Monterey Coal Company
Carlinville, Illinois
Jolene Jablonski
University of Illinois, Champaign
Monterey Coal Company, a division of ExxonMobil Coal USA, employs about
330 people at its No. 1 Mine near Carlinville. The mine uses the longwall
method of coal extraction and produced about 3.3 million tons of coal for
sale in 2002.
The intern worked on the project of utilizing an alternative by-product
material to replace the ground limestone "rock dust" which is
applied to the exposed coal walls and floor to keep coal dust out of the
air inside the mine. There were other P2 projects that the intern investigated.
Results:
Intern recommendation that can result in over $68,000 per year in savings
to the company include:
- Cement kiln dust (CKD) was identified as the best potential
alternative to limestone rock dust for meeting the Mine Safety and
Health Administration
requirements for physical attributes and performance. Silica content
is a concern for the use of CDK due to some samples exceeding the allowable
occupational safety limit. If the silica content appears to be lower
than
the standards set, Monterey Coal Company could use an industrial
by-product to replace virgin material and save over $60,000 annually.
- The intern developed an environmental risk manual. This was
developed into a presentation that the intern gave to all employees
that demonstrated
the proper disposal and recycling methods for all hazardous and special
wastes onsite.
- Aerosol cans are considered a hazardous waste and must be
recycled. Instead of recycling the items, an effort was made to replace
aerosol products with
alternative products or packaging. Replacing 17 products made a reduction
total of 1591 aerosol cans per year. The total amount of money saved
by eliminating recycling costs is approximately $1388 annually.
- Nearly 120 pounds of TRI (Toxic Release Inventory) reportable
compounds were identified and eliminated from the facility through
replacement of
lubricants, adhesives, and degreasers.
- The intern proposed both biodiesel and ethanol gasoline as
an alternative to regular diesel fuel and gasoline. Using biodiesel
would reduce carbon
monoxide emissions by 11% and particulate matter by 9% and provide
a $7,000 savings due to state tax breaks. Ethanol gasoline has the
potential to reduce
the amount of carbon dioxide emissions by over 48,000 pounds per year.
|
