (PDEP 2002b). An analysis
prepared for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
(2002b) recommended that the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority,
which serves nearly 32,000 county residents from surface water sources,
supplying more than 4.4 million gal per day on average, could acquire
the Morea Citizens Water Company in order to improve water service in
Morea. Also, a consultant to the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection recommended that the Mahanoy Township Authority
could extend its service area on the top of Broad Mountain (PDEP 2002b).
This utility supplies water to about 6,500 people in Mahanoy Township,
Gilberton Borough, and Mahanoy City, using both surface water sources
and wells. Another public water supplier in the site vicinity is the
Pennsylvania American Water Company, Frackville Division, which serves
5,700 people in Frackville Borough and parts of Butler and Mahanoy
Townships from five wells that supply about 507,000 gal daily.

In addition to the Gilberton Power Plant, existing industrial water
users in the area include several other cogeneration plants that use
water for cooling and for steam. Agricultural water use is minimal in
the vicinity of the proposed project site.

## 3.5 FLOODPLAINS AND WETLANDS

### 3.5.1 Floodplains

The proposed site for the main plant area is a nearly level plot of 75
acres atop Broad Mountain at an elevation of 1,700 ft amsl, which is
above the Federal Emergency Management Agency's delineated 100- and
500-year floodplains (FEMA 1983, 1986). The new culm beneficiation
plant, or expansion of the existing facility, would be located to the
north and across Mahanoy Creek from the main plant area. The location
would be above the Federal Emergency Management Agency's delineated 100-
and 500-year floodplains (FEMA 1983, 1986).

Certain project support facilities (i.e., product transportation, culm
preparation, water intake) would be connected to the main plant area by
(1) product rundown lines to a railroad siding, (2) an expansion of the
coal conveyor from the culm beneficiation plant, and (3) a mine pool
water source line. These structures would cross above the level of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency's delineated 100- and 500-year
floodplains, which are centered along Mahanoy Creek (FEMA 1983, 1986),
by using an existing trestle.

### 3.5.2 Wetlands

Wetlands do not occur on or within about 1,000 ft of the proposed site
for the main plant area. No natural wetlands are known to occur in the
valley below in the vicinity of the proposed culm preparation and
conveyance facilities, although some of the tailings ponds and other
collection basins in Mahanoy Creek valley may provide some wetland
functions.

## 3.6 ECOLOGICAL RESOURCES

### 3.6.1 Terrestrial Ecology

Under Bailey's (1995) classification system for the ecoregions of the
United States, the proposed project site and environs lie in the
Northern Ridge and Valley Section of the Central Appalachian Broadleaf
Forest -- Coniferous Forest -- Meadow Province. The Northern Ridge and
Valley Section comprises about 23,000 square miles, or 47% of the total
area of the province, and about 0.9 % of the total area of the United
States (McNab and Avers 1994). Most, if not all, of the proposed site
lies within the lower Susquehanna River subbasin, the most developed of
the six subbasins of the Susquehanna, particularly in terms of
hydropower, industry (including coal mining), and agriculture (SRBC
1998).

Since the die‑off of the formerly dominant American chestnut,
oak-hickory and oak-hickory-pine forests have become the dominant
forests of otherwise undisturbed areas of the Northern Ridge and Valley
Section (McNab and Avers 1994). Maple, beech, and birch also are fairly
widespread in the section (USGS 2003a). The region is dominated by
second- and third-growth forest that has regenerated since the extensive
logging of the 1800's. These forests are typically mixed oak
communities, with an abundance of northern red oak, chestnut oak, white
oak, sycamore, yellow birch, red maple, white ash, and tulip poplar, and
a scattering of eastern hemlock and white pine. Forest understories
often include black locust, dogwood, spicebush, mountain laurel,
rhododendron, blueberry, and serviceberry. Ferns, grasses, and forbs
comprise the ground cover in these forests. Deer, black bear, turkey,
grouse, squirrel, and chipmunk are common inhabitants of the woodlands.

The proposed main plant site is on a ridge top covered by a 25- to
30‑year old, even-aged forest of chestnut oak, white oak, hickory,
cherry, pine, red maple, dogwood, sassafras, and birch. The tallest
trees are about 45 ft in height, and up to about 1 ft in diameter at
breast height. Common understory species include early low blueberry,
highbush blueberry, witch hazel, downy serviceberry, and mountain
laurel. Scattered hawthorns, wintergreen, greenbrier, blackhaw, and
nannyberry are also present. Herbaceous species present on the site
include ferns (e.g., bracken, interrupted), colt's foot, spotted
knapweed, thistle, dock, common plantain, primrose-leaved violet, common
mullein, common cinquefoil, goldenrod, broomsedge, and other grasses.
Mosses and lichens occur on most trees and rocks within the proposed
project area. Soils are generally very poor, dry, and rocky
(Section 3.3.4), with large rocks scattered on the ground.

The site is flanked by the Gilberton Power Plant to the west and the
Mahanoy State Correctional Institution to the east. Land in the valleys
to the north and south has been strip-mined. With the exception of a few
road cuts and utility crossings, the site is almost entirely wooded and
does not appear to have ever been strip-mined.

Since the elimination of the mountain lion, gray wolf, woodland bison,
and elk in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by hunting and
habitat destruction or alteration, the only large vertebrates naturally
occurring in the region are the black bear and the whitetail deer. Other
mammals, all considerably smaller, include weasel, deer mouse, meadow
jumping mouse, fox squirrel, gray squirrel, and bats (McNab and Avers
1994).

Wildlife using the site is consistent with that described for the
region. Black bear, red fox, coyote, whitetail deer, gray squirrel, red
squirrel, grouse, and turkey have been reported by employees that work
at the adjacent Gilberton Power Plant. Bird species seen include blue
jay, American crow, turkey vulture, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker,
rufous-sided towhee, black-capped chickadee, chipping sparrow, black and
white warbler, palm warbler, yellow-rumped warbler, black-throated blue
warbler, and several additional unidentified warblers. The site lies in
an important migration route for raptors such as red-tailed and
red-shouldered hawks, and great horned owls (PDCNR-State Parks 2004);
although these species have not been reported on the site, they may pass
through. Bird species activity and diversity are moderate and probably
characteristic of higher elevations within the region.

