Thesis // Renewal in the Mountains

+ RENEWAL IN THE MOUNTAINS //

REVITALIZATION OF NEGLECTED SURFACE MINES AND COAL COMMUNITIES

+University of Cincinnati DAAP

// Master of Architecture Thesis

Tyler Duty

_0.00 Abstract The natural beauty and the environment of the Appalachian mountains have been decimated by contemporary methods of coal extraction known as surface mining or mountaintop removal. In order to preserve the natural environment moving forward, architectural integration must raise awareness surrounding the issue by revealing the surface mining process to the public.

In order to accommodate architectural designs that accentuate the natural environment, biophilic design principles must be implemented. Biophilic designs transcend the conventional purpose of the urban built environment by connecting society to the natural world. Embedding environmental characteristics into each design will help mitigate ecological decay by reducing building footprints and limiting energy consumption demands. As the built space becomes synonymous with the natural environment, occupants become more aware of their surroundings.

At the heart of the rich coal-filled Appalachian Mountains lies Madison, West Virginia. Madison is nestled at the

i

basin of the Little Coal River valley, where coal was discovered in 1742. Over the years, the picturesque landscape and the rich history has been diminished by the socioeconomic disparity of the coal industry. Madison, like many other coal towns throughout Appalachia, will serve as the primary case study for this analysis.

The number of coal mining operations decrease each year as clean fossil fuels and renewable energy alternatives are developed. Today in the United States, only 30% of our energy is derived from coal. As this percentage continues to decrease, abandoned surface mines are becoming more prominent throughout southern West Virginia. Surface mines are the most common form of coal extraction; however, this controversial method has generated social, economic, political, and environmental problems.

Due to the devastating environmental and economic impact of an abandoned surface mine, the Department of Environmental Protection provides incentives for future economic development. The beautiful Appalachian landscape surrounding the reclaimed surface mines promote architectural interventions that support ecotourism, community engagement, coal heritage, and renewable energy production. Each design component will address an issue surrounding the mountaintop removal process, while challenging the public’s perception of renewable energy alternatives.

Hill Fork Surface Mine West Virginia 2019

ii

iii

iv

_01.00 +Introduction

1

_01.01 Thesis Introduction

_02.00 +Historical Context

3 7 11

_02.01 Appalachia _02.02 King Coal _02.03 Madison, West Virginia

_03.00 +Mountaintop Removal

v

19 25 25 27 29 31 35 39 43

_03.01 Hobet 21 Coal Mine _03.02 Mountaintop Removal Process _01 Existing Conditions _02 Deforestation _03 Blasting _04 Excavation _05 Valley Fill _06 Reclamation _03.03 The Demise of Mountaintop Removal

_04.00 +Architectural Utilization 47 55 61 65 67

_04.01 Site//Hill Fork Surface Mine _04.02 Problem _04.03 Project Outline _04.04 Case Study _04.05 Applied Theories

_05.00 +Monuments of the Coalfields 69 73 77 81 85 89 93

_05.00 Six Architectural Components _05.01 Observation Deck//Wind Turbine _05.02 Hiking//Biking Trail _05.03 Amphitheatre _05.04 Botanical Garden _05.05 Camping//Sanctuary _05.06 Coal Memorial

_06.00 +Works Cited 99 _06.01 Bibliography 101 _06.02 Appendix 107 _06.03 Acknowledgments

vi

List of Illustrations p. ii p. 2 p. 4 p. 6 p. 8 p. 10 p. 12 p. 13 p. 14 p. 16 p. 18 p. 20 p. 22 p. 23 p. 24 p. 26 p. 28 p. 30 p. 32 p. 33-34 p. 36 p. 38 p. 40 p. 42 p. 44 p. 46 p. 48 p.49-50 p. 52 p. 53 p. 54

vii

Duty, Tyler. 2019. Drone Photo. Hill Fork Surface Mine Stephenson, David. Date Unknown. Drone Photo. West Virginia Region VII Planning and Development Council. 2016. Photo. New River Gorge, WV Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Data and map underlay from West Virginia University Duty, Tyler. 2019. Drone Photo. Danville, WV Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graph. Data from West Virgina Coal Association, U.S. Global Investors City of Madison. 1967. Photo. Madison, WV Duty, Tyler. 2019. Digital Graphic. Map of West Virginia Surface Mines Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Map of U.S. Route 119 Duty, Tyler. 2019. Photo. Madison, WV Duty, Tyler. 2019. Drone Photo. Danville, WV NASA Earth Observatory. 1984-2009. Satellite Photo. Hobet 21 Mine, WV NASA Earth Observatory. 2015. Satellite Photo. Hobet 21 Mine, WV Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Mountaintop Removal Diagrams (1-3) Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Mountaintop Removal Diagrams (4-6) Duty, Tyler. 2019. Drone Photo. Hill Fork Surface Mine, WV Echolls, Taylor. 2017. Drone Photo. Appalachian Mountains Tama, Mario. 2012. Drone Photo. Wise County, VA Stockman, Vivian. 2006. Photo. Boone County, WV Woods, Adam. 2011. Drone Photo. Hobet 21 Mine, WV Williamson, Michael . 2008. Photo. Kayford, WV Rose, Jeromy. 2016. Photo. Richwood, WV Duty, Tyler. 2019. Drone Photo. Hill Fork Surface Mine, WV Duty, Tyler. 2019. Drone Photo. Hill Fork Surface Mine, WV Lyons, Mark. 2015. Photo. Charleston, WV Schaefer, Harry. 1973. Photo. Poca, WV Duty, Tyler. 2019. Photo. Hobet 21 Mine, WV Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Hill Fork Surface Mine Site Plan Duty, Tyler. 2019. Drone Photo. Hill Fork Surface Mine, WV Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Hill Fork Surface Mine Existing Conditions Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Hill Fork Surface Mine Post Reclamation

p. 56 p. 58 p. 59-60 p. 62 p. 64 p. 66 p. 68 p. 70 p. 71-72 p. 74-76 p. 78-80 p. 82-84 p. 86-88 p. 90-92 p. 94-96 p. 97-98 p. 102 p. 102 p. 102 p. 102 p. 103 p. 103 p. 103 p. 103 p. 104 p. 104 p. 104 p. 104 p. 105 p. 106

Adams, Mason. 2017. Digital Drawing. Don Blankenship United States Geological Survey. 2001. Satellite Photo. Mingo County, WV Duty, Tyler. 2020. Physical Model. Hill Fork Surface Mine Site FXMotorsports. 2010. Photo. Boone County, WV Travis, Kurt. 2018. Photo. Big Coal River, WV Becker, Udo. 2016. Photo. Duisburg, Germany Smithson, Robert. 1967. Photo Catalogue. Passaic, NJ Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Infrastructural Monuments Axon Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Six Architectural Monuments Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Observation Deck Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Hill Fork Trail Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Amphitheatre Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Botanical Garden Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Campsite and Sanctuary Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Coal Miner’s Memorial Duty, Tyler. 2020. Digital Graphic. Presentation McLaughlin, Louise. 2003. Photo. Thurmond, WV Church, Dennis. 2009. Photo. Prince, WV Ward, Ken Jr. 2011. Photo. Rock Creek, WV Coyne, Caity. 2019. Photo. Keystone, WV Kane, Cindy. 1905. Photo. Calumet, Michigan Source Unknown. 1910. Photo. South Pittston, PA Carriage International. 1960. Photo. WV Shaluta, Steve. 1965. Photo. Grafton, WV Wolcott, Marion. 1938. Photo. Capels, WV U.S. National Archives. 1946. Photo. Bradshaw, WV Corn, Jack. 1974. Photo. Richlands, VA Wright, Jessee. 2018. Photo. Farmington, WV ERP Environmental Fund, INC. 2019. Digital Map. WV ERP Environmental Fund, INC. 2019. Digital Map. WV

viii

_01.00 Introduction +01.01 Thesis Introduction Renewal in the mountains begins with an in depth analysis of the Appalachian region to better understand the complex socioeconomic, political, and environmental issues surrounding the process of natural resource extraction. The macro approach strives to encapsulate the economics and culture of the region before addressing a specific site. Establishing an in depth understanding of the controversies surrounding the coal industry builds a framework that informs the architectural response.

Madison, West Virginia will serve as the micro region assessed throughout this thesis. The City of Madison is in the heart of the West Virginia coalfields where the coal industry has dictated the emergence and the demise of the region. Located only two miles north of Madison lies one of the largest surface mines in all of Appalachia known as Hobet 21 Coal Mine. A small section of this mine called Hill Fork has been reclaimed and selected for site-specific exploration. The communities surrounding the Hobet Mine Complex have been plagued with underlying

1

consequences of the extensive operation. All of these factors are discussed and considered throughout the site analysis.

In order to apply for a surface mining permit, corporations must outline a post-mining development plan to receive certification. Federal organizations such as the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement implemented the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act in 1977. The objective was to revitalize abandoned mines and communities for future economic development.

In reality, only three percent of surface mines are ever developed after the reclamation process is complete.

The proposed architectural utilization of Hill Fork surface mine is composed of various programs that activate the site through recreational opportunities. Trails and emerging structures will accentuate the natural beauty of the region while simultaneously contrasting the obscure mountaintop removal process as a form of architectural propaganda. Each architectural intervention will also demonstrate the capabilities of renewable energy production in order to educate the public about the future of clean energy. Through renewable energy optimization, the infrastructure and the culture of the region could be restored as a leading energy provider.

