MANAGING CRISIS: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LOCAL DISTRICTS FOR CONTROL OF GROUND WATER MINING1

: This article examines the willingness and capacity of local districts to control ground water mining of the Ogallala Aquifer in the High Plains. The questions of willingness and capacity were approached through extensive field interviews and a survey of all district board members and managers. The analysis focuses on the policy alternatives board members and managers perceive and how they evaluate these alternatives. Methodologically, the study utilized factor analysis of responses rating the desirability of various policy alternatives to ascertain what alternatives were perceived by the sample. Then the sample's preferences for each of the identified factors were calculated. The results demonstrate that the sample of those who must regulate if ground water mining is to be controlled at the substate level are not oriented to regulatory policies and therefore lack the willingness to deal with ground water mining.     

THE EFFECTS OF MINE ACID ON THE POND RIVER WATERSHED IN WESTERN KENTUCKY1

ABSTRACT: H₂SO₄ (sulfuric acid) is formed by a chemical process that occurs in unreclaimed coal mines. The highly toxic acid then flows into the lower swamp areas where it causes considerable damage to the ecosystem. The major effect of the acid is the mass destruction of thousands of trees and various other phreatophytic plants. The contamination is so serious that most of the wildlife has migrated out of the affected area of the swamp in order to survive. Certain geological features such as coal bearing monadanocks make the area somewhat sensitive to mining activities and related geologic hazards. New methods of mine acid abatement make the concept of mass reclamation more realistic than at any time in the past. The constant annihilation of swamp life and processes emphasizes the urgent need for reclamation of the swamp.     

QUALITY OF RUNOFF FROM MINNESOTA PEATLANDS: II. A METHOD FOR ASSESSING MINING IMPACTS1

ABSTRACT The impacts of milled peat mining on runoff quality in northern Minnesota were determined using a multiple watershed approach. The frequency distributions of water quality constituents were used to detect whether runoff from a mined bog differed from that of 15 unmined (control) bogs. Peat mining increased water temperature, suspended sediment, specific conductance and concentrations of acidity, iron, sodium, and nitrogen species, although drinking water standards were not exceeded (α= 0.05). The method presented may be applicable for other nonpoint pollution investigations.     

Coupled modeling of cement/claystone interactions and radionuclide migration

The interactions between cement and a clayey host-rock of an underground repository for intermediate-level radioactive waste are studied with the reactive transport code HYTEC for supporting performance assessment. Care is taken in using relevant time scales (100,000 years) and dimensions. Based on a literature review, three hypotheses are considered with respect to the mineralogical composition of the claystone and the neo-formed phases. In the long term, the pH is buffered for all hypotheses and important mineral transformations occur both in cement and the host-rock. The destruction of the primary minerals is localized close to the cement/claystone interface and is characterized by the precipitation of secondary phases with retention properties (illite, zeolite). However, beyond the zone of intense mineral transformations, the pore water chemistry is also disturbed over a dozen meters due to an attenuated but continuous flux of hydroxyl, potassium and calcium ions. Four interdependent mechanisms control the profile in the whole system: diffusion of the alkaline plume, mineralogical buffering, ion exchange and clogging of the pore space at the cement/claystone interface. The migration of a selected group of radionuclides (Cs, Ra, Tc and U) is explicitly integrated in the simulations of the strongly coupled system. Theoretical profiles of distribution coefficient (Kd) and solubility limit values are derived from the simulations, and their sensitivity with respect to the system evolution is estimated.     

A data mining approach to simulating farmers' crop choices for integrated water resources management

Water and land resources in Thailand are increasingly under pressure from development. In particular, there are many resource conflicts associated with agricultural production in northern Thailand. Communities in these areas are significantly constrained in the land and water management decisions they are able to make. This paper describes the application of a data mining approach to describing and simulating farmers' decision rules in a catchment in northern Thailand. This approach is being applied to simulate social, economic and biophysical constraints on farmers' decisions in these areas as part of an integrated water management model.     

煤矿瓦斯爆炸主要原因的试验研究

利用长径比为7,横截面积为1m~2,一端开口的7m~3的爆炸试验装置,停放成下斜、水平和上倾状态,模拟一段煤巷道的走向。用和瓦斯气具有相同比重的天然气作为试验的可燃气体,在上述试验装置内进行了一系列爆炸试验。试验结果证明了:煤矿向下倾斜的巷道对瓦斯气的自洁作用可保证不集存大量瓦斯气,是安全的;水平走向的巷道在有合适的通风情况下也是安全的;向上倾斜的巷道有集存瓦斯气的自恶化作用,会造成较强的爆炸。     

煤层底板突水的突变理论预测方法及其应用

基于煤层底板突水的尖点突变特征 ,应用突变理论的方法 ,针对煤层底板突水预测指标监测信号 ,分析了单变量序列尖点突变模型及其稳定判据 ,提出了煤层底板突水的突变理论预测方法。实例表明 ,预测结果与现场工程实际情况相一致 ,证明了该方法可望成为预测煤层底板突水危险性的一条新的有效途径     

声发射技术在湘西金矿深井安全开采中的应用

笔者介绍了岩体声发射监测技术及其基本技术参数 ,描述了井下采矿环境下识别岩体声发射信号的频谱特征 ,并进一步介绍了岩体声发射监测技术在湘西金矿深井开采中的应用情况。声发射安全监测技术应用表明 ,声发射事件率及其增长幅度直接反映了顶板稳定性的变化情况 :当岩音频度在 1 0次 /分以下时 ,采场顶板处于稳定 ;但达 1 6次 /分以上时 ,采场顶板就有冒落的可能性 ,应该采取预防措施。该技术安全监测预报结果为深井的安全生产、避免灾害事故的发生提供了决策依据     

基于力电耦合冲击矿压电磁辐射预测法的研究

笔者首先提出了煤岩变形破裂过程电磁辐射与应力耦合的概念 ,然后在实验研究、理论分析和数值模拟的基础上从力电耦合的角度研究了煤岩冲击矿压预测的电磁辐射法 (EME)。研究结果表明 :FLAC3D方法能对矿山巷道掘进过程煤岩内部应力场进行有效的数值模拟 ;电磁辐射信号主要来源于应力集中区 ,在场点监测到的电磁辐射信号主要是应力集中区煤岩变形破裂过程产生的 ;EME信号呈现出与煤岩内部应力变化相同的规律 ;利用力电耦合方法研究煤岩冲击矿压电磁辐射预测法是可行的。笔者最后还对未来煤岩冲击矿压电磁辐射预测法的研究进行了展望。     

我国地热资源的开发战略

总结了我国地热资源的利用和管理状况,提出了"政策统一、市场运作、合理利用、可持续发展"的地热资源开发战略,并对战略内容进行了具体阐述.