Few people in the modern United States have had to live with a lack of energy supplies. Even as a student in the mid-1970s and facing the inconvenience of lines at the gasoline station, I still had access to fuel and energy. Today much of the world’s population still does not have access to electricity. The International Energy Agency reports that in 2018, 860 million people in the world did not have access to electricity, and over 2.6 billion people did not have access to clean cooking fuels. Energy poverty is very real to nearly 1 billion people on our planet.
Today much of the world’s population still does not have access to electricity. The International Energy Agency reports that in 2018, 860 million people in the world did not have access to electricity, and over 2.6 billion people did not have access to clean cooking fuels. Energy poverty is very real to nearly 1 billion people on our planet.
When people do not have adequate energy fuels, they may spend hours each day gathering resources simply to cook. Often times, this job is left to women and children which curtails their basic survival needs or opportunities for education. There are also negative impacts on human health and safety, whether it’s the need for one street light for safety in a small African village or electricity for a regional clinic to help the sick.
Imagine what our lives would be without access to electricity or safe, clean cooking/heating fuels- cold showers in the winter, sweating in the summer heat, inability to find or cook food, walking or biking everywhere, not to mention no cell phones and computers. We are very fortunate to have such comforts and would be wise not to take these conveniences for granted.
I am thankful that I can be engaged in the important public service of facilitating responsible development of energy and minerals for the benefit of people in Utah and beyond our state’s borders. It may make only slight difference for those human beings who are trapped in situations of energy poverty, but it can increase the quality of life for those who benefit from such resources. And maybe in a small way, those benefits can trickle down to solve human problems throughout the world.
In the fall of 2018, Coal Program staff oversaw the reclamation of the Horizon coal mine, a bond forfeiture site in Carbon County. It took roughly three months to remove the coal mine’s five-acre footprint and re-contour the site to match the surrounding landscape. Topsoil recovered from stockpiles was placed on the final grade of the hillslopes above the riprap-hardened channels. Straw mulch was spread and incorporated into the soil by creating large divots called pocks that aid in soil stability and water retention. Two seed mixes, riparian and shrub/grassland, were spread before the winter season started.
In 2018, staff contracted with the Utah Correctional Industries (UCI) horticulture program to grow native plants to be used at the site. UCI runs an impressive greenhouse used to train inmates in all aspects of growing ornamental species. This was an opportunity for them to add native species to their teaching curriculum. UCI propagated some species from “mother” plants and others from seed. Plants were ordered for delivery in 8-inch long tubeling size for ease of carrying, planting and watering-in. However the plants were so vigorous that many had been transplanted into one and two gallon pots.
In early October staff returned to the site to plant approximately 1,000 plants to aid in the revegetation efforts. A planting schematic was created by Coal Program Biologist Todd Miller detailing where each species should be planted. Four employees from Millcreek Gardens were sub-contracted by UCI to complete the work over four days. Coal Program staff from Price and Salt Lake City were on site daily to deliver water from a 1,000 gallon water tank and 400 feet of hose. Staff also hauled water using backpack sprayers to hundreds of plants out of reach of the hose. Staff also spent a full day spraying and removing noxious weeds.
Coal Program staff would like to thank the crew from Millcreek Gardens who encountered the less than ideal conditions of hard soil and rocks; UCI Officer Todd Barszcz and the inmate staff who nurtured the plants over the year; and the Division of Wildlife Resources for their time and water truck.
The following upland and riparian species were grown:
Kent Phillips is a project manager for the Division’s Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program. He has been with the program for approximately two years. He works to reclaim and restore lands that were mined before the Surface Mining Control Reclamation Act of 1977 was passed. Since starting with the Division, he has overseen reclamation of several large projects including the $2 million dollar Kenilworth project and $230,000 Chief One Subsidence project in Eureka.
His position protects public safety by sealing off hazardous mines and addressing issues affecting the environment and resources. “Development is a necessary component of our society, albeit with inherent potential for significant impacts to the environment and public safety if carried out irresponsibly,” commented Kent. “I believe that abandoned mine lands have left us with prime examples of what exactly these potential impacts are if resource development is left unregulated.”
He says the best part of his job is working with a diverse array of stakeholders – from the public to government agencies across all levels, his knowledgeable co-workers, and private contractors and consultants.
Kent has a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Appalachian State University and a Master of Science in Mining Engineering from Virginia Tech University. Before joining the AMRP, he was a consultant at URS/AECOM consulting firm where he worked with program staff on reclamation projects.
In his free time, Kent enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, and trail running with his dog Tommy.
The Board of Oil, Gas and Mining is accepting nominations for 2020 Environmental Excellence Awards now through Friday, February 21.
