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7 March 2011 | 4:35 PM
State delegations will be prepared to discuss topics of interest to any and all conference attendees. Colorado’s delegation is looking forward to sharing its experiences with mine-scarred lands, clandestine meth labs, renewable energy, petroleum brownfields, and public-private partnering. Colorado’s rich mining history has left brownfields opportunities which are now repositioned for housing and commercial development, as well as the restoration and preservation of historical sites that support heritage tourism and economic development. Strong public-private partnerships and flexible state brownfields programs has been the key to reuse. Similarly, creative partnerships have enabled communities to address properties blighted by illegal methamphetamine production and left vacant in neighborhoods. Creative approaches that combine cleanup with community development are coming together in Colorado to develop community-based renewable energy projects and encompass a growing number of alternative fueling stations and other petroleum brownfields sites.
Colorado’s natural terrain ranges from mountains to plains and regional economies encompass agricultural, natural resource extraction, and urban communities. The partners representing the state delegation continue to develop internal collaborations and implementation models. “We look forward to sharing war stories, new approaches, and challenges with conference attendees from across the country” says Jesse Silverstein, Executive Director of Colorado Brownfields Foundation. See what Colorado is up to... Click Here.
After reading your post on Colorado's efforts, may I add , as an advocate of biofuel/Biochar soil systems, new mine reclamation work there.
Reclamation may prove a high value for Biochar and should be integrated using the Syn-Gas & bio-oils for co-combustion with coal while conserving the carbon char for soil reclamation.
Out west The Mountain Studies Institute, has done some small-scale biochar trials on mine lands in the San Juan Mountains, but Flux Farm’s Hope Mine Project is the first time an entire mine has been taken on.
Last October, a mix of that biochar, compost and native grass seedlings mix was applied to waste rock slopes over 30 degrees (and up to 45 degrees in some places, which was spread by rock climbers). “The Hope Mine was the first time the technology had ever been scaled to meet the reclamation need for the entire mine,”.
The trial revealed some real-world logistical and materials handling issues... the project proved that the biochar technique is simpler than conventional reclamation techniques. And much cheaper.
The overall success of the Hope Mine Project will be measured when the snow melts, by the number of seedlings that emerge...
New hope for old mines http://www.hcn.org/blogs/range/new-hope-for-old-mines
Flux Farm of Colorado, In collaboration with our project partners (Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University, BEST Energies, Dynamotive Energy Corporation, Aspen Valley Land Trust, Flying Dog Ranch, and The Community Office of Resource Efficiency), Flux Farm is investigating how application method, application rate (tons per acre), and biochar processing method, impact soil chemical and microbial properties along with the yield of volunteer grass and alfalfa. The project will also address the total cost, per ton, per acre, to apply biochar to pastures and consider the value of any agronomic benefits and potential revenue from generating carbon credits from sequestered biochar. You can find the 2009 project status report HERE.
I know some work going on in Wise county VA, There are mine soil reclamation studies by John Todd, "Beyond Coal", a quite beautiful, self financing, whole ecology vision for remediation. I don't see how any authority could turn down a grant for such concomitant benefits even while the full ecological services are being restored. "Beyond Coal: A Resilient New Economy for Appalachia" by John Todd, Samir Doshi, and Anthony McInnis.
This article describes how ecological design can bring life back to the scarred, surface-mined landscapes of Appalachia and, in the process, help invigorate the regional economy. The authors propose using ecological principles to build new soils, revegetate barren lands, treat mining waste, cultivate foods, and generate fuel. Together, these elements will form the foundation of a new economy based on natural resources and renewable energy. Read it here: http://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/node/706
The in situ remediation of a vast variety of toxic agents in soils and sediments. Biochar Sorption of Contaminants; http://www.biorenew.iastate.edu/events/biochar2010/conference-agenda/agenda-overview/breakout-session-5/agriculture-forestry-soil-science-and-environment.html
Dr. Lima's work; Specialized Characterization Methods for Biochar http://www.biorenew.iastate.edu/events/biochar2010/conference-agenda/agenda-overview/breakout-session-4/production-and-characterization.html And at USDA; The Ultimate Trash To Treasure: *ARS Research Turns Poultry Waste into Toxin-grabbing Char http://www.ars.usda.gov/IS/AR/archive/jul05/char0705.htm
Recent work by C. Steiner, at U of GA, showing a 52% reduction of NH3 loss when char is used as a composting accelerator. This will have profound value added consequences for the commercial composting industry by reduction of their GHG emissions and the sale of compost as a nitrogen fertilizer.
Since we have filled the air , filling the seas to full, Soil is the Only Beneficial place left. Carbon to the Soil, the only ubiquitous and economic place to put it.
Thanks for your efforts. Erich
Erich J. Knight Chairman; Markets and Business Committee 2010 US BiocharConference, at Iowa State University http://www.biorenew.iastate.edu/events/biochar2010/conference-agenda/agenda-overview.html
EcoTechnologies Group Technical Adviser http://www.ecotechnologies.com/index.html Shenandoah Gardens (Owner) 1047 Dave Barry Rd. McGaheysville, VA. 22840 540 289 9750 Co-Administrator, Biochar Data base & Discussion list TP-REPP
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