One of the eight segments of Weiser State Forest lies approximately 1.8
miles to the east of the proposed site, adjacent to Locust Lake State
Park (USGS 1969). Weiser State Forest provides a number of recreational
opportunities including hunting, fishing, hiking, and picnicking
(PDCNR-State Forests 2004). Immediately adjacent to Weiser State Forest,
heavily forested Locust Lake State Park offers hiking, camping, hunting,
fishing, and boating. Among the more than 100 species of birds observed
at Locust Lake State Park are 16 birds of prey (i.e., raptors) including
ospreys, merlins, red‑shouldered hawks, red-tailed hawks, great-horned
owls, and screech owls. Important game species include ruffed grouse,
wild turkey, woodcock, doves, ring-necked pheasants, rabbits, squirrels,
and white-tailed deer (PDCNR-State Parks 2004). Many of these same
species likely also occur on or near the proposed site. The nearest
state game land lies about 8 miles northeast of the proposed site, and
numerous state game lands can be found in almost any direction within 20
miles (USGS 2003b).

### 3.6.2 Aquatic Ecology

The proposed site lies on a fairly flat ridgetop that forms the divide
between the Susquehanna and Schuylkill River watersheds. The north side
of the ridge drains to upper Mahanoy Creek, a 56-mile tributary of the
Susquehanna River to the west, while the south side drains to one or
more small impoundments and Mill Creek, a tributary of the Schuylkill
River.

No surface waters are on or in the immediate vicinity of the proposed
site. However, tailing ponds and other collection basins are located
along upper Mahanoy Creek in formerly strip mined areas. A tailings pond
lies near, and is associated with, the culm preparation and conveyance
facility that currently serves the Gilberton Power Plant. This pond
would also serve the proposed facilities.

The proposed site drains to Mahanoy Creek watershed. Mahanoy Creek water
quality and aquatic ecology have been substantially altered by acid mine
drainage; due to the low pH and alkalinity and high acidity and
concentrations of dissolved metals, aquatic life is absent or severely
reduced (SRBC 1986, 1994). Efforts are currently underway to improve
water quality, particularly by a project sponsored by the Mahanoy Creek
Watershed Association to convert a large tract of land to wetland to
treat acid mine drainage passively (Schuylkill County 2005).

### 3.6.3 Threatened and Endangered Species

Except for occasional transient individuals, the proposed facilities are
not located within an area that is the habitat of an endangered,
threatened, candidate, special concern, or rare species of bird, mammal,
reptile, amphibian, fish, aquatic invertebrate, or plant recognized by
the state or federal government (PNDI 2003; PFBC 2003; PGC 2003;
Appendix A). Although the endangered Virginia big-eared bat and the
endangered Indiana bat occur in the region (McNab and Avers 1994) and
the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service includes adjacent Luzerne County (to the
north) within the area of distribution of the Indiana bat (Appendix A),
neither species is likely to reside in the immediate vicinity of the
proposed site because suitable habitat is not present. No caves or
abandoned mine shafts, which are necessary to provide winter habitat for
the Indiana bat and both winter and summer habitat for the Virginia
big-eared bat, are known to be present on the project site. Riparian
habitat used extensively by Indiana bats in summer is also lacking.
Neither species has been sighted in the project area.

### 3.6.4 Biodiversity

Biodiversity is a general term broadly defined as the variety and
variability of life, or the diversity of genes, species, and ecosystems
(CEQ 1993). Presence of rare species and habitat types increases local
biodiversity. The proposed site consists of about 75 acres of
second-growth forest habitat typical of the region. The habitat is not
noted for rare species.

## 3.7 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES

This section contains data on the social and economic resources most
likely to be affected by construction and operation of the proposed
facilities. Most of the data are for Schuylkill County, but data for
Mahanoy and West Mahanoy townships and Frackville and Gilberton boroughs
are provided where available. Data are also included for the city of
Pottsville, which is the largest city in Schuylkill County and would
likely be the destination of any workers relocating to the area for
project construction or operations.

### 3.7.1 Population

Table 3.7.1 provides population data for Schuylkill County, Mahanoy and
West Mahanoy townships, Frackville and Gilberton boroughs, and the city
of Pottsville. Between 1990 and 2000 (the most recent year for which
complete U.S. Census Bureau data are available), each of these
jurisdictions experienced a population decrease except for West Mahanoy
Township, which experienced a population increase of 35.8%. The U.S.
Census Bureau's 2003 population estimate of 147,944 for Schuylkill
County (other jurisdictions are not available) indicates that the county
continued to experience a population decrease (1.6% from 2000 to 2003).

The population increase in West Mahanoy Township was primarily due to
the opening of the Mahanoy State Correctional Institution in 1993. As an
indication of how the prison\'s inmate population figures affect West
Mahanoy Township\'s total population figures, the inmate population in
December 2000 (1,984) represented over 32% of the township\'s total
population (PDC 2001).

