The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
Clean Coal Technologies
Technologies used to consume coal, while increasing efficiency and cost effectiveness and enhancing environmental protection.
Compliance Coal
Any coal that emits less than 1.2 pounds of sulfur dioxide per million Btu when burned. Also known as low-sulfur coal.
Dragline
A large, electrically-powered machine used to remove heavy rock and other overburden covering a coal seam.
Fossil Fuels
A naturally occurring organic fuel, such as coal, crude oil or natural gas
Gasification
A process where coal is converted into low, medium or high Btu gas.
Highwall
The unexcavated face of exposed overburden and coal.
Overburden
Layers of heavy rock and soil that covers a coal seam. Overburden is removed before mining begins and is replaced after mining is complete.
Reclamation
The restoration of the land when mining is completed. Federal law states that mined land must be returned to its natural condition or a better condition than before mining occurred.
Recoverable Coal
The amount of coal that can be recovered from the deposits using today’s technology.
Surface mine
A mining operation where coal is extracted by removing the covering layer of earth called overburden because the coal is near the earth’s surface.