Active Mountaintop Removal Operation West Virginia Date Unknown

David Stephenson

2

_02.00 Historical Context +02.01 Appalachia “The trail leads not merely north and south, but up to the body, mind and soul of mankind.” -Harold Allen

Perception The Appalachian region is known as one of the oldest mountain ranges in North America. Its rich history and unique topography outline the natural beauty of the region. Breathtaking vistas shaped by winding river valleys create spectacular scenery that can be found across Appalachia. The rugged terrain along with the temperate climate promotes biological and ecological diversity that is unparalleled. Visitors from across North America are drawn to the Appalachian region to experience the magnificent landscape. The natural beauty of the sublime environment has propelled the region as one of the major ecotourism destinations in North America.

Culture and Recreation Due to the vast scale of the Appalachian Mountain Range, recreational development has provoked eco-tourism from

the White Mountains in Vermont, Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania, Blue Ridge Mountains in West Virginia and the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. Outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to the secluded countryside to relax and experience various recreational activities. The rich heritage of Appalachia has been well preserved, so tourists can interpret the utilitarian history and culture that the region once supported. The culture surrounding Appalachia dates to the late eighteenth century when pioneer Daniel Boone traversed the Cumberland Gap to expand settlement into Kentucky.1 This laborious mentality has defined the proletarian work ethic of the rural region today.

Natural Resources The Appalachian Mountains have fueled energy consumption necessities throughout North America since the early 19th century.2 Early settlers in Appalachia achieved economic prosperity through the agriculture industry, which resulted in a gradual development of many Appalachian towns. In 1810 when coal was first consumed to power steam engines, the transition to facilitate coal production was enacted.3 The coal trade fueled rapid industrialization efforts, and secluded valleys became centers for commerce and infrastructure to facilitate the growing coal industry. Today, Appalachia’s abundant

1 Raitz, Karl B., Richard Ulack, and Thomas R. Leinbach. Appalachia, a Regional Geography: Land, People, and Development. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1984.

2 Burns, Shirley Stewart. Bringing down the Mountains: The Impact of Mountaintop Removal Surface Coal Mining on Southern West Virginia Communities. 1970-2004. Morgantown, W. Va.: West Virginia Univ. Press, 2007.

3 Ibid.

3

New River Gorge Bridge West Virginia 2016

Region VII Planning and Development Council

4

+02.01 Appalachia natural resources have been exploited, but the welfare of local communities has been neglected. The region is currently struggling with high unemployment and poverty rates due to the singular based coal economy, and the startling corporate land ownership rates.

Land Ownership // Poverty As natural resources were discovered in the Appalachian region, land ownership and mineral rights dictated industrialization, socioeconomic, and political objectives.

In 1983 the Appalachian Land Ownership Task Force conducted a study that assessed over 20,000,000 acres of land across six Appalachian states.4 Their research concluded that 40 percent of the land surveyed was owned by only 50 private owners and 10 government agencies.5 In the state of West Virginia, 15 of the 55 counties were evaluated. Research concluded that large external corporations owned 40 percent of the land and 70 percent of the mineral rights.6 Because most of the land was possessed by external entities, the abundant resources found in the Appalachian region were exploited to fuel America’s energy demands without the welfare of the communities in mind. This lack of internal power and wealth has led to the gradual demise of many towns throughout Appalachia.

4 Scott, Shaunna. “The Appalachian Land Ownership Study Revisited.� Appalachian Journal 35, no. 3 (2008): 236-52. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40934591.

5 Ibid.

6 Ibid.

5

Data From West Virginia University

6

_02.00 Historical Context +02.02 King Coal In 2004, I flew over the coalfields of Kentucky and West Virginia, and saw where the coal is coming from. If the American people could see what I saw, there would be a revolution in this country.”

-Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Exploitation of Resources This brief history of coal is necessary to understand the current political, economic, environmental and social circumstances that the state of West Virginia is dealing with today. As a native of West Virginia, coal is instilled in every aspect of life. The rich heritage of the state dates to 1742 when Peter Salley discovered coal in the Appalachian Mountains.7 It was not until 1863 that West Virginia became a state, and due to its geographic location, coal dominated the economic development of the region.

Today, bituminous coal seams have been located in fortyfour of the fifty-five counties throughout West Virginia.8

Rapid Industrialization // Coal Communities As the demand for energy increased in the early 1900s, coal production accelerated industrialization efforts throughout Appalachia. The establishment of the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad in 1873 played a pivotal role in the distribution of natural resources across the Midwest and Southern United States.9 In order to meet consumption demands, migrant workers were brought in from southern Europe to mine coal and live in the company towns. With an absence of labor laws, many miners were forced to work extensive hours in fear that the corporation could take away their home. As working conditions and safety concerns became prevalent, company towns rallied against coal corporations to form worker unions. The unionization of coal communities resulted in many wars fought throughout southern West Virginia; the most significant being the Battle of Blair Mountain that took place in Madison, WV in 1933. It is referred to today as America’s largest armed insurrection since the Civil War.10

Mechanization // Environmental Concern The pinnacle of coal production and employment took place shortly after 1947 when the state of West Virginia

7 Friends of Coal. “A History of Coal in West Virginia.” Accessed September 28, 2019. https://www.friendsofcoal.org/education/a-history-of-coal-in-west-virginia.html.

8 Ibid.

9 Dixon Jr., Thomas W. “Railroads.” e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Accessed September 30, 2019. https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1972 10 Burns, Shirley Stewart. Bringing down the Mountains: The Impact of Mountaintop Removal Surface Coal Mining on Southern West Virginia Communities. 1970-2004. Morgantown, W. Va.: West Virginia Univ.

7

Coal Rail Yard Danville // Madison, WV 2019

8

+02.02 King Coal

Summary

alone produced 173,653,816 tons of coal.11 At this point in time, most of the coal was extracted through traditional underground mining techniques which relied on manual labor. Following World War II, coal corporations began to invest in the mechanization of traditional coal extraction methods. Large scale machinery could efficiently produce the same amount coal that would require thirty miners to produce. Technological innovations such as the dragline also promoted new unethical forms of mining such as strip and surface mining. In 1990, the Clean Air Act amendment was passed to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions within the United States.12 This was a blessing for the environment, but a curse for the southern West Virginia coal fields. In order to pass the clean air emission test, only low sulfur coal could continuously be mined.

Following the new amendment many underground mines were shut down, and surface mines rapidly spread throughout southern West Virginia to meet the high demand for “clean coal.” Shortly after 1990, surface mines unearthed record amounts of coal, while employment continued to plummet.13

The scope of this thesis will focus strictly on surface mining and seek to develop an architectural response to the political, economic, environmental and social issues surrounding this controversial extraction method.

Surface mining has decimated 352,000 acres of land and 135 mountains in the state of West Virginia alone.14 In most cases, reclamation efforts can be avoided through incentives that suggest abandoned surface mines may be used for economic development in the future. The harsh reality is that only three percent of abandoned surface mines are ever developed.15 As coal communities throughout southern West Virginia search for new methods of employment and economic revitalization, abandoned surface mines provide flattened land for ecotourism and renewable energy optimization.

11 Eggleston, Jane R. “History of West Virginia Mineral Industries - Coal.” WVGES Geology: History of West Virginia Coal Industry. Accessed September 30, 2019. http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/ 12 Burns, Shirley Stewart. Bringing down the Mountains: The Impact of Mountaintop Removal Surface Coal Mining on Southern West Virginia Communities. 1970-2004. Morgantown, W. Va.: West Virginia Univ.

13 Ibid.

14 Appalachian Voices. “Mountaintop Removal 101 > Appalachian Voices.” Accessed October 4, 2019. http://appvoices.org/end-mountaintop-removal/mtr101 15 Ibid.

9

The Effect of Mountaintop Removal Increased mechanization maximized production and minimized employment Data From West Virginia Coal Association, U.S. Global Investors

10

_02.00 Historical Context +02.03 Madison, West Virginia “The wealth of this state is immense; the development of this wealth will earn vast private fortunes far beyond the dreams of a modern Croesus; the question is whether this vast wealth shall belong to persons who live here and who are permanently identified with the future of West Virginia, or whether it shall pass into the hands of persons who do not live here and care nothing for our state except to pocket the treasures which lie buried in our hills.” – West Virginia Tax Commission Report, 1884

Gateway to the Coalfields The scope of this thesis will focus on the analysis of Madison, West Virginia and its relationship to the surrounding coal mines. Madison is the county seat of Boone County, where coal was first discovered in 1742.16 In the 1840’s the Coal Navigation Company was responsible for damming the Coal River to make it navigable for steamboats to transport coal. This allowed southern West Virginia coal mines to annually transport approximately 200,000 tons of coal to various regions

throughout the world.17 The industrialization and the socioeconomic success of Madison is entirely attributed to the coal industry.

Paternalism Madison emerged as a model company town in the late 19th century, which instigated hostility between the community and the distant coal corporation authorities.

Coal companies developed their own utilitarian ideas for currencies, homes, businesses, and politics to maintain supremacy over the coal miners and their families.

Although the labor was grueling, and the hours were extensive, coal mining became a way of life for many immigrants who fled to North America. Like many other Appalachian company towns, Madison was once a vibrant community with a diverse society of people from all over the world. Due to the high demand for coal, company towns such as Madison were economically dependent on coal production. This in turn lead to the gradual demise of the City of Madison.

16 Friends of Coal. “A History of Coal in West Virginia.” Accessed September 28, 2019. https://www.friendsofcoal.org/education/a-history-of-coal-in-west-virginia.html.

17 West Virginia Archives and History. Peytona, 2008. Historical Monument Engraving. Peytona, West Virginia. Viewed October 10, 2019.

11

Main Street Madison, West Virginia 1967

City of Madison

12

13

14

+02.03 Madison, West Virginia Relics and Economic Prosperity The history of coal in the City of Madison overshadows the enthusiasm that the community exuberates today.

