COURSE SYLLABUS
 ENVP 255 or AGRN 255 - Reclamation of Disturbed Soils
Spring 2000
 
Course Description:  Soils, geology, hydrology, and biology are integrated and applied to land disturbances (primarily in the context of surface mining) and reclamation.  Course topics will cover planning and assessing land disturbance impacts, mining methods, handling and placement of geologic materials, replacing soils, revegetating disturbed areas, evaluating water quality and other hydrologic problems, controlling and treating acid mine drainage, and developing  productive postmining land uses after reclamation.

Course Objectives:  After taking this class, the student should be able to:

  1. identify coal resources and have a basic knowledge of coal extraction procedures;
  2. understand acid mine drainage formation, control, and treatment;
  3. explain soil and overburden sampling techniques and analyses;
  4. select appropriate reclamation and revegetation techniques for specific disturbances;
  5. ascertain the type and extent of pollution on a site, and develop methods and materials for amelioration.
Instructor:  Dr. Jeff Skousen, Extension Reclamation Specialist and Professor, 1106 Agricultural Sciences, PH 293-6256; FX 293-2960, E-mail jskousen@wvu.edu

1.  Format:  Lecture, MWF, 12-1 pm.

2.  Two or three half day field trips will be held in January, March and April.  You will be required to attend and participate, and write field-trip reports.  If you cannot attend the field trips, you will be required to do an additional assignment (like a report) on a subject related to this course.  All field trips require proof of medical insurance.

3.  Required Readings:

Skousen, J.G.  1999.  AGRN 255: Reclamation of Disturbed Soils. Course Notes.  Can be purchased from  NextPrint, across from Hibachi Japanese Steakhouse.
5.  Additional Information and Exercises (suitable for testing) will be distributed as handouts during the semester.

6.  Exams will be given on: February 2, February 25, March 24, and FINAL May 3, 3-5 pm.
 
7.  Grading:  90-100= A, 80-89= B, 70-79= C, 60-69= D, <60= F.
 Field Trip Reports = 10%; Problems = 30%; Hour Exams = 40% (13% each); Final Exam = 20%.

8.  This syllabus is only a guideline for the student's convenience.  The lecture schedule is approximate and an effort will be made to follow it.  This syllabus does not constitute a contract between the student and any faculty member, administrative unit, or representative of WVU.

 2000 LECTURE OUTLINE

January

10 Introduction to the Course
 12 Extent of Disturbed Lands, Reclamation Problems in U.S.
 14 Cancel (Mining and Reclamation Meeting)
 17 Holiday
 19 History of Land Reclamation and Legislation in U.S.
 21 Premining Planning:  Factors to Consider
 24 Coal Regions of the U.S. and Surface Mining Provinces of WV
 26 Mining Methods and Reclamation Techniques
 28 Mining Methods: Head-of-Hollow and Valley Fills
 31 Geological and Pedologic Factors Affecting Reclamation
February
  2 EXAM #1
   4 Acid Mine Drainage
   7 Acid Mine Drainage continued
   9 Hydrology of Mined Lands
 11 Reclamation of Prime Farmlands
 14 Soil and Overburden Sampling
 16 Soil and Overburden Analysis
 18 Leaching and Weathering Tests for AMD Prediction
 21 Overburden Handling and Placement
 23 Liners, Seals, Bactericides, and Precipitating Agents
 25 EXAM #2
 28 Physical Properties of Minesoils
March
  1 Chemical Properties of Minesoils
   3 Minesoil Classification and Mapping
   6 Lime and Fertilizer
   8 Mulches and Soil Stabilizers
 10 Fly Ash
 13 Sewage Sludge
 15 Revegetation:  Standards for Success
 17 Revegetation:  Selection of Plant Species
 20 Revegetation:  Techniques
 22 Control of Erosion on Disturbed Lands
 24 EXAM #3
 27 SPRING BREAK
 29 SPRING BREAK
 31 SPRING BREAK
April
  3 The Rural Abandoned Mine Land Program (RAMP)
   5  CANCEL - Acid Mine Drainage Task Force Symposium
   7 OSM and DOE Abandoned Mine Lands Program
 10 Chemical Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage
 12 Passive Acid Mine Drainage Treatment
 14 Stream Characterization and Biological Sampling
 17 Role of Citizens in AMD Prevention
 19 Acid Deposition
 21 Reclamation of Saline-Sodic Soils
 24 Arid Reclamation
 26 Reclamation of Soils with Heavy Metals, Toxic Wastes, and Radioactivity
 28 Urban Soils and Bioremediation
May
3 FINAL EXAM, Wednesday, 3-5 PM.


BACK