+--------------------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+
| **Table 3.7.1.           |             |             |              |
| Population data for      |             |             |              |
| Schuylkill County and    |             |             |              |
| selected communities**   |             |             |              |
+--------------------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+
|                          | 1990        | 2000        | Percentage   |
|                          | population  | population  | change       |
|                          |             |             |              |
|                          |             |             | 1990--2000   |
+--------------------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+
| Schuylkill County        | 152,585     | 150,336     | -1.5         |
+--------------------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+
| Mahanoy Township         | 1,273       | 1,113       | -12.6        |
+--------------------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+
| West Mahanoy Township    | 4,539       | 6,166       | 35.8         |
+--------------------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+
| Frackville Borough       | 4,700       | 4,361       | -7.2         |
+--------------------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+
| Gilberton Borough        | 953         | 867         | -9.0         |
+--------------------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+
| City of Pottsville       | 16,603      | 15,536      | -6.4         |
+--------------------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+
| *Sources:* U.S. Census   |             |             |              |
| Bureau 2004a; U.S.       |             |             |              |
| Census Bureau 2004b      |             |             |              |
+--------------------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+

### 3.7.2 Employment and Income

Table 3.7.2 provides employment and income data for residents of
Schuylkill County in 2000. The unemployment rate in Schuylkill County
(6.0%) was slightly higher than that in Pennsylvania (5.8%), but lower
than that in the United States (6.6%). Schuylkill County\'s per capita
income (\$17,230) was lower than that of both Pennsylvania (\$20,880)
and the United States (\$21,587) (U.S. Census Bureau 2004b).

  ---------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ -------------- --------
  **Table 3.7.2.                                                      
  Employment and                                                      
  income data for                                                     
  Schuylkill                                                          
  County in 2000**                                                    

  Location         Labor      Number      Number       Unemployment   Per
                   force      employed    unemployed   rate (%)       capita
                                                                      income
                                                                      (\$)

  Schuylkill       67,989     63,902      4,087        6.0            17,230
  County                                                              

  *Source:* U.S.                                                      
  Census Bureau                                                       
  2004b                                                               
  ---------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ -------------- --------

Table 3.7.3 provides data on employment by industry or economic sector
in Schuylkill County in 2001. The employment data in Table 3.7.3 differ
from the data in Table 3.7.2 because Table 3.7.3 provides information on
the number of employees in Schuylkill County regardless of their
residence, while Table 3.7.2 provides information on the number of
Schuylkill County residents employed regardless of work location.

The largest sectors in Schuylkill County are manufacturing, retail
trade, health care and social assistance, and accommodation and food
services. The largest employer in Schuylkill County is Alcoa Engineering
Products in Cressona (1,000 employees). Other employers in Schuylkill
County with more than 400 employees include the Good Samaritan Regional
Medical Center in Pottsville (926), J.E. Morgan Knitting Mills in
Tamaqua (625), Guilford Mills in Pine Grove (530), Quaker State Farms in
Klingerstown (450), and St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital in Coaldale
(425) (NEPaA 2004a).

WMPI is the largest employer in Gilberton, with 150 employees at the
existing Gilberton Power Plant (NEPaA 2004a). Most of these current
power plant employees reside in Schuylkill County. Total employee
payroll at the Gilberton Power Plant was over \$7.6 million in 2004.

  --------------------------------------------------- --------- ------------
  **Table 3.7.3. Employment by industry or economic             
  sector in Schuylkill County in 2001**                         

  Industry                                            Number    Percentage

  Manufacturing                                       13,146    30.3

  Retail trade                                        7,765     17.9

  Health care and social assistance                   7,215     16.6

  Accommodation and food services                     2,624     6.0

  Other services (except public administration)       1,929     4.4

  Wholesale trade                                     1,625     3.7

  Construction                                        1,371     3.2

  Finance and insurance                               1,332     3.1

  Transportation and warehousing                      1,131     2.6

  Auxiliaries (except corporate, subsidiary, and      987       2.3
  regional management)                                          

  Administrative, support, waste management,          853       2.0
  remediation services                                          

  Professional, scientific, and technical services    839       1.9

  Information                                         560       1.3

  Mining                                              551       1.2

  Educational services                                416       1.0

  Real estate, rental, and leasing                    318       0.7

  Utilities                                           272       0.6

  Arts, entertainment, and recreation                 230       0.5

  Management of companies and enterprises             219       0.5

  Forestry, fishing, hunting, and agricultural        29        0.1
  support                                                       

  Unclassified                                        28        0.1

  Total employment                                    43,440    100.0

  *Source:* U.S. Census Bureau 2004c                            
  --------------------------------------------------- --------- ------------

### 3.7.3 Housing

Table 3.7.4 provides housing data for Schuylkill County, Mahanoy and
West Mahanoy townships, Frackville and Gilberton boroughs, and the city
of Pottsville. Schuylkill County\'s vacancy rate (10.7%) is slightly
higher than that of Pennsylvania and the United States, both of which
are around 9.0%. The housing stock in Schuylkill County is relatively
old, especially in Mahanoy Township and Gilberton where 68.4% and 67.7%
of the housing units, respectively, were built before 1940. Also, the
median values of owner-occupied housing in both townships and in the
borough of Gilberton are far lower than the median value of
owner-occupied housing in Schuylkill County. Related factors associated
with environmental justice are addressed in Section 3.7.7.

Twenty-eight hotels and motels with a total of 2,046 rooms are located
within 35 miles of the proposed project site. The hotels closest to the
project site are the Econo Lodge (39 rooms; 1.9 miles from the project
site) and the Holiday Inn Express and Suites (64 rooms; 2.6 miles from
the project site) in Frackville.

+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| **Table 3.7.4.    |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| Housing data for  |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| Schuylkill County |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| and selected      |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| communities in    |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| 2000**            |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                   | Schuy | Ma    | West  | Frack | Gilb  | City  |
|                   | lkill | hanoy | Ma    | ville | erton | of    |
|                   |       |       | hanoy |       |       |       |
|                   | C     | Tow   |       | Bo    | Bo    | Potts |
|                   | ounty | nship | Tow   | rough | rough | ville |
|                   |       |       | nship |       |       |       |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Total housing     | 6     | 488   | 1,503 | 2,094 | 474   | 7,343 |
| units             | 7,806 |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Occupied units    | 6     | 436   | 1,307 | 1,914 | 385   | 6,413 |
|                   | 0,530 |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Vacant units      | 7,276 | 52    | 196   | 180   | 89    | 930   |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Vacancy rate (%)  | 10.7  | 10.7  | 13.0  | 8.6   | 18.8  | 12.7  |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Median value,     | 6     | 3     | 4     | 5     | 2     | 5     |
|                   | 3,900 | 4,500 | 5,200 | 7,000 | 3,800 | 7,200 |
| owner-occupied    |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| (\$)              |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Median monthly    | 379   | 397   | 441   | 394   | 336   | 324   |
| rent,             |       |       |       |       |       |       |
|                   |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| renter-occupied   |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| (\$)              |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Units built       | 52.9  | 68.4  | 59.5  | 61.2  | 67.7  | 60.8  |
| before 1940 (%)   |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| *Source:* U.S.    |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| Census Bureau     |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| 2004b             |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+-------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