The town is instilled with relics from the coal era that challenge one’s perception of the declining industry. Some of these artifacts include the National Bank of Madison and the Boone County Courthouse, which are both on the National Register of Historic Places. The stark contrast of the limestone façade, monumental pediment, detailed entablature, and the Neoclassical style speak to the economic prosperity that took place in this rural region during the early 20th century. There is also a renowned coal museum that attracts journalists from across the country. These landmarks provide a glimpse into the past that could be further emphasized through architectural intervention.

Natural Surroundings // Ecotourism Madison is nicknamed the “Gateway to the Southern Coalfields” due to its geographic proximity to the capitol city of Charleston, West Virginia. Madison is only thirty miles south of Charleston, therefore many visitors come to the coal region for various recreational

activities. Lifelong residents of Madison have witnessed the gradual transformation of the magnificent landscapes into infrastructural mechanisms that efficiently extract and distribute coal. As mechanization of the coal industry took place, contemporary engineering methods exacerbated the scale of surface mining complexes.

These large-scale mechanization efforts that took place displaced the need for coal miners, while simultaneously defacing the surrounding environment. Southern West Virginia counties such as Boone, Logan, Kanawha, Mingo, McDowell, Raleigh, Fayette, and Nicholas have experienced the largest environmental impact. In 2018 there were 86 active surface mines in the state of West Virginia, and 83% of them can be found in the eight counties listed above.18

Singular Based Economy Today, Madison is still holding on to the hope of a potential resurgence of the coal industry. Residents of the rural town have become accustom to the coal monopoly that has governed the region since its inception. The commercial enterprise has been embedded into the social, economic, political, and environmental status of every community. Misguided by the idea that natural resources would generate wealth, state leaders devised

18 “Table 2. Coal Production and Number of Mines by State, County, and Mine Type, 2018.” eia.gov. US Energy Information Administration, 2018. https://www.eia.gov/ coal/annual/pdf/table2.pdf.

15

Boone County Courthouse Madison, WV 2019

16

+02.03 Madison, West Virginia a singular based, resource dependent economy.19 The business model supported distant coal corporations that were not committed to the welfare of the miners or the state of West Virginia. Somehow politicians continue to support the growth of the coal industry, while the trajectory of renewable energy alternatives overshadow traditional energy consumption methods. Former miners and their families have been promised that coal will return, and many continue to advocate for coal renewal through lobby groups such as Friends of Coal and the WV Coal Association.

communities have been neglected. This economic focus has also overshadowed the environmental degradation that surface mines have caused in southern Appalachia. The analysis of Madison can serve as a case study for various coal communities across a macro-scale. This study will demonstrate the importance of preserving the culture and environment to supplement recreational interests of the public that reinforce eco-tourism and renewable energy optimization.

Summary The natural beauty of Madison is undermined by the stark contrast of the coal industry that has consumed every aspect of life and the natural environment. The rich heritage of Madison must be attributed to coal, but the future of the town and surrounding environment yearns for a new method of economic diversification. The current state of economic depression contradicts society’s perception of the coal industry at large. Government entities and coal lobbyists are so focused on lucrative corporate success, that the welfare of miners and

19 Burns, Shirley Stewart. Bringing down the Mountains: The Impact of Mountaintop Removal Surface Coal Mining on Southern West Virginia Communities. 1970-2004. Morgantown, W. Va.: West Virginia Univ.

17

Coal Rail Yard Danville // Madison, WV 2019

18

_03.00 Site Analysis +03.01 Hobet 21 Coal Mine “There must be a realization of the fact that to waste, to destroy, our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them amplified and developed.” -Theodore Roosevelt, December 1907

Geographical Contiguity The City of Madison functions as the center for commerce and infrastructural systems that support the Hobet Mine Complex. Geographically the mine is located only three miles north of Madison, where many miners and their families once resided. Hobet Mine was first opened in 1974 as a private coal mine that fulfilled local energy needs in southern Appalachia. Over the span of 44 years, the Hobet Mine Complex has developed into the largest surface mine in all of West Virginia. Controversies

surrounding the mine began in the early 1990’s when union miners went on strike advocating for health benefits from Ashland Oil. The mining rights were later sold to Arch Coal, then Magnum Coal, and finally Patriot Coal due to bankruptcy.1 Today the mine is operated by ERP Environmental Fund, Inc. who is in charge of future reclamation efforts.

Mechanization // Expansion Hobet Mine began as a traditional underground coal mine that employed hundreds of immigrant miners. The growth of the mine was synonymous with the success of Madison, and most of the town’s revenue was attributed to the mine itself. As coal demand increased in the early 1990’s, coal corporations adopted more extreme methods of surface mining to unearth record amounts of coal.

This lead to the mechanization of coal extraction, and the introduction of heavy machinery such as the dragline.

Hobet Mine was one of the few surface mines in the region that could afford a $60 million dollar dragline.

The purchase of this machine increased productivity to maximize profits, but mechanization efforts displaced miners and expanded the surface mine at an alarming rate.

As a result, the Hobet Mine Complex has unethically

1 Beitman, Adam. “Patriot Coal’s Hobet 21 Mine Wiping Out W.Va’s Mud River Watershed.” Sierra Club. Beyond Coal, April 6, 2015. https://content.sierraclub.org/pressreleases/2015/04/patriot-coal-s-hobet-21-mine-wiping-out-wva-s-mud-river-watershed.

19

25 Year Expansion of Hobet 21 Coal Mine West Virginia 1984-2009

NASA Earth Observatory

20

+03.01 Hobet 21 Coal Mine defaced 6,268 acres of pristine land through the process of mountaintop removal.2 The shear scale of these surface mines throughout Appalachia is astonishing, and the Hobet Mine is nearly eight miles in diameter. Due to new regulations outlawing mountaintop removal, the mine is extracting minimal amounts of coal and a majority of efforts have been focused towards reclamation. Through a regional approach, Hobet Coal Mine will serve as the primary site for this thesis.

2 Beitman, Adam. “Patriot Coal’s Hobet 21 Mine Wiping Out W.Va’s Mud River Watershed.” Sierra Club. Beyond Coal, April 6, 2015. https://content.sierraclub.org/pressreleases/2015/04/patriot-coal-s-hobet-21-mine-wiping-out-wva-s-mud-river-watershed.

21

Permit Expansion

Reclaimed Land

Slurry Impoundment

Hill Fork Branch Site Boundary

Hobet 21 Coal Mine Complex West Virginia 2015

NASA Earth Observatory

22

_01 Existing Conditions

23

_02 Deforestation

_03 Blasting

_04 Excavation

_05 Valley Fill

_06 Reclamation

24

_03.00 Mountaintop Removal +03.02 Mountaintop Removal Process _01 Existing Conditions From a human perspective, it is hard to comprehend the extensive decimation that mountaintop removal is capable of. From the base of the mountain, the excavation process is not apparent. However, the hidden environmental impact has negatively changed the way locals perceive the coal industry. Because coal mining has been an integral part in history of the West Virginia coalfields, it is difficult for those who have earned a living from this industry to consider the negative environmental impact.

However, as many local residences began to experience the environmental impact first hand, their feelings toward the industry significantly changed. Due to corporate land ownership rights, many locals around the Hobet Mine Complex have experienced polluted drinking water, record flooding, deforestation of pristine land, depopulation, as well as forced evacuation from their homes. Political propaganda has glamorized the coal industry as the only method of economic generation necessary to revitalize

a community. The goal of this thesis is to challenge that notion through architectural interventions and propaganda.

New surface mining permits turned out to be a death sentence for an existing coal community. Initially, coal towns such as Madison were enthusiastic about new job opportunities and the tax revenue it could generate.3 Once the mining process began, residents were typically outraged by the lack of jobs, and the hiring of external miners. Shortly after, mining corporations began to scout for new land in the vicinity, which resulted in substantial buyouts of households and businesses. As businesses and households became vacant, migration rapidly occurred. All of this depopulation was accompanied with environmental concerns such as pollution, contaminated drinking water, and flooding. Madison is a perfect example of these negative impacts. This city has experienced a 16% decrease in population and local occupants recall when the existing land of the Hobet Mine Complex was once used by local residents for hunting, fishing, hiking or agriculture before the land was devoured by coal corporations. In order to accurately propose innovative design solutions and address the purpose of this thesis, a comprehensive understanding of the mountaintop removal process is necessary.

3 Burns, Shirley Stewart. Bringing down the Mountains: The Impact of Mountaintop Removal Surface Coal Mining on Southern West Virginia Communities. 1970-2004. Morgantown, W. Va.: West Virginia Univ.

25

View From Hill Fork Surface Mine West Virginia 2019

26

_03.00 Mountaintop Removal +03.02 Mountaintop Removal Process _02 Deforestation The first step after the completion of the extensive permitting process is deforestation of the existing mountaintop to prepare the land for excavation. Although the environmental impacts of deforestation are well known, the magnitude of the effect was more severe in West Virginia due to the fact that the Appalachian mountains are some of the most ecologically diverse woods in North America. Stripping the land of vegetation and burning these plants on site poses a threat to various rare plant and animal species that are found in only a few remarkable climates across the world. Some of these species that have been directly affected include the cerulean warbler birds, chipmunks, black bears, wild boar, native brook trout, and salamanders just to name a few.4 Various scientists have attributed the decline of these animal populations directly to mountaintop removal mines.

The EPA estimates that by 2012, mountaintop removal had destroyed 1.4 million acres of Appalachian forest.5 Known as some of the most dense woodlands in North America, deforestation across such an immense scale has certainty impacted carbon emissions. The vast grasslands that are left behind, post reclamation, also attribute to forest fragmentation and temperature fluctuation created by an absence of tree canopies. The deforestation of this land has also mitigated recreational opportunities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping for future generations. Many environmental groups such as Radical Action for Mountain People’s Survival (RAMPS) have taken a stance against mountaintop removal and in 2012 they held a protest that temporarily shut down Hobet Mine.6

4 Appalachian Voices. “Mountaintop Removal 101 > Appalachian Voices.” Accessed October 4, 2019. http://appvoices.org/end-mountaintop-removal/ecology 5 Ibid.