Environmental Excellence Awards recognize reclamation projects, technological innovations, and best practices going above and beyond what is normally expected under industry practices and regulatory requirements. It is an opportunity for companies to demonstrate technical expertise and pride in their industry, and concern not only for the economics of their industry, but also for our environment.
Ni watu wachache katika Marekani ya kisasa ambao wamelazimika kuishi kwa ukosefu wa nishati. Hata kama mwanafunzi katikati ya miaka ya 1970, na kukabiliana na usumbufu wa mistari katika kituo cha mafuta, bado alikuwa na upatikanaji wa mafuta na nishati. Leo sehemu kubwa ya watu ulimwenguni bado hawana umeme. Shirika la Kimataifa la Nishati limesema mwaka 2018 watu milioni 860 duniani hawakuwa na umeme na zaidi ya watu bilioni 2.6 hawakuwa na mafuta safi ya kupikia. Umaskini wa nishati ni jambo la kweli kwa karibu watu bilioni moja duniani. Leo sehemu kubwa ya watu ulimwenguni bado hawana umeme. Shirika la Kimataifa la Nishati limesema mwaka 2018 watu milioni 860 duniani hawakuwa na umeme na zaidi ya watu bilioni 2.6 hawakuwa na mafuta safi ya kupikia. Umaskini wa nishati ni jambo la kweli kwa karibu watu bilioni moja duniani. Watu wasio na mafuta ya kutosha huenda wakatumia saa nyingi kila siku kukusanya rasilimali za kupika. Mara nyingi, kazi hii huachwa kwa wanawake na watoto ambayo hupunguza mahitaji yao ya msingi ya kuishi au fursa za elimu. Pia kuna athari mbaya kwa afya na usalama wa binadamu, iwe ni haja ya taa moja ya barabara kwa usalama katika kijiji kidogo cha Kiafrika au umeme kwa kliniki ya kikanda kusaidia wagonjwa. "Hebu wazia maisha yetu yangekuwaje bila umeme au mafuta safi ya kupikia au ya kupasha joto - kuoga baridi wakati wa baridi kali, kuota jasho wakati wa joto la majira ya joto, kutoweza kupata au kupika chakula, kutembea au kuendesha baiskeli kila mahali, bila kutaja simu za mkononi na kompyuta.""" Tuna bahati sana kuwa na starehe kama hizo na ingekuwa jambo la hekima kutozitambua. """Nashukuru kwamba ninaweza kushiriki katika huduma muhimu ya umma ya kuwezesha maendeleo ya uwajibikaji wa nishati na madini kwa manufaa ya watu katika Utah na zaidi ya mipaka ya jimbo letu." Inaweza kufanya tofauti ndogo tu kwa wale wanadamu ambao wamekamatwa katika hali ya umaskini wa nishati, lakini inaweza kuongeza ubora wa maisha kwa wale wanaotafuta faida ya rasilimali hizo. Na labda kwa njia ndogo, faida hizo zinaweza kuenea chini ili kutatua matatizo ya kibinadamu ulimwenguni kote. Katika mwaka wa 2018, wafanyakazi wa programu ya makaa ya mawe waliangalia urekebishaji wa mgodi wa makaa ya mawe wa Horizon, tovuti ya kutekwa kwa dhamana katika Kaunti ya Carbon. Ilichukua takriban miezi mitatu kuondoa alama ya mgodi wa makaa ya mawe ya ekari tano na kurekebisha eneo hilo ili lifanane na mandhari inayozunguka. Udongo wa juu uliopatikana kutoka kwenye mabaki uliwekwa kwenye kiwango cha mwisho cha mteremko wa milima juu ya mifereji iliyoimarishwa kwa riprap. Mchanga wa nyasi ulienea na kuingizwa ndani ya udongo kwa kutokeza vichaka vikubwa vinavyoitwa pocks ambavyo husaidia uthabiti wa udongo na kuhifadhi maji. Mchanganyiko wa mbegu mbili, za kando ya mto na za vichaka na nyasi, zilipandwa kabla ya majira ya baridi kali kuanza. Katika 2018, wafanyakazi walifanya mkataba na Utah Correctional Industries (UCI) programu ya kilimo cha bustani kukuza mimea ya asili ya kutumiwa katika tovuti. UCI ina nyumba ya kupanda miti yenye kuvutia inayotumiwa kuwazoeza wafungwa katika mambo yote ya kukuza spishi za mapambo. Hii ilikuwa fursa kwao kuongeza spishi za asili kwenye mtaala wao wa kufundisha. UCI