### 3.7.4 Water and Wastewater Services

Residences and businesses in Schuylkill County obtain their water from
two main types of sources, reservoirs (56%) and wells (44%). The water
is supplied by a variety of community, private, and self-suppliers.
Water usage in Schuylkill County is estimated to average 33 million gal
per day (mgd) (PDEP 2002b).

The Mahanoy Township Authority, which services the immediate vicinity of
the proposed facilities, provides approximately 1.9 mgd and has about 5
million gal of reserve capacity in reservoirs (PDEP 2002b). The
Schuylkill County Municipal Authority, which provides water to the city
of Pottsville, is the largest water supplier in Schuylkill County
(approximately 4.6 mgd). According to the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection (2002b), the Schuylkill County Municipal
Authority services many different parts of the county with no limitation
on its extent of growth.

Wastewater disposal in rural areas near the proposed facilities is
provided by individual septic systems. In more urbanized nearby areas,
wastewater disposal is provided by the Frackville Area Municipal
Authority and the Mahanoy City Sewer Authority.

Wastewater disposal in the city of Pottsville is provided by the Greater
Pottsville Area Sewer Authority, which divides the city into two sewer
districts---West End and Main. The West End Treatment Plant's current
permitted capacity is 0.5 mgd. At present, the plant cannot handle peak
flow, particularly during rainfall events of normal intensity and
duration. Due to this problem, the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection initiated a moratorium on new connections to
this portion of the system (City of Pottsville 2001). The city\'s Main
Treatment Plant has a permitted capacity of 4.5 mgd and average flows of
around 3.6 mgd. The Main Plant also exceeds its capacity during peak
flow rainfall events, although not to the degree of the West End Plant.
Due to this problem, and the probable need to upgrade mechanical
equipment at the Main Plant, the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection also initiated a moratorium on new connections
to this portion of the system (City of Pottsville 2001). In 2002, the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection approved the Sewer
Authority\'s plan for improving its system and discharge. The plan calls
for closing the West End Plant, upgrading the Main Plant from 4.5 mgd to
8.2 mgd, separating 37,000 ft of combined stormwater and sanitary sewer
lines, and replacing 24 combined sewer overflow structures (PDEP 2002c).
Implementation of the plan is allowing the Sewer Authority to connect
new residential and commercial customers to its system.

### 3.7.5 Public Services

### 

### 3.7.5.1 Police Protection

In Schuylkill County, police protection is provided by a combination of
local and state police forces. The Schuylkill County sheriff\'s office
provides police protection for the entire county with 14 full-time
officers (Dennis Kane, Schuylkill County Sheriff's Office, personal
communication to James W. Saulsbury, ORNL, June 14, 2005). Many of the
less populated boroughs and townships with limited or no local police
service also rely on the Pennsylvania state police (Schuylkill County
2004). In Schuylkill County, the Pennsylvania state police operate
stations in Frackville and Schuylkill Haven.

Near the proposed project site, the West Mahanoy Township police
department has four officers, the Frackville Borough police department
has seven officers, and the Gilberton Borough police department has two
officers. Currently, Mahanoy Township does not have a police department
and is covered by the Pennsylvania state police (Dennis Kane, Schuylkill
County Sheriff's Office, personal communication to James W. Saulsbury,
ORNL, June 14, 2005). The police department in the city of Pottsville
has 31 full-time officers (City of Pottsville 2005).

### 

### 3.7.5.2 Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services

Fire protection and emergency medical services in Schuylkill County are
provided by volunteer fire departments located in or near the small
towns and boroughs and within the city of Pottsville. Gilberton Borough
has two fire stations, Continental Fire Company in Gilberton and
American Hose Company in Mahanoy Plane. Frackville Borough has three
fire stations, Balliet Street, Frack & Broad Mountain, and Friendship
Fire Company. There are also fire stations located throughout Mahanoy
City and West Mahanoy Township. In addition to fire protection, many of
these stations provide emergency medical services throughout their
coverage area (Schuylkill County 2004).

The Pottsville fire department provides fire protection and emergency
medical services to residents of Pottsville and has mutual aid support
agreements with the surrounding communities. The department is comprised
of eight individual volunteer fire companies equipped with nine fire
engines, one 100-ft aerial ladder, one 75-ft aerial ladder, one heavy
rescue truck, six squad/utility vehicles, and two four-wheel-drive
vehicles. Special equipment includes two multi-gas monitors and five
thermal imaging cameras (City of Pottsville 2005).

### 

### 3.7.5.3 Schools

During the 2002--03 school year, Schuylkill County had 13 public school
districts and 24 independent schools. The proposed facilities would be
located within the Mahanoy Area School District, which in the 2002--03
school year had a kindergarten--8th grade enrollment of 809 students and
a 9th--12th grade enrollment of 402 students. Schuylkill County
anticipates that the Mahanoy Area School District\'s enrollment will
decrease by more than 39% for all grade levels by the 2012--13 school
year (Schuylkill County 2004).

The Pottsville Area School District had a kindergarten--8th grade
enrollment of 1,908 students and a 9th--12th grade enrollment of 1,209
students during the 2002--03 school year. Schuylkill County anticipates
that the Pottsville Area School District\'s enrollment will decrease by
5% for kindergarten--8th grade and by 23% for 9th--12th grade by the
2012--13 school year (Schuylkill County 2004). The Pottsville Area
School District, which reports that its facilities are in excellent
condition, has no immediate plans for any major renovations or
construction efforts (Pottsville Area School District 2005).