6 Sturgis, Sue. “Anti-Mining Protests Heat up in West Virginia as Evidence of Damage Builds.” Accessed November 12, 2019. https://www.facingsouth.org/2012/07/antimining-protests-heat-up-in-west-virginia-as-evidence-of-damage-builds.html

27

Deforestation and Soil Erosion Appalachia 2017

Taylor Echolls

28

_03.00 Mountaintop Removal +03.02 Mountaintop Removal Process _03 Blasting Once deforestation is complete, the next step of the methodical process is blasting. During the initial stage of this process, boreholes are drilled while trenches are dug for dynamite insertion. Simultaneously, access roads are cut through the valleys for heavy machinery accessibility.

The goal of the blasting phase is to break up the topsoil, sandstone, and limestone to streamline the excavation process. Imploding miles of land requires millions of highly volatile explosives composed of Mercury fulminate, lead azide or PETN (or penthrite, or more properly Penta Erythritol Tetra Nitrate).7 In the Appalachian mountains, coal seams often lie more than 600 feet below the surface.

Blasting through these compact soil horizons create land swells as the matter expands. In most cases, overburden generally swells 25 percent after the blasting process. This generates excess land mass that must be displaced in order to expose the coal seams.

Another concern that frequently occurs after the explosions are sedimentary erosion and particulate exposure.8 Chemicals found in coal and previously buried sediment are dispersed into the air, which significantly decreases air quality in surrounding communities. The same can be said for the headwater streams that create water runoff near a mountaintop removal mine. After the first rain following the blasting process, loose particles of dirt, coal, and sedimentary rock traverse down the watershed into the larger river valleys. The devastating effects of poor air quality and contaminated rivers are detrimental and often escalate depopulation in coal communities.

7 Dozolme, Philippe. “The Explosives Used in Mining.� The Balance. The Balance, September 4, 2019. https://www.thebalance.com/explosives-used-in-mining-anoverview-2367467.

8 Burns, Shirley Stewart. Bringing down the Mountains: The Impact of Mountaintop Removal Surface Coal Mining on Southern West Virginia Communities. 1970-2004. Morgantown, W. Va.: West Virginia Univ.

29

Explosive Detonation//A&G Coal Surface Mine Operation Virginia 2012

Mario Tama

30

_03.00 Mountaintop Removal +03.02 Mountaintop Removal Process _04 Excavation The next step is excavation, where the real environmental, social, and economic concerns begin. At this stage of the mountaintop removal process, most occupants of surrounding coal communities have noticed mysterious dirt particles on their cars, and slightly discolored streams in their vicinity. However, it is not until unemployment rates begin to plummet that occupants begin to question the effects of the nearby mountaintop removal mine.

Hobet Mine was the first coal mine in West Virginia to purchase a dragline in 1983. The BE 1570 dragline stands at 25 stories tall, and the bucket is capable of moving 80 cubic yards of overburden per scoop. This monstrous piece of machinery has a price tag of approximately $60 million. The extravagant cost of heavy machinery has created a monopoly for large scale coal corporations; therefore, small operations have struggled to compete leading to land appropriation and bankruptcy.

The excavation of Hobet Mine is known as the largest surface mining venture in the state of West Virginia.

Under the reign of Arch Coal, Hobet Mine expanded at an astronomical rate. Although the corporation was successful throughout the late 1990’s, employment in the nearby town of Madison continued to decrease. From 1992 to 2017 the town of Madison lost 16 percent of its population. Simultaneously, in 1993 unemployment rates in Boone County reached an all time high of 20 percent.9 The Department of Health and Human Resources frequently discusses the correlation between surface mining and poverty throughout West Virginia. As the state continues to provide financial aid to these poverty stricken counties, tax revenues obtained from coal are depleted.

Although the excavation process has environmental implications, the economic impact overshadows environmental concern.

9 “Unemployment Rate in Boone County, WV.” FRED, October 30, 2019. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/WVBOON5URN.

31

Active Dragline on Hobet 21 Coal Mine West Virginia 2006

Vivian Stockman

32

_03.00 Mountaintop Removal +03.02 Mountaintop Removal Process _05 Valley Fill Once the coal seams have been extracted, the excess land mass must be displaced. The most common and cost effective method of removing overburden consists of valley fills. According to Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, 724 miles of waterways assessed throughout the United States have been covered by mountaintop removal valley fills from 1985 to 2001.10 Valley fills are predominantly composed of overburden and toxic bi-products from the coal extraction process.

These loose particles are then swept away as rainwater traverses down the watersheds into the larger river valleys.

Hobet Mining Complex is known to produce more pollution than any other surface mine in Appalachia due to the implementation of more than 20 valley fills. Scientists and biologists have studied the ecological devastation of the Mud River and Coal River tributaries found at the basin of the Hobet Mine. Water samples collected in 1997 earned the Coal River a spot on the Nation’s

Most Endangered Rivers watch-list, due to excessive contamination from the southern Appalachian coalfields.

Although valley fills are scientifically proven to be detrimental to watersheds, research is often misconstrued by nearby coal slurry impoundments. Generally referred to as a slurry pond, these toxic waste pools serve as a storage mechanism for virulent coal sludge. Slurry impoundments are composed of solid and liquid chemicals that solidify over time. Once the sludge has solidified, the impoundments are buried with overburden. As groundwater gradually degrades the sludge, toxic chemicals are dispersed into local steams. Many of these streams serve as a water source for nearby residents who have filed numerous lawsuits due to high levels of iron, sulphur and even arsenic found in their tap water.11 Typically families who obtain tap water from local wells are generally impoverished; resulting in a form of environmental discrimination and injustice to the local community. As contaminated headwater proceeds downstream, tributaries at the base of the mountain such as the Coal River often experience the highest form of degradation to aquatic life.

This is due to the vast array ecosystems located in larger perennial bodies of water.

10 “Coal’s Victims: Just the Cost of Doing Business?,” Huntington (WV) Herald Dispatch, July 19, 2003.

11 Evans, Gareth. “A Toxic Crisis in America’s Coal Country.” BBC News, February 11, 2019. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47165522.

35

Sulfuric Acid Mine Drainage from a Nearby Coal Mine Kayford, West Virginia 2008

Michael Williamson

36

_05 Valley Fill As large scale operations such as Hobet Mine remove vegetation and repeatedly dump miles of valley fill into intermittent streams, flash flooding becomes inevitable.

Natural mountain runoff is an inherent quality of the ancient Appalachian Mountain range that should not be disrupted. Understanding the liabilities associated with altered watersheds only increases concern. As valley fills take place, mining engineers devise drainage ditches into the overburden to prevent erosion. These synthetic drains promote continuous water-flow that exacerbate high water levels in perennial rivers following rainfall. Flood data from a U.S. Geological Survey suggested that each surface mine has unique water variability characteristics. The one consistency is that the water catchment systems disrupt natural water-flow and absorption across a regional scale.

In some cases, West Virginia surface mines generated twice the water runoff than undisturbed land.12

12 Messinger, T. Comparison of Storm Response of Streams in Small, Unmined and Valley-Filled Watersheds, 1999–2001, Ballard Fork, West Virginia; US Geological Survey: Charleston, WV, USA, 2003; p. 22.

37

Historic Flood Levels in Southern West Virginia Richwood, West Virginia 2016

Jeromy Rose

38

_03.00 Mountaintop Removal +03.02 Mountaintop Removal Process _06 Reclamation Once the coal has been extracted, the final step in the mountaintop removal process is land reclamation. In 1977 the federal government enacted the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) in order to regulate post-mining revitalization efforts.13 Initially, government regulations were minimal because extensive knowledge surrounding the consequences of mountaintop removal were unknown. As surface mining became more prevalent in Appalachia, legislation created the Office of Community Development and the Office of Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation. These organizations implemented guidelines that attempted to mitigate future environmental concerns surrounding the abandoned surface mines.

Due to the economic mentality of the coal industry, minimal effort was ever applied to the reclamation phase.

In the case of Hobet Mine, various owners went bankrupt prior to the completion of proper land reclamation.

Today, the mine is owned by ERP Environmental Fund, INC. who is working on reclamation efforts across 6,268 acres with only 40 employees. The current reclamation is composed of terracing valley fills to prevent future erosion, infilling mining pits with overburden and planting foreign grass across the site.

Surface mine reclamation efforts are regulated by a branch of the federal government known as the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Their efforts in 1998 mandated that post-mining land development plans must be submitted in order to receive a surface mining permit.14 This required coal companies to apply for an approximate original contour (AOC) variance that outlined the opportunities for future land use. Due to the amount of land being displaced, nearly 75 percent of surface mines had to apply for an approximate original contour variance.15 This forced coal corporations and developers to propose various ideas for industrial, commercial, agricultural, residential, and public development.

Future land use development plans are proposed to look after the welfare of the state and the local

13 “Laws, Regulations, and Guidance.� OSMRE Laws, Regulations, and Guidance. Accessed November 24, 2019. https://www.osmre.gov/lrg.shtm.

14 Burns, Shirley Stewart. Bringing down the Mountains: The Impact of Mountaintop Removal Surface Coal Mining on Southern West Virginia Communities. 1970-2004. Morgantown, WV. Va.: West Virginia Univ.