ilisambaza spishi fulani kutoka kwa mimea ya "mama" na nyingine kutoka kwa mbegu. Mimea hiyo ilitolewa kwa ukubwa wa mitungi yenye urefu wa inchi 8 ili iwe rahisi kubeba, kupanda na kunyunyizia maji. Hata hivyo mimea hiyo ilikuwa yenye nguvu sana hivi kwamba mingi ilikuwa imepandikizwa katika chungu cha galoni moja na mbili. Mwanzoni mwa Oktoba, wafanyakazi walirudi kwenye eneo hilo kupanda mimea 1,000 hivi ili kusaidia katika jitihada za kurudisha mimea. Mpangilio wa kupanda uliundwa na Biolojia wa Programu ya Makaa ya Mawe Todd Miller akielezea ambapo kila spishi inapaswa kupandwa. Wafanyakazi wanne kutoka Millcreek Gardens walipewa mkataba na UCI kukamilisha kazi hiyo kwa siku nne. Wafanyakazi wa mradi wa makaa ya mawe kutoka Price na Salt Lake City walikuwa mahali hapo kila siku kutoa maji kutoka kwa tangi la maji la galoni 1,000 na hose ya futi 400. Wafanyakazi pia walibeba maji kwa kutumia mashine za kunyunyizia maji kwenye mifuko ya nyuma hadi mamia ya mimea ambayo haikuweza kufikiwa na mfereji huo. Wafanyakazi pia walitumia siku nzima wakipiga dawa na kuondoa magugu yenye kudhuru. "Wafanyakazi wa programu ya makaa ya mawe wangependa kuwashukuru wafanyakazi wa Mill Creek Gardens ambao walikutana na hali mbaya ya udongo mgumu na miamba; afisa wa UCI Todd Barsuk na wafanyakazi wa wafungwa ambao waliwatunza mimea kwa mwaka mzima; na Idara ya Rasilimali za Wanyamapori kwa wakati wao na lori la maji. """ Aina zifuatazo za milima na pwani zilikulia: Kent Phillips ni meneja wa mradi wa Programu ya Urekebishaji wa Mgodi wa Division's Abandoned. Amekuwa katika programu hiyo kwa karibu miaka miwili. "Kama vile ilivyotarajiwa, mradi huo utachukua miaka miwili kabla ya kupitishwa kwa sheria ya ""Surface Mining Control Reclamation Act"" ya mwaka 1977." Tangu kuanza kazi katika Idara ya Usalama, ameongoza miradi kadhaa mikubwa ya urekebishaji, ikiwa ni pamoja na mradi wa $ 2 milioni wa Kenilworth na mradi wa $ 230,000 wa Chief One Subsidence huko Eureka. Msimamo wake hulinda usalama wa umma kwa kufunga migodi hatari na kushughulikia masuala yanayoathiri mazingira na rasilimali. "Uendelezaji ni sehemu muhimu ya jamii yetu, ingawa na uwezo wa asili wa athari kubwa kwa mazingira na usalama wa umma ikiwa itafanywa bila kuwajibika", Kent alitoa maoni. "Anasema ""Ninaamini kwamba ardhi ya migodi iliyokuwa imeachwa imetuacha na mifano bora ya nini hasa athari hizi zinazowezekana ikiwa maendeleo ya rasilimali hayatawaliwa.""Anasema sehemu bora ya kazi yake ni kufanya kazi na wadau mbalimbali kutoka kwa umma hadi mashirika ya serikali katika ngazi zote, wafanyakazi wenzake wenye ujuzi, na wakandarasi binafsi na washauri." Kent ana Shahada ya Sayansi katika Jiolojia kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Jimbo la Appalachian na Shahada ya Sayansi katika Uhandisi wa Madini kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Virginia Tech. Kabla ya kujiunga na AMRP, alikuwa mshauri katika kampuni ya ushauri ya URSAE, ambapo alifanya kazi na wafanyikazi wa programu kwenye miradi ya kurudisha. Katika wakati wake wa kupumzika, Kent hufurahia kupanda miamba, kuteleza kwenye ubao wa theluji, na kukimbia kwa mbwa wake Tommy. Bodi ya Mafuta, Gesi na Uchimbaji inakaribisha uteuzi kwa Tuzo za Ubora wa Mazingira 2020 sasa hadi Ijumaa, Februari 21. Tuzo za ubora wa mazingira zinatambua miradi ya kurudisha, uvumbuzi wa kiteknolojia, na mazoea bora yanayozidi na zaidi ya kile kinachotarajiwa chini ya mazoea ya tasnia na mahitaji ya udhibiti. Ni fursa kwa makampuni kuonyesha utaalam wa kiufundi na fahari katika sekta yao, na wasiwasi si tu kwa ajili ya uchumi wa sekta yao, lakini pia kwa ajili ya mazingira yetu.