### 

### 3.7.5.4 Health Care

In Schuylkill County, health care is provided by four regional health
care facilities: Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Pottsville
Hospital and Warne Clinic, Ashland Regional Medical Center, and St.
Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital. Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center,
which is located in Pottsville, is a 174-bed, full service, acute care
hospital with emergency services in its 15-bed emergency department.
Also located in Pottsville, the Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic is
a 200-bed, full service, acute care hospital, which includes an
emergency department.

The Ashland Regional Medical Center is an 86-bed, private,
not-for-profit medical center located in Ashland. The center features a
40-bed long-term care unit. St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital, located
in Coaldale, has 61 acute care beds and 53 geriatric care beds.

### 3.7.6 Local Government Revenues

In 2002, Schuylkill County had over \$89 million in total revenues, with
over \$18.6 million coming from property taxes and \$0.5 million coming
from the county\'s hotel and per capita taxes. Schuylkill County had
expenses of over \$90 million during the same period, but had net assets
of over \$22 million at the end of 2002 because of carryover funds
totaling \$23 million from 2001 (Schuylkill County 2003).

In 2004, the existing Gilberton Power Plant paid \$116,000 in property
taxes to Schuylkill County, West Mahanoy Township, and the Shenandoah
Valley School District.

### 3.7.7 Environmental Justice

Table 3.7.5 lists the percentages of the total population that are
classified as \"minority\" and \"below poverty\" for the United States,
Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County, and the nine census tracts (small,
relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county) that are
wholly or partly within 3 miles of the proposed project site. Schuylkill
County and eight of the nine census tracts evaluated have lower minority
percentages than the United States and Pennsylvania. As reported by the
Census Bureau, Census Tract 7 has a much higher minority percentage than
Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County, or any other census tract near the
proposed facilities.

+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| **Table 3.7.5. Environmental justice data |           |              |
| for the United States, Pennsylvania,      |           |              |
| Schuylkill County, and the nine census    |           |              |
| tracts within 3 miles of the proposed     |           |              |
| facilities**                              |           |              |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| Place                                     | \%        | \% Below     |
|                                           | Mino      | poverty*^b^* |
|                                           | rity*^a^* |              |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| United States                             | 30.9      | 12.4         |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| Pennsylvania                              | 15.9      | 11.0         |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| Schuylkill County                         | 4.0       | 9.5          |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| **Census tracts within Schuylkill         |           |              |
| County***^c^*                             |           |              |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| Census Tract 1 (Union Township)           | 0.8       | 6.9          |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| Census Tract 4 (Mahanoy Township, Ryan    | 0.8       | 10.2         |
| Township)                                 |           |              |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| Census Tract 5 (Mahanoy City)             | 1.7       | 17.4         |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| Census Tract 6 (Shenandoah Borough)       | 0.4       | 20.1         |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| Census Tract 7 (West Mahanoy Township,    | 29.3*^d^* | 6.4*^e^*     |
| exclusive of boroughs)                    |           |              |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| Census Tract 8 (Frackville)               | 1.9       | 7.4          |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| Census Tract 9 (Butler Township,          | 1.2       | 8.7          |
| Englewood)                                |           |              |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| Census Tract 14 (New Castle Township)     | 12.6      | 11.3         |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| Census Tract 24 (Blythe Township)         | 0.8       | 10.3         |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+
| *^a^*Includes all persons who identified  |           |              |
| themselves as not "White alone," plus     |           |              |
| those who identified themselves as both   |           |              |
| "White alone" and "Hispanic or Latino."   |           |              |
|                                           |           |              |
| *^b^*Represents individuals below the     |           |              |
| poverty level as defined by the U.S.      |           |              |
| Census Bureau.                            |           |              |
|                                           |           |              |
| *^c^*Of the 39 census tracts in           |           |              |
| Schuylkill County, the 9 census tracts    |           |              |
| listed in this table are those located at |           |              |
| least partially within 3 miles of the     |           |              |
| proposed project site.                    |           |              |
|                                           |           |              |
| *^d^*U.S. Census population data in       |           |              |
| Census Tract 7 include inmates at the     |           |              |
| Frackville and Mahanoy State Correctional |           |              |
| Institutions.                             |           |              |
|                                           |           |              |
| *^e^*U.S. Census poverty data in Census   |           |              |
| Tract 7 do not include inmates at the     |           |              |
| Frackville and Mahanoy State Correctional |           |              |
| Institutions.                             |           |              |
|                                           |           |              |
| > *Source:* U.S. Census Bureau. 2004b     |           |              |
+-------------------------------------------+-----------+--------------+

The unusually high minority population of Census Tract 7 is due to two
Pennsylvania prisons, the Mahanoy and Frackville State Correctional
Institutions. While these prisons are listed in Census Tract 7 because
their mailing addresses are in Census Tract 7, the prisoner facilities
are located in Census Tract 4. Frackville State Correctional Institution
is located just south of Interstate 81, a short distance east of the
intersection with State Route 61. Mahanoy State Correctional
Institution, which is located adjacent to the eastern property boundary
of the proposed main plant, has the highest concentration of minority
persons in the vicinity of the proposed facilities. This institution,
which is a medium-security facility for male inmates, has an operational
bed capacity of 1,900 but housed 2,174 inmates in 2004. About 60% of the
inmates are minorities.

Schuylkill County\'s percentage of persons living below the poverty
level is lower than that of Pennsylvania and the United States. Census
Tracts 5 and 6 have relatively high proportions of people living in
poverty, 17.4% and 20.1%, respectively. Census Tract 5 encompasses
Mahanoy City, a small unincorporated urban area about 3 miles
east-northeast of the proposed facilities. Census Tract 6, about 1 mile
north-northeast of the proposed facilities, encompasses Shenandoah
Borough.