15 Ibid.

39

Reclaimed Hill Fork Surface Mine West Virginia 2019

40

_06 Reclamation communities such as Madison, West Virginia. The problem is that only a minute number of mountaintop removal mines are ever used for future economic development. In fact, only three percent of surface mines in Appalachia have ever been developed.16 This is due to lack of funding and depopulation that typically occurs as a result of mountaintop removal. This analysis and proposal strives to outline a series of architectural programs and interventions that could be implemented on the reclaimed portion of Hobet Mine. Through this proposal, coal communities such as Madison could be alleviated from the impact of a singular based coal economy that has gone awry.

16 Appalachian Voices. “Mountaintop Removal 101 > Appalachian Voices.� Accessed October 4, 2019. http://appvoices.org/end-mountaintop-removal/mtr101

41

Reclaimed Hill Fork Surface Mine West Virginia 2019

42

_03.00

Organizations and Regulations

Mountaintop Removal

The governing framework surrounding mountaintop removal begins at the Federal level through organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Army Corps of Engineers and Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement. On the State level, local mines are regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection. Since the beginning of Mountaintop Removal in Central Appalachia, environmental agencies have gradually introduced new regulations that diminish environmental degradation. Some of the most significant federal regulations include the Clean Water Act of 1972, which reduced valley fills and stream pollution, along with the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 that introduced the Approximate Original Contour Variance permits that exist today.17

+03.03 The Demise of Mountaintop Removal “With the ever-present dependency on a one-source economy, the state government tends to turn a blind eye toward growing amounts of environmental degradation, since it is often seen as necessary for sustaining local economies.� -Shirley Burns, 2007

Political Economy As further research and environmental data is collected, examining the effects of mountaintop removal, the federal government has been forced into action. Environmental regulations implemented by the federal government have improved the health and safety of coal communities, while undermining the economic success of coal corporations.

This battle has existed between coal corporations and communities since the inception of coal mining, while the welfare of the miners and their families have been neglected in favor of the financial gain of the coal industry at large.

Political Incentives Due to the strong political correlation between coal corporations and government regulations, coal executives often support politicians who advocate for the coal industry. In states such as West Virginia, an abundance of campaign funding is donated by foreign coal corporations in order to ensure political support. Historically, the

17 Burns, Shirley Stewart. Bringing down the Mountains: The Impact of Mountaintop Removal Surface Coal Mining on Southern West Virginia Communities. 1970-2004. Morgantown, WV.

43

Political Campaigns Fueled by Coal Dollars Charleston, West Virginia 2015

Mark Lyons

44

+03.03 The Demise of Mountaintop Removal

same medium and high volatile bituminous coal could be extracted in these states at a much lower cost.

democratic party tends to encourage policies that diminish mountaintop removal, while the republican party supports deregulation favoring the coal corporations.

As new government officials are elected, the policies halting mountaintop removal are often renounced. The inconsistencies between political parties often create economic uncertainty for active coal operations. Many of these regulations have forced mining operations to cease coal extraction, which leads to bankruptcy.

Infrastructural Optimization

Bringing Down the Mountains One of the most significant challenges regarding mountaintop removal in the Appalachian region is the rugged terrain. Clearing access roads for the necessary large scale machinery is an expensive and time consuming process that is exacerbated by the mountainous region.

Once access to the site has been achieved, coal seems often lye 600 feet below the surface of the mountain.

Displacing this much overburden is a tedious, and costly process that significantly reduces profit margins. As a result, many surface mining sites became prevalent in flat regions such Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Iowa because the

45

With the existing regulations in place, it is nearly impossible to obtain a new mountaintop removal permit in such mountainous regions. As new methods of renewable energy production emerge, the coal industry continues to decline. Due to the rich heritage of the coal industry, the Central Appalachian region has been slow to adopt renewable energy production techniques. Through this architectural proposal, the design components will strive to educate society about the implications of mountaintop removal, while offering a viable solution for future renewable energy production.

John Amos Power Plant // EPA DOCUMERICA Project Poca, West Virginia 1973

Harry Schaefer

46

_04.00 Architectural Utilization +04.01 Site // Hill Fork Surface Mine “Either we will have a state of beauty which West Virginians and Americans can continue to enjoy at great profit to ourselves, or we will have a stripped state enjoyed by none at great profit to a few giant, absentee corporations.� -Former State Senator Si Galperin, 1971

scenic drive that embeds you into the natural geological characteristics of the Appalachian Mountains. The transition from the dense urban fabric of the city to rural unpaved access roads challenges ones perception of place and contextual surroundings. The rich culture of the coal industry is still prevalent through visual artifacts such as political billboards, black lung clinics, coal tipples, railroad cars, roadside flea markets, and the winding Coal River.

Without any previous knowledge, the artifacts of the region tell a distinct story about the history of the West Virginia coalfields.

Bringing Down the Mountains

Journey to the Unknown

The Hill Fork Surface Mine is a satellite mountaintop removal site located in southern West Virginia. The mine itself is situated within the larger Hobet Mine Complex that has been discussed throughout this analysis. Due to the vast scale of the Hobet Mine Complex, this architectural proposal will focus on the reclaimed Hill Fork Surface Mine only. This mine alone is 424 acres, and is located only three miles north of Madison, WV.

Upon arrival to the Hill Fork Surface mine, there are no evident signs of an active mountaintop removal site. In fact, most locals do not know where the access road leads to because it is gated off and inaccessible to the public.

The mine itself is nearly a mile from US 119, so the decimation is intentionally hidden from the highway. The concealed nature of mountaintop removal mines are a top priority for coal corporations to prevent access by the public. Once you have been granted entry to the Hill Fork Surface Mine, the treacherous journey up the mountain begins. The steep slope of the mountain is diminished by the gradual slope of the well maintained access road.

These roads must not exceed a 12 percent slope in order

Coal Country Unlike most mountaintop removal mines, the commute to Hill Fork Surface Mine is only 30 miles from the capital city of Charleston, WV. The journey down US 119 is a

47

Entry Gate at Hobet 21 Mine Complex West Virginia 2019

48

49

50

+04.01 Site // Hill Fork Surface Mine to follow heavy machinery accessibility requirements.

During your ascend up the mountain, you will encounter various infrastructural components such as conveyors, dump trucks, and large way-finding signs with various safety precautions listed as scripture. The foreign nature of the mine evokes a feeling of anxiousness, but also generates a geographic isolation from the rest of society.

Once you arrive at the crest of the Hill Fork Surface Mine, the decimation is overwhelming. As far as your eyes can see, in nearly every direction, are grass plains where the mountaintop has been removed. Wide access roads dictate vehicular traffic, and staggered valley fills are prevalent along the perimeter of the mine. The stark contrast between the beautiful rolling hills surrounding the site and the flattened desolate mine tell the story of the destruction that took place.

Natural Beauty The current condition of the Hill Fork Surface Mine stands as a scar atop one of the tallest and most prominent mountains in the area. The reclamation process is currently about 95% complete and the 424 acres have been deemed suitable for future economic development due to the now flattened nature of the mine. Hill Fork Surface Mine has been a controversial site for development due

51

to the picturesque landscape surrounding the site in every direction. In order to respect, but also enhance the natural beauty of the surrounding environment, architectural interventions will advocate for biophilic design principals that bridge the gap between nature and built components.

Each intervention will create forced perspectives that frame vistas of the rolling Appalachian Mountains in the distance to contrast the desolate mine. Through these various design components and typologies, the sensorial extremities of the natural environment will be enhanced rather than diminished.

Hill Fork Surface Mine West Virginia 2019

52

53

54

_04.00 Architectural Utilization +04.02 Problem “It’s not enough just to be against strip-mining. In the emotion of seeing a newly-clobbered hill, it’s easy to forget the larger justification for abolition. The strongest arguments, other than environmental ones, can be made for abolition on economic terms. And we have to manifest concern for new industries and jobs in West Virginia” -Former State Senator Si Galperin, 1972 There are numerous controversial issues surrounding mountaintop removal including: political, social, economic, and environmental. This architectural proposal will respond to critical issues that can be improved through architectural revitalization efforts. These primary problems will be outlined throughout this section.

Lack of Awareness A key issue regarding mountaintop removal is the lack of awareness by society about the mining industry.

Mountaintop removal mines are gated off to the public to prevent negative publicity associated with

the decimation of a mountain. Isolation from society allows coal corporations to glamorize the industry for greater economic and political gain. Often times coal communities and even government officials have never experienced a mountaintop removal site firsthand. The lack of awareness mitigates protests and disapproval from environmental skeptics. Without an existing knowledge of the implications related to mountaintop removal, activism is not possible. Environmental groups such as Coal River Mountain Watch, the Sierra Club, and Appalachian Voices have tried to expose mountaintop removal mining, but the strength of the coal industry and potential job opportunities take priority.1

Singular Based Economy Since the inception of commercial coal extraction in southern West Virginia, every aspect of life has been dictated by the coal industry. The initial economic prosperity of the coal boom resulted in a singular based economy where corporations and government bodies worked as business partners to maximize profits by any means necessary. As a result, many foreign coal corporations infiltrated government organizations to form a monopoly within the state of West Virginia. With an economic agenda at the forefront, mountaintop removal became the most efficient method of coal extraction,

1 “Groups File Lawsuit Against Mountaintop Removal Coal Mine in West Virginia > Appalachian Voices.” Appalachian Voices, December 19, 2018. http://appvoices. org/2018/12/19/groups-file-lawsuit-against-mountaintop-removal-coal-mine-in-west-virginia/.

55

Don Blankenship Propaganda poster of the West Virginia politician and CEO of Massey Energy 2017

Mason Adams

56

+04.02 Problem while the environment and the surrounding communities reaped the consequences. Because coal has been the only method of economic growth, communities are reluctant to support new industries.

