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The Truth about Ecological Revitalization - Case Studies and Tools to Improve your Cleanups. Carbon Sequestration and Life Cycle Analysis. Sally Brown, University of Washington. Carbon Sequestration and Life Cycle Analysis. Andrew Trlica and Sally Brown University of Washington.
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The Truth about Ecological Revitalization - Case Studies and Tools to Improve your Cleanups Carbon Sequestration and Life Cycle Analysis Sally Brown, University of Washington
Carbon Sequestration and Life Cycle Analysis Andrew Trlica and Sally Brown University of Washington
Restoration Sites • No soil or highly contaminated soil • Disruption of process of carbon accumulation/cycling
How you restore • Use of organic amendments • Will accelerate process • But are changes in soil carbon persistent?
Soil Carbon: Restoration Andrew Trlica Funded by Environmental Credit Corp, Jim Ellis, King County
Centralia, WashingtonCoal Mine Restoration • 52 Mg of C per hectare above conventional • 0.25 Mg C per Mg biosolids
Highland Valley Copper, British ColumbiaCoal Mine Restoration • 40 Mg of C per hectare • 0.3 Mg C per Mg amendment
Pennsylvania Coal Mines – Control NPK applied, 20 years ago
Pennsylvania Coal Mines – Biosolids 128 Mg ha applied, 27 years ago
That means… • 190 Mg of CO2 per hectare • 0.9 Mg CO2 per Mg biosolids
RMI Topsoils, New HampshireGravel pit restoration - 5 years old • 87 Mg of C per hectare • 0.15 Mg C per Mg amendment
Three separate sitesData consistent across sites
Biosolids- carbon credits for more than just soil C accumulation
CCX Draft protocol CH4 avoidance to compost facilities Total = 1.12 Mg CO2
LCA for 1 ha in Pacific Northwest • Compared • Conventional restoration • Restoration with organics (biosolids) • Low density development • Used data on soil carbon from our sampling • Biosolids sent to dryland wheat as alternative
Housing • 1,000 people per km2 • Structure size 2,521 ft2 • 3.86 homes per ha • Road 0.43 ha/ha • Open space 0.47 ha
LCA Results • Home and road construction and maintenance emissions dwarf biosolids tranpsort emissions
Transport • Under our baseline modeling assumptions the haul distance would need to be greater than 30 times the baseline assumption to eliminate the net sink effect in the whole conventional reclamation scenario
Sequestration • Sequestration potential is greatest with biosolids restoration • Due to increased • SOM • Tree biomass
Additional Considerations • Rain and runoff • 1 ha over 30 year period 646 ML of water • 53% impervious cover • 30% of rainfall = surface discharge • 194 ML of water will require treatment
Additional Considerations • Recreation • 2009 tourism =$14.2 billion • 37% camped, hiked or backpacked • Assume 1% of tourism $$ result of access to outdoor activities • 354 k ha forested land in King County • Over 30 year period, each ha =$31,000
Conclusions • Using broader perspective further confirms benefits of restoration • Organics in restoration makes benefits one better
Sally Brown University of Washington Phone: (206) 616-1299 Email: slb@u.washington.edu