### 3.7.8 Transportation

#### 3.7.8.1 Roads

Road access to the proposed project site is from Interstate 81 (Figure
2.1.1) via State Route 61 and State Route 1008 (Morea Road) (Figure
2.1.2). Annual average daily traffic (ADT) on the segment of State Route
61 near the proposed project site is 10,186 vehicles (both directions
combined). ADT on the segment of State Route 1008 that provides access
to the proposed project site is 4,486 vehicles (both directions
combined). The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation does not
calculate level of service or volume/capacity ratio figures; however,
these ADT figures (especially for State Route 61) represent "heavy
traffic on two-lane highways going through such a small town" (Dave
Gruber, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 5, personal
communication to James W. Saulsbury, ORNL, May 26, 2004). The
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has no current or planned road
construction activities for Interstate 81, State Route 61, or State
Route 1008 in the vicinity of the proposed facilities (PDOT 2004).

#### 3.7.8.2 Railways

The railroad siding closest to the proposed project site is about 1 mile
away near the borough of Gilberton. National rail access to the area is
provided by Norfolk Southern and CSX railroads, which connect with the
Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad Company.

### 

### 3.7.9 Cultural Resources

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission\'s Bureau for Historic
Preservation, which serves as the State Historic Preservation Office
(SHPO), reports no historic or archaeological properties that are listed
or eligible for listing on the *National Register of Historic Places* in
the area of the proposed facilities (Appendix B). In Schuylkill County,
19 properties are listed on the *National Register* (NPS 2004). The
*National Register* property closest to the proposed facilities is St.
Paul\'s Union Church and Cemetery, located in Ringtown, about 6 miles
northwest of the project site.

## 3.8 WASTE MANAGEMENT

The region is served by several commercial municipal solid waste
landfills. Statewide, the disposal capacity of Pennsylvania landfills
exceeds the state's own needs. As a result of abundant landfill
capacity, low disposal fees, and proximity to states with a shortage of
disposal capacity, Pennsylvania receives more out-of-state solid waste
for disposal than any other state. In 2003, about 10.5 million tons of
solid waste from out-of-state sources were shipped to Pennsylvania for
disposal, representing nearly half of the solid waste disposal in the
state and 23.5% of all interstate waste shipments in the nation
(McCarthy 2004).

The three commercial municipal solid waste landfills nearest the
proposed project site are the Commonwealth Environmental Services
facility in Foster Township, Schuylkill County; the Pine Grove landfill
in Pine Grove Township, Schuylkill County; and the Delaware County Solid
Waste Authority's Rolling Hills landfill, in Earl Township, Berks County
(PDEP 2004a). In addition to household refuse and other municipal
wastes, these facilities receive industrial wastes (which are classified
as residual waste in Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
regulations) and construction and demolition wastes (PDEP 2004b). The
Commonwealth Environmental Services landfill, which is currently
permitted to receive an average of 2,100 tons of waste daily and a
maximum of 2,400 tons daily (PDEP 2004e), received a total of 506,670
tons (about 1,600 tons per day) in 2003 (PDEP 2004b). The current
10-year permit for this landfill expires in 2007, but the operator has
requested a new permit that would (1) add 250 acres of permitted area
(including 165 acres of disposal area), (2) increase permitted average
and maximum daily waste volume to 4,750 tons and 5,000 tons,
respectively, and (3) add about 8 years of waste capacity (PDEP 2004e).
Commonwealth Environmental Services owns additional land adjacent to the
landfill (Bob Wallace, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection, personal communication to Ellen Smith, ORNL, September 22,
2004) that could provide space to accommodate future expansion. The Pine
Grove landfill was formerly approved to receive 1,500 tons of waste per
day and received nearly 1,200 tons daily as recently as 2002 (PDEP
2004b), but reached its permitted capacity in 2004 and stopped receiving
waste. In 2004, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
denied an application for a small expansion of the facility (PDEP 2004e)
but, in the future, the operator could seek a permit for a larger
expansion that would allow resumption of operations (Bob Wallace,
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, personal
communication to Ellen Smith, ORNL, September 22, 2004). The Rolling
Hills landfill also is a high-volume facility, receiving over 600,000
tons in 2003, but operating records show that it does not normally
receive waste from Schuylkill County sources (PDEP 2004b).

The state also authorizes landfills exclusively for construction and
demolition waste. No landfills of this type are located near the
proposed facilities; however, the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection has received an application to establish a new
construction and demolition landfill in Blythe Township, Schuylkill
County (PDEP 2004e). The nearest landfills exclusively for construction
and demolition waste are located in Lancaster, Lackawanna, and
Montgomery Counties (PDEP 2004a).

Most coal combustion products from the electric power generation
facilities in the region are beneficially reused in accordance with
requirements of the Pennsylvania residual waste management regulations
(25 Pennsylvania Code Chapter 287). Current and past uses of
coal-combustion ash from the Gilberton Power Plant include construction
aggregate, non-skid material for application to roads during winter
weather, and fill material for mine reclamation. Currently, fine ash and
water treatment sludge from the power plant are placed in a disposal
area in Mahanoy Creek valley that is permitted for disposal of coal
byproducts under refuse reprocessing permit 54850202, issued by the
Office of Mineral Resources Management in the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection. Culm processing and site reclamation
operations under that permit are inspected monthly by the agency.
Inspections during the three-year period from 2002 to 2004 resulted in
11 environmental violations for which the operator paid penalties
totaling \$5,775. Specific violations included failure to employ
adequate air pollution controls; failure to properly design, control, or
maintain erosion and sedimentation controls; failure to post signs and
markers; discharge of water not meeting water quality limits; and other
unspecified violations of permit conditions or regulatory
requirements.[^2]

The Pennsylvania Municipal Waste Recycling, Planning and Waste Reduction
Act (Act 101 of 1988) mandates recycling programs in the state's larger
municipalities. Recycling and composting are encouraged statewide.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection,[^3] composting facilities that accept land-clearing debris
are located in Robesonia (Berks County), Bethlehem, and the Philadelphia
area.