The current economic status of West Virginia, but more specifically the southern coalfields are among the most impoverished regions in the United States. Geographically, mountaintop removal mines are synonymous with high levels of unemployment, drug use, health concerns, dependence on government funding, and environmental complications. In order to revitalize these regions, economic diversification and alternative employment options are imperative.2 Economic diversification will also help alleviate the paternalistic mentality of the coal industry on oppressed communities.

also conceal the decimation caused by the mountaintop removal mine. Such developments are also exclusive to the communities that they are serving. The result is a stagnant typology that only serves or benefits those who physically engage with the site. Redevelopment plans must consider the economic prosperity and longevity not only on a local scale, but also on a regional scale. This micro to macro approach will address the needs of the community first in order to stimulate future economic growth.

Localized Morphology Of the few mountaintop removal mines that have been developed following the reclamation process, all have been redeveloped beyond recognition. Some of the most common post development plans include airports, schools, jails, shopping centers and sports complexes. Such large footprints cause further environmental problems, but 2 Burns, Shirley Stewart. Bringing down the Mountains: The Impact of Mountaintop Removal Surface Coal Mining on Southern West Virginia Communities. 1970-2004. Morgantown, WV.

57

Appalachian Regional Airport on Reclaimed Mine West Virginia 2001

United States Geological Survey

58

59

60

_04.00 Architectural Utilization +04.03 Project Outline “The repercussions of constantly extracting coal with no thought of the future consumed those within the region.� -Shirley Burns, 2007 The complexities surrounding Hill Fork Surface Mine and Madison, WV must be addressed through various architectural strategies that respond to explicit issues outlined in the section above. The analogous relationship between the decimated mountaintop removal site and the neglected coal community have similar complications that originate from one another. Architectural expressions will be used to amalgamate solutions for the Hill Fork Surface Mine and the City of Madison simultaneously.

Memoirs of a Rugged Terrain The current state of turmoil throughout the southern West Virginia coalfields tells a distinct story of the anomalous coal heritage; while architectural and infrastructural relics provide insight to the considerable industrialization efforts that shaped the region. These very utilitarian design components have compelling characteristics that

61

have become native to the coal industry and the region itself. Some of these relics delineate a vivid memory of culture and place for local miners and their families.

By thoughtfully designing architectural components that are reminiscent of these relics, the heritage of the coal industry will resonate throughout the design. The implementation of these design characteristics will be achieved through form and materiality that are accustom to the coal industry and the region. Through these design values, the proposal as a whole will strive to provide insight regarding the past in order to pay homage to the demise of the coal industry.

Education Through Exposure As mentioned in previous sections, environmental activism is not possible without exposure to the mountaintop removal process. The decimation that occurs as a result of operations such as Hill Fork Surface Mine are concealed from the public. The lack of awareness mitigates environmental, political, social, and economic reformation.

In order to stimulate revitalization efforts across a much larger region, society must experience the surreal nature of a mountaintop removal mine firsthand. Hill Fork Surface Mine is a wonderful opportunity for public engagement due to its proximity to Charleston, WV and the short distance from U.S. Route 119.

CSX Train Trestle West Virginia 2010

FXMotorsports

62

+04.03 Project Outline

Future of Economic Diversification

In order to raise awareness, interactive follies will be distributed along a trail across the reclaimed Hill Fork Surface Mine. These tectonic structures will form a distinct dialogue between the geography and the history of the region. This analogy will be enhanced through curated moments that demonstrate the natural beauty of the surrounding bio-diverse landscape, while contrasting the alarming vacant grass plains of the Hill Fork Surface Mine.

Various design components will frame an extraordinary vantage that dictates vision towards the breathtaking scenery of surrounding peaks, rivers, and communities.

Through the idea of vertical integration, the corrupt relationship between Hill Fork Surface Mine and the City of Madison will demonstrate a visual correlation between the two mutually dependent entities.

Taking a stance against mountaintop removal does not mitigate the current economic turmoil across the Appalachian region. Government officials have predicted the demise of the coal industry, but have been unable to introduce new methods of economic revenue. Best said

by John D. Rockefeller in his emotional speech at Morris Harvery College in Charleston, WV.

Each folly will have a distinct program that strives to educate the public about the catastrophic ramifications of mountaintop removal. By combining public engagement opportunities with indirect learning characteristics, society will develop their own opinion regarding the mountaintop removal process. Educational and recreational services will be split between various follies in order to attract visitors, but also inform society about the history and the future of the declining coal industry.

63

“In the emotion of seeing a newly-clobbered hill, it’s easy to forget the large justification for abolition. The strongest arguments, other than environmental ones, can be made for abolition on economic terms.

And we have to manifest concern for new industries and jobs in West Virgina.� -John D. Rockefeller, 1972 In an attempt to diversify the singular based economy of West Virginia, Hill Fork Surface mine will serve as a catalyst demonstrating the future capabilities of renewable energy production. By integrating wind turbines and photovoltaics into the various design components, society will understand the potential of renewable energy. The construction and transfer of energy from the site to the local substation will also provide future job opportunities for unemployed miners and their families. The physical interaction between society and renewable energy components will educate and simultaneously question the need for fossil fuels moving forward.

Pedestrian Suspension Bridge Big Coal River, West Virginia 2018

Kurt Tarvis

64

_04.00 Architectural Utilization +04.04 Case Study //Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord Architect: Latz + Partner Completion Date: 1994 The transformation of land that was previously zoned for industrial purposes poses a challenge for future public use.

This is particularly true for industrial manufacturing and energy production through fossil fuels due to the harmful bi-products that are often alleviated on site. Architects are frequently challenged with revitalization efforts in order to re-imagine the program of a former private space for public use. This concept has become somewhat mundane through adaptive reuse projects typically associated with abandoned factories and warehouses. Due to the success of adaptive reuse projects and the obvious environmental and economic benefits, this same methodology is now being introduced to abandoned mines and industrial plants alike.

Landschaftspark was a former coal and steel manufacturing plant that became abandoned in 1985.3 Peter Latz re-imagined the industrial plant as a public park in order to circumvent many of the environmental concerns. Instead of destroying the industrial artifacts, Latz + Partner’s appreciated the current condition of the various structures. Society’s exposure to such discreet and intricate industrial components create a further understanding of depth and process; while simultaneously evoking memories from the past. The preservation of such historical structures serves as a design strategy that emphasizes idiosyncrasies that make up the culture and context of a region.

Today, Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord attracts an average of one million visitors a year and has become one of the most popular public landscapes in North Rhine-Westphalia.4 Through phytoremeditation the new vegetation gradually absorbs toxic bi-products from the former industrial plant. Remediation efforts have transformed the area into a vibrant park consumed by greenery. The new design for the park re-imagines existing structures as playful follies for public interaction. The adaptation of various programmatic components include cooling towers as observation decks, bunkers as private gardens, gas tanks as pools, and the steel mill as a plaza.

3 “Chronology // Background Knowledge: Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord.” // Background Knowledge | Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord. Accessed February 23, 2020. https://www.landschaftspark.de/en/background-knowledge/chronology/.

4 Berns, Thomas. “Landscape Park // Visitor Information: Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord.” // Visitor Information | Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord. Accessed February 23, 2020. https://www.landschaftspark.de/en/visitor-information/landscape-park/.

65

Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord Duisburg, Germany 2016

Udo Becker

66

_04.00 Architectural Utilization +04.05 Applied Theories //A Tour of the Monuments of Passaic, New Jersey Author: Robert Smithson Date: 1967 The bizarre nature of Robert Smithson’s essay on Passaic, New Jersey, influenced the imagery and various design theories implemented throughout this thesis. Robert Smithson’s theory challenges society’s perception of a place through monuments that define a specific location.

This mental catalogue of objects and structures generate a transient quality that represents a city or a suburb.

Identifying such monuments and preserving them as landmarks is critical to understand the history and the future of a place.

In the case of Passaic, New Jersey, Smithson uses these images as propaganda to demonstrate the lack of monuments in suburban society. Instead Smithson captures roads, drainage pipes, sound barriers, water storage tanks, retaining walls, and a sandbox. All of these

67

infrastructural components create the identity of suburbia because there are no true monuments. As development occurs, Possaic has accomplished no architectural feats that define the region. In term, suburbs have become mundane with no true design characteristics representative of that place. In modern society, development and design are dictated by practicality and efficiencies rather than social or environmental consideration. This same ideology is indicative of mountaintop removal mining throughout southern West Virginia. Coal corporations have adopted new methods of unethical mining in order to efficiently extract record amounts of coal for the cheapest price.

This mentality undermines the social and environment concerns surrounding the communities.

The rapid growth, and the decline, of a rural coal community such as Madison, West Virginia tells a distinct story of the economic prosperity and demise of the coal industry throughout the Appalachian region. Many relics associated with the demise of the industry serve as monuments that pay homage to the past. Some of these monuments include the Boone County Courthouse, National Bank of Madison, coal rail yards, viaducts, conveyors, draglines, coal tipples, and environmental scars from mountaintop removal mines. Each monument tells a story in order to develop an identity associated with the southern West Virginia coalfields.

Monuments of Passaic Passaic, New Jersey 1967

Robert Smithson

68

_05.00 Monuments of the Coalfields +Six Architectural Components Architectural design components will be introduced on Hill Fork Surface Mine in order to revitalize the desolate landscape. Each component will be used to inform visitors of the industrial past; while also demonstrating a visual catalogue of monuments that define the Appalachian region.

Due to the vast scale of the Hill Fork Surface Mine, various architectural components will be linked via hiking and biking trails to generate a physical connection across the site. The primary design component is the observation deck and wind turbine. This monument will be repeated across the site in order to maximize wind energy production.

The following six sections describe the concept, theory, and design intent behind each architectural expressions.