## 3.9 Human Health

### 3.9.1 Air Quality and Public Health

The quality of ambient air plays an important role in the health of the
public. Exposure to pollutants is associated with numerous effects on
human health, including increased respiratory symptoms, hospitalization
for heart or lung diseases, and even premature death. The air breathed
in many U.S. cities is polluted by vehicle exhaust emissions;
particulate emissions from tires and roads; burning coal, oil, and other
fossil fuels; and manufacturing chemicals. These activities add gases
and particles to the air people breathe. Hazardous air pollutants are
those that the EPA has confirmed or suspects cause cancer or other
serious human health effects such as damage to the immune system,
neurological and respiratory damage, and other health effects. These
chemicals include volatile organic chemicals, chemicals used as
pesticides and herbicides, inorganic chemicals, and radionuclides.

The Clean Air Act required the EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) for pollutants considered harmful to the public health
and the environment. Primary standards set limits to protect the public
health, including the health of sensitive populations such as
asthmatics, children, and the elderly. The EPA set standards for six
principal pollutants, which are referred to as criteria pollutants.
Section 3.2.2 describes the existing air quality in the region.

Children are particularly vulnerable to environmental influences because
of their narrow airways and rapid respiration rate. Compared to adults,
children's fast metabolism, ongoing physical development, and daily
behavior place them at increased risk from exposure to environmental
pollutants. Moreover, exposures that may not harm adults can cause
permanent damage in children (Children's Environmental Health Network
1997). Asthma is a condition that disproportionately affects children
and minorities. Over 5.3 million American children less than 18 years of
age have asthma (American Lung Association 1999). Indoor and outdoor air
quality is believed to be a major contributor to pediatric asthma.

Pennsylvania has a slightly higher rate of asthma-related pediatric
admissions than the nation as a whole (Table 3.9.1). County-level
pediatric admission rates were not available.

+----------------+--------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
| **Table 3.9.1. |        |          |          |          |          |
| H              |        |          |          |          |          |
| ospitalization |        |          |          |          |          |
| rates for      |        |          |          |          |          |
| pediatric      |        |          |          |          |          |
| asthma in      |        |          |          |          |          |
| Pennsylvania   |        |          |          |          |          |
| (1997--2001)** |        |          |          |          |          |
|                |        |          |          |          |          |
| **and the      |        |          |          |          |          |
| United States  |        |          |          |          |          |
| (2001)**       |        |          |          |          |          |
+----------------+--------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
|                | 1997   | 1998     | 1999     | 2000     | 2001     |
+----------------+--------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
| Pennsylvania   | 27.8   | 21.7     | 28.3     | 24.7     | 26.7     |
|                | *^a^*  |          |          |          |          |
+----------------+--------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
| United States  | ---    | ---      | ---      | ---      | 21.4     |
+----------------+--------+----------+----------+----------+----------+
| *Source*:      |        |          |          |          |          |
| Pennsylvania   |        |          |          |          |          |
| Department of  |        |          |          |          |          |
| Health 2003.   |        |          |          |          |          |
| Family Health  |        |          |          |          |          |
| Statistics for |        |          |          |          |          |
| Pennsylvania   |        |          |          |          |          |
| and Counties,  |        |          |          |          |          |
| 2003 Report,   |        |          |          |          |          |
| Bureau of      |        |          |          |          |          |
| Health         |        |          |          |          |          |
| Statistics and |        |          |          |          |          |
| Research,      |        |          |          |          |          |
| Harrisburg,    |        |          |          |          |          |
| PA.            |        |          |          |          |          |
|                |        |          |          |          |          |
| ^*a*^          |        |          |          |          |          |
| Admissions per |        |          |          |          |          |
| 10,000 persons |        |          |          |          |          |
| under 18 years |        |          |          |          |          |
| of age.        |        |          |          |          |          |
+----------------+--------+----------+----------+----------+----------+

For both Schuylkill County and Pennsylvania, the leading causes of death
by age group are the same (Pennsylvania Department of Health 2004).
However, for malignant neoplasms, cerebrovascular disease, chronic lower
respiratory disease, and accidents, the average death rate is higher for
Schuylkill County than for the state and nearby counties, and the death
rate from heart disease is higher for Schuylkill County than for the
state (Figure 3.9.1).

### 3.9.2 Electromagnetic Fields

Over the past two decades, some members of the scientific community and
the public have expressed concern regarding human health effects from
electromagnetic fields (EMF) during the transmission of electrical
current from power plants. The scientific evidence suggesting that EMF
exposures pose a health risk is weak. The strongest evidence for health
effects comes from observations of human populations with two forms of
cancer: childhood leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in
occupationally exposed adults (NIEHS 1999). A National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences report concluded that "extremely
low-frequency electric and magnetic field exposure cannot be recognized
as entirely safe because of weak scientific evidence that exposure may
pose a leukemia hazard" (NIEHS 1999). While considerable uncertainty
still exists

![](media/image4.wmf){width="5.170866141732284in"
height="0.8015748031496063in"}![](media/image4.wmf){width="6.5in"
height="4.701574803149606in"}about the EMF health effects issue, the
following facts have been established from the available information:

-   Any exposure-related health risk to the exposed individual would
    likely be small.

-   The types of exposures that are most biologically significant have
    not been established.

-   Most health concerns are about the magnetic field.

-   The measures employed for field reduction can affect line safety,
    reliability, efficiency and maintainability, depending on the type
    and extent of such measures.

No federal regulations have been established specifying environmental
limits on the strengths of fields from power lines.