69

Observation Deck // Wind Turbine Hiking // Biking Trails Amphitheatre Botanical Garden Campsite // Sanctuary Coal Memorial

70

_5.01 Observation Deck // Wind Turbine

71

_5.02 Hiking // Biking Trails

_5.03 Amphitheatre

_5.04 Botanical Garden

_5.05 Campsite // Sanctuary

_5.06 Coal Memorial

72

_05.00 Monuments of the Coalfields +05.01 Observation Deck//Wind Turbine Due to the horizontal scale of the Hill Fork Surface Mine, vertical design integration will serve as visual landmarks to delineate the mine from the contextual surroundings.

The primary function of these vertical components is wind energy production and the secondary function is observation platforms. Such beacons will be repeated across the site in order to harvest wind as the primary renewable energy component. Each tower will be repeated incrementally along the Hill Fork Trail.

Elevated Perspectives Upon arrival to Hill Fork Surface Mine it is hard to comprehend the scope of the operation from a human scale. Vertical design components will allow the public to interpret the scale of the mine from an elevated vantage.

This spectacle will reveal the decimation that has taken place on the mine itself in contrast to the surrounding pristine landscape. Each tower will also embed viewers into the contextual environment, so the public will understand the physical relationship between the elevated surface mine and the local communities that have been affected.

73

Monuments of a Region In order to accurately depict the depth of mountain that was previously removed, these towers will represent the monumentality of the once existing peak. Approximately 400 ft of vertical overburden was removed in order to expose the coal beneath. These wind turbines stand at 380 feet tall to give visitors an understanding of the vertical land displacement. Each tower will be equipped with an elevator that transfers citizens from the ground to the observation deck. From that point, visitors must use stairs to gain access to the upper viewing platform.

Design Strategies// Renewable Energy Alternatives The structure of the wind turbine is independent from the tower itself. This allows the turbine to operate as a separate entity; completely autonomous from the public aspect of the tower. The tower is designed with dense materials such as steel and concrete to anchor the base, while lightweight perforated metals are implemented at the top to minimize draft from the turbine. Each turbine is strategically oriented on site to maximize wind energy production. One benefit of a mountaintop removal mine is the exposure to wind gusts due to the flattened nature of the site. Each turbine is capable of generating 6 million kWh annually. This is enough to power 1,500 homes with electricity each year. This transfer of energy to local substations and out to the larger power grid would provide local communities with job opportunities and future economic diversification.

74

75

76

_05.00 Monuments of the Coalfields +05.02 Hill Fork Trails Due to the shear size of Hill Fork Surface Mine, various design components will be linked via bike and foot path. These trails will follow the perimeter of the mine boundary in order to create a physical monument between the old and the new. Spanning across the 1.5 mile site, and connecting 424 acres of land; converging paths will dictate circulation between each monument.

Existing Paths Due to the proximity between rural communities and Hill Fork Surface Mine, many local’s have established their own foot paths to gain access to the site. In its current condition there is a gate to prevent vehicular traffic, but no gate to stop people on foot. The innate curiosity among activists and community members has resulted in a series of beaten down trails that converge at the boundary of the secluded mine. The proposed Hill Fork Trails will continue these paths on site to provide access to the public via bike or foot. Other means of egress will be achieved

77

through the existing access road for vehicular traffic only.

Upon arrival to the mine itself, vehicular traffic will not be permitted on site.

Methods of Circulation Through a series of trails, visitors will have the ability to navigate freely and explore the natural surroundings of a former mountaintop removal mine. This simple design gesture contrasts the historical essence of such confidential mountaintop removal operations. The path will be divided into two lanes, one for cyclists and another for pedestrians. This will allow two primary methods of circulation across the site, and each lane will be established through materiality and a visual partition.

Design Strategies Material applications will resemble the infrastructural characteristics of local rail lines and coal conveyors. Hill Fork Trails will be composed of wood planks for elevated conditions, decomposed granite for walking, crushed limestone for biking, steel for structural stability, and concrete pavers to connect the trail to each monument.

Abandoned steel structures and beams will be re-purposed in order to create subtle height variations along the path.

This will allow users to experience the mine from a series of elevations above and below the ground of the mine itself.

78

79

80

_05.00 Monuments of the Coalfields +05.03 Amphitheatre Through site activation and public engagement, the consequences of mountaintop removal will be exposed.

The primary purpose of the amphitheatre is to attract crowds of people to the site for various concerts and events. Such a monumental venue will attract visitors from Charleston and other areas, and promote community engagement as well as future economic development for the City of Madison.

Site Engagement The footprint of the amphitheatre will be embedded into the hillside of Hill Fork Surface mine. The placement of this amphitheatre allows pedestrians to enter the sloped seating on grade with the ground plane. By integrating the seating into the hillside, the verticality of the amphitheatre will not obstruct views to the surrounding landscape. The relationship with the terrain will also mitigate the need for additional structure and materiality. Due to the proximity of the access road, this monument will also serve as the

81

first visual landmark when reaching the crest of the mine.

Methods of Circulation One of the more elaborate design components of this amphitheatre is the connection between two critical points on site. The circular amphitheatre will incorporate two elevated armatures that span from one ridge to another.

Each armature will serve as an extension of the Hill Fork Trails to allow public access along the elevated perimeter of the bowl. Allowing circulation along the top will provide optimal viewing from every angle of the stage, while promoting activation when the amphitheatre is not in use.

Design Strategies The design approach focuses on orienting the backdrop of the stage towards one of the most scenic vistas in the area. From this vantage, visitors will experience a series of undulating mountain ranges in the peripheral. This westward orientation also features evening sunsets with breathtaking light and shadows generated by the arches.

This monumental arcade will frame forced perspectives that emphasize the natural beauty of the Appalachian mountains. The colonnade formed at the base of the arches will also serve as an implied backdrop to generate a sense of enclosure, while vegetation forms a sound buffer to prevent reverberation throughout the valley.

82

83

84

_05.00 Monuments of the Coalfields +05.04 Botanical Garden The primary function of the botanical garden is to provide a place of refuge on site. This internal sanctuary will demonstrate the biodiverse plant species that dominate the Appalachian region. Revitalizing plant species that once covered the desolate mine will accentuate the environmental ramifications of mountaintop removal.

Bio-diverse Landscape The temperate climate of southern West Virginia along with the rugged terrain of the Appalachian mountains create a haven for endemic species. Known as some of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, the Appalachians are notorious for their rolling hills, mystic atmosphere, and densely populated forests. The design for this botanical garden will isolate the once existing landscape to encompass the contextual biodiverse region.

85

Biophilic Design Principles Influenced by the biologist Edward Wilson, the principles of biophilic design were introduced in the 1980’s. Today, it is scientifically proven that there are innate human characteristics that desire physical interaction with plants, natural landscapes, and other biotic organisms. Biophilic design is defined as a concept that improves an occupants connection to the natural environment. Some of the biophilic principles that have been implemented in this botanical garden include natural lighting, exterior views, water features, and local plant species.

Design Strategies Through architectural design strategies the botanical garden will serve as a form of architectural propaganda that creates a stark contrast between the encapsulated forest and the reclaimed mine. Visual representation methods will make a case for preservation of such pristine land in the future. Applied materials such as glass will create a transparent beacon that can be understood from the interior or the exterior of the sanctuary. The exterior space frame structure will form a rigid, yet lightweight system that delineates fragments of glass along the interior curtain wall.

86

87

88

_05.00 Monuments of the Coalfields +05.05 Campsite // Sanctuary Due to the natural beauty of the Applachian Mountains, ecotourism has flourished as a result of recreational opportunities. In order to maintain the rural qualities of the rustic landscape, it would be short sighted to propose commercial developments on site. This will be circumvented through a series of campsites that allow visitors to stay overnight on Hill Fork Surface Mine. Each campsite will be signified by a sanctuary that provides communal space for small scale events and gatherings on site.

Community The implementation of various campsites across the mine will represent the network of local coal communities and their proximity to the contextual environment. Each campsite will be emphasized through an open air pavilion that serves as a shelter, bath house, and sanctuary to provide necessary amenities for the surrounding campsites.

89

Each campsite will have designated space for tent camping where occupants will be embedded within the privacy of the natural landscape to promote interim visits for concerts or larger events that take place on site. The privacy of each camping pad will be achieved through the integration of local plant species that serve as a physical buffers between each site. The relationship between each site and the sanctuary will be accentuated through vertical integration that creates a visual landmark from each pad.

Design Strategies The primary design component of the campsite will be the sanctuary, and the secondary design components will be the individual tent sites oriented around it. The sanctuary is designed with a series of exposed steel trusses, joists, and columns that emphasize the utilitarian ideology of the coal industry. The bath house will be composed of limestone plinths that use natural lightwells and passive wind strategies to prevent the need for additional mechanical systems. The roof of the structure will be composed of a butterfly roof system that captures rainfall in underground cisterns to provide non potable water for toilets within the bath house. The repetition of these sanctuaries across the site will become places of congregation in order to facilitate human necessities on the secluded site.

90

91

92

_05.00 Monuments of the Coalfields +05.06 Coal Miner’s Memorial The concept behind the coal miner’s memorial is to honor the miners and their families who have dedicated and lost their lives to the coal industry. Coal mining is, and always has been, a dangerous profession, and throughout the years many miners have died while performing their job.

One of the most deadly mining accidents happened thirty miles south of Hill Fork Surface Mine. An explosion at The Upper Big Branch mine resulted in the deaths of twenty-nine miners. In remembrance, each miner that perished will have a monument at the point of arrival and departure of the underground memorial. Through a series of underground tunnels and nodes, society will understand the extraneous labor and conditions that miners endured to fuel the nation’s demand for electricity.

Design Strategies This memorial will serve as a monument that honors, educates, and reveals the social challenges surrounding the coal industry. The focal point of this monument will be fixated around the memorable point of entry.