#### 3.9.3 Worker Health and Safety

The Bureau of Labor Statistics annually reports on the number of
workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in the United States, and
includes the number of fatalities in individual states. Such information
is useful in identifying industries with high rates and/or large numbers
of injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. The results of the annual
reports can be used by industry organizations and private companies to
start or revise worker safety programs that hopefully will reduce, and
ultimately prevent, workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. The
Bureau of Labor Statistics (2003a) defines a work-related injury as "any
wound or damage to the body resulting from an event in the work
environment." In 2003, the construction industry reported 408,300
nonfatal injuries and illnesses in the United States among 6,672,000
workers, while the utilities industry reported 24,500 injuries and
illnesses among 576,000 workers (Table 3.9.2).

  ------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------
  **Table 3.9.2. Number of nonfatal occupational                                                
  injuries and illnesses in the United States                                                   
  (2003)**                                                                                      

  Industry                                         Total          Cases with     Cases with job Other
                                                   recordable     days away from transfer or    recordable
                                                   cases          work           restriction    cases

  Construction                                     408,300        155,400        62,500         190,300

  Utilities                                        24,500         6,600          5,600          12,300

  *Source:* U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of                                                 
  Labor Statistics 2003. Bureau of Labor                                                        
  Statistics News -- Workplace Injuries and                                                     
  Illnesses in 2003.                                                                            
  <http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/osh.pdf>.                                                
  ------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2003b) defines a fatality as "a death
that results from a traumatic occupational injury," where injury is
defined in this case as "any intentional or unintentional wound or
damage to the body resulting from acute exposure to energy, such as
heat, electricity or kinetic energy from a crash, or from the absence of
such essentials as heat or oxygen caused by a specific event, incident,
or series of events within a single workday or shift." In 2003, the
construction industry reported 1,126 fatalities in the United States,
while the utilities industry reported 32 fatalities (Table 3.9.3). In
the state of Pennsylvania, 39 construction fatalities and no utilities
industry fatalities were reported.

+-----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| **Table 3.9.3. Number |                     |                        |
| of fatal occupational |                     |                        |
| injuries (2003)**     |                     |                        |
+-----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| Industry              | Number of U.S.      | Number of Pennsylvania |
|                       | fatalities          | fatalities             |
+-----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| Construction          | 1,126               | 39                     |
+-----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| Utilities             | 32                  | 0                      |
+-----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+
| *Sources:* U.S.       |                     |                        |
| Department of Labor,  |                     |                        |
| Bureau of Labor       |                     |                        |
| Statistics 2003.      |                     |                        |
| Bureau of Labor       |                     |                        |
| Statistics News --    |                     |                        |
| National Census of    |                     |                        |
| Fatal Occupational    |                     |                        |
| Injuries in 2003.     |                     |                        |
| <http                 |                     |                        |
| ://www.bls.gov/news.r |                     |                        |
| elease/pdf/cfoi.pdf>. |                     |                        |
|                       |                     |                        |
| U.S. Department of    |                     |                        |
| Labor, Bureau of      |                     |                        |
| Labor Statistics      |                     |                        |
| 2003. Bureau of Labor |                     |                        |
| Statistics News --    |                     |                        |
| Pennsylvania          |                     |                        |
| Workplace Fatalities, |                     |                        |
| 2003.                 |                     |                        |
| <http                 |                     |                        |
| ://www.bls.gov/news.r |                     |                        |
| elease/pdf/cfoi.pdf>. |                     |                        |
+-----------------------+---------------------+------------------------+

## 3.10 Noise

Noise can be defined as unwanted sound. Annoyance occurs when noise is
loud enough to be heard above the usual background sounds to which
people have become accustomed. Background levels, in turn, vary with
location and time of day. Sound levels are measured in decibels (dB);
measured values are normally adjusted to account for the response of the
human ear, in which case they are expressed as decibels as measured on
the A-weighted scale \[dB(A)\].

The proposed project site is located in a primarily rural area in
Mahanoy and West Mahanoy Townships adjacent to the existing Gilberton
Power Plant (Section 2.1.1). A mixture of industrial, commercial, and
residential land use exists in the vicinity. The borough of Gilberton is
located approximately 1 mile west-northwest of the project site, and the
borough of Frackville lies approximately 2 miles west-southwest of the
project site. The site is about 1 mile north of Interstate 81 and 2
miles east of State Highway 61. The center of the Mahanoy State
Correctional Institution is 2,600 ft east of the center of the proposed
main plant. The distance to the nearest residence is 3,600 ft southeast
of the proposed project site (Suresh Chandran, Philip Services
Corporation, e-mail to Cheri Foust, ORNL, September 20, 2004).

Sound levels at the Gilberton Power Plant are similar to those at other
industrial plants surveyed by Goodfriend and Associates (1971). However,
recorded data on noise levels at the Gilberton Power Plant were
unavailable. The relatively steady noise resulting from the plant is
augmented by the presence of other sound sources in the area, including
other industrial activities, vehicular traffic, and nearby passing
trains. For example, sound levels may exceed 100 dB(A) within 50 ft of a
train passing on one of the nearby railroad tracks.

None of the municipalities with jurisdiction over the site for the
proposed facilities have ordinances regarding noise.

A noise survey was performed around the perimeter of the proposed
project site in March 2003 (Suresh Chandran, Philip Services
Corporation, e-mail to Robert L. Miller, ORNL, May 30, 2004). Noise
measurements were taken using a Bruel & Kjaer Precision Sound Level
Meter, Model 2209. Noise levels were measured in 11 different locations
around the perimeter of the proposed site (Figure 3.10.1). The highest
noise level measured 55 dB(A). For comparison, 55 dB(A) is the
approximate level of a quiet subdivision during daylight hours. This
level is also specified by EPA as a guideline upper limit with an
adequate margin of safety for protection from activity interference and
annoyance during the daytime in outdoor locations "in which quiet is a
basis for use" (EPA 1974).

![](media/image5.wmf)

**Figure 3.10.1. Proposed project site noise measurement locations.**

[^1]: 12% of the acceleration of gravity

[^2]: http://www.dep.state.pa.us/efacts/

[^3]: http://www.dep.state.pa.us/wm_apps/CompostingPrograms/default.asp