Signified by a series of twenty-nine life size balusters that represent the deceased miners from the Upper Big Branch disaster, each baluster will serve as beacon, 93

constructed of perforated corten steel that will be illuminated at night. Following the beacons will be a vertical void that descends occupants underground to a series of tunnels that depict an underground mine shaft. Along this corridor will be a series of steel supports that expose soil horizons to show the rugged nature of a traditional mine. Within each shaft, various artifacts from the coal industry will be displayed in a museum style showcase to educate visitors on the history of the West Virginia coalfields.

A Way of Life Without coal in the 19th century, steam engines, iron, steel and electricity would have been inconceivable.

Contemporary methods of coal extraction have caused social, environmental, political, and economic ramifications, while the communities and resources of West Virginia have been neglected throughout the process. When criticizing the environmental aspects of coal extraction, it is easy to blame the industry as a whole.

In many cases however, miners are not in favor of the environmental degradation, but no other industries or job opportunities exist. Throughout this analysis, it has become evident that the coal miners and their families have been misrepresented in every aspect. Local miners have literally fought battles and gone on strike for better pay, health benefits, and safer working conditions. While some of these short-term battles were won, the long-term effects were devastating to the people and the communities dominated by the coal industry.

94

95

96

97

98

_06.00 Works Cited +6.01 Bibliography Appalachian Voices. “Mountaintop Removal 101 > Appalachian Voices.” Accessed October 4, 2019. http://appvoices.org/ end-mountaintop-removal/mtr101.

Beitman, Adam. “Patriot Coal’s Hobet 21 Mine Wiping Out W.Va’s Mud River Watershed.” Sierra Club. Beyond Coal, April 6, 2015. https://content.sierraclub.org/pressreleases/2015/04/patriot-coal-s-hobet-21-mine-wiping-out-wva-s-mud-riverwatershed.

Burns, Shirley Stewart. Bringing down the Mountains: The Impact of Mountaintop Removal Surface Coal Mining on Southern West Virginia Communities. 1970-2004. Morgantown, W. Va.: West Virginia Univ. Press, 2007.

“Chronology // Background Knowledge: Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord.” // Background Knowledge | Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord. Accessed February 23, 2020. https://www.landschaftspark.de/en/background-knowledge/chronology/.

“Coal’s Victims: Just the Cost of Doing Business?,” Huntington (WV) Herald Dispatch, July 19, 2003.

Dixon Jr., Thomas W. “Railroads.” e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Accessed September 30, 2019. https://www. wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1972.

Dozolme, Philippe. “The Explosives Used in Mining.” The Balance. The Balance, September 4, 2019. https://www.thebalance. com/explosives-used-in-mining-anoverview-2367467.

Eggleston, Jane R. “History of West Virginia Mineral Industries - Coal.” WVGES Geology: History of West Virginia Coal Industry. Accessed September 30, 2019. http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/.

Evans, Gareth. “A Toxic Crisis in America’s Coal Country.” BBC News, February 11, 2019. https://www.bbc.com/news/ world-us-canada-47165522.

Friends of Coal. “A History of Coal in West Virginia.” Accessed September 28, 2019. https://www.friendsofcoal.org/ education/a-history-of-coal-in-west-virginia.html.

99

“Groups File Lawsuit Against Mountaintop Removal Coal Mine in West Virginia > Appalachian Voices.” Appalachian Voices, December 19, 2018. http://appvoices.org/2018/12/19/groups-file-lawsuit-against-mountaintop-removal-coal-mine-in-westvirginia/.

“Laws, Regulations, and Guidance.” OSMRE Laws, Regulations, and Guidance. Accessed November 24, 2019. https://www. osmre.gov/lrg.shtm.

Messinger, T. Comparison of Storm Response of Streams in Small, Unmined and Valley-Filled Watersheds, 1999–2001, Ballard Fork, West Virginia; US Geological Survey: Charleston, WV, USA, 2003; p. 22.

Raitz, Karl B., Richard Ulack, and Thomas R. Leinbach. Appalachia, a Regional Geography: Land, People, and Development.

Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1984.

Scott, Shaunna. “The Appalachian Land Ownership Study Revisited.” Appalachian Journal 35, no. 3 (2008): 236-52. http:// www.jstor.org/stable/40934591.

Sturgis, Sue. “Anti-Mining Protests Heat up in West Virginia as Evidence of Damage Builds.” Accessed November 12, 2019. https://www.facingsouth.org/2012/07/anti-mining-protests-heat-up-in-west-virginia-as-evidence-of-damage-builds.html “Table 2. Coal Production and Number of Mines by State, County, and Mine Type, 2018.” eia.gov. US Energy Information Administration, 2018. https://www.eia.gov/coal/annual/pdf/table2.pdf.

“Unemployment Rate in Boone County, WV.” FRED, October 30, 2019. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/WVBOON5URN. West Virginia Archives and History. Peytona, 2008. Historical Monument Engraving. Peytona, West Virginia. Viewed October 10, 2019.

100

_06.00 Works Cited +6.02 Appendix The following images were omitted from the main document due to the focus on Madison, West Virginia.

These images provide further insight to the current condition of many abandoned coal towns, their history, and the everyday life of a coal miner.

Photographs p. 102 p. 103-104 p. 105-106

101

Abandoned Coal Towns Throughout West Virginia - Monuments of the Coalfields Appalachian Coal Miner Timeline - A Battle for Human Rights Hobet 21 Mine Complex // Hill Fork Surface Mine -Mining Permit

Main Street Thurmond, West Virgina

Abandoned Passenger Station Prince, West Virginia

Louise McLaughlin

Dennis Church

Marsh Fork Elementary Rock Creek, West Virginia

Abandoned Storefronts Keystone, West Virginia

Ken Ward Jr.

Caity Coyne

2003

2011

2009

2019

102

Underground Coal Car Loading Station Calumet, Michigan

Child Labor Protest South Pittston, Pennsylvania

Cindy Kane

Source Unknown

John F. Kennedy West Virginia

Monuments of Passaic Grafton, West Virginia

Carriage International

Steve Shaluta

1905

1960

103

1910

1965

Company Store Capels, West Virginia

Company Owned Housing Bradshaw, West Virginia

Marion Wolcott

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

EPA DOCUMERICA Photography Series Richlands, Virginia

Farmington Mine Disaster Anniversary Farmington, West Virginia

Jack Corn

Jesse Wright

1938

1974

1946

2018

104

BWQ-0548-92

BWQ-0549-44

DHF1

BWQ-0549-94 DBBF1 (BWQ-HC9/0542-09)

DPCF DJLF DBBF (HMBBF/BWQ-0542-59)

G

1258-50

DNDB (BWQ-HMND/0541-50)

G

Flume

S-5016-92

USHH

LAT:38.0733 LON:-81.9495

LAT:38.0707 LON:-81.9445 LAT:38.0706 LON:-81.9441

LAT:38.0683 LON:-81.9406 LAT:38.0680 LON:-81.9385

LAT:38.0687 LON:-81.9341 LAT:38.0682 LON:-81.9372

DRAWN DATE BY 8/24/12

JAD

REVISED DATE BY

HOBET MINING, LLC PO BOX 305, MADISON WV 25130

APPROVED DATE BY

TOPOGRAPHIC CONTOUR INTERVAL 100

SCALE

FILE NO.

SHEET NO.

Master Map-NAD83.dwg

1 of 1

HOBET 21 COMPLEX 0

2000

H:\aburt\DrainageMap\MasterMap-NAD83.dwg

EXISTING PERMITS SCALE

C.I.

DATE

BY

1" = 2000'

100'

27-Oct-19

ALB

FILE NAME AND PATH

Hobet Mine Complex - Scope of Existing Permits West Virginia 2019

105

ERP Environmental Fund, INC.

APPROVED

BWQ-0548-9

BWQ-0549-44

DHF1

BWQ-0549-94 DBBF1 (BWQ-HC9/0542-09)

DPCF DJLF DBBF (HMBBF/BWQ-0542-59)

G

1258-50

DNDB (BWQ-HMND/0541-50)

G

Hewitt Creek Surface Mine - Now Hill Fork West Virginia 2019

ERP Environmental Fund, INC.

106

_06.00 Works Cited +6.03 Acknowledgments Foremost, I would like to thank my family, without whom this endeavor would not have been possible. Your constant support, guidance, and strong values have encouraged me to achieve my academic aspirations thus far.

I would also like to thank the faculty at the University of Cincinnati, more specifically Michael Mcinturf and Elizabeth Riorden who have dedicated countless hours to make this thesis year possible despite many challenges. Your knowledge and guidance have been immeasurable.

To the network of architects, engineers, fabricators, and coal miners that I have had the pleasure of speaking with over the past year: William Oldani, Matt Cook, The ERP Environmental Group, West Virginia DEP, Shirley Stewart Burns, Vincent Sansalone, and Nicholas Germann.

Lastly, to the faculty at University of Kentucky for the foundation of architectural education throughout my undergraduate career. You have provided me with a skillset that has allowed me to excel in the architectural profession.

Tyler Duty University of Cincinnati Master of Architecture, class 2020

107

108

TYLER DUTY

SKILLS

ASPIRING ARCHITECT // GRAPHIC DESIGNER

3D Modeling

(304)881-4010 tylernduty@gmail.com issuu.com/tylerduty tylerdutydesigns

109

Graphic Production Render & Animation

Revit SketchUp Rhino Autocad Photoshop Bluebeam InDesign Illustrator Revit Render Maxwell Render V-ray Premiere Pro

Full Portfolio // https://issuu.com/tylerduty/docs/tyler_duty_portfolio_resume

Thesis - DAAP Works End of Year Show // https://issuu.com/tylerduty/docs/thesis_condensed

110

Tyler Duty

t. 304.881.4010 e. tylernduty@gmail.com