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Issue link: https://coal.epubxp.com/i/174138
coal handling continued tional during the construction period, including continuous receipt of trucked coal. As with most coal-fired electrical generating plants of this vintage, there was room for improvement to the plants coal handling infrastructure. Certain features of the coal handling operations, though designed as standard practices of the 1960s and 1970s, were continual headaches for the plant operators. Wherever possible, such ongoing problems would be improved with any new coal handling infrastructure. Specifically, coal storage was originally configured to stockpile coal after it was crushed causing handling difficulties during wet and cold weather, as well as loss of fine materials during wind and water runoff. Elevating belt conveyors were originally designed with an inclining angle of 17.5°. Such a steep angle forced operators to decrease conveying capacity during cold, icy weather, common during winter months in high elevations of Colorado. Another difficulty that the coal handling operators confronted was plugging of the steel stacking tubes. The third major project goal was to remain a good corporate neighbor throughout the entire project process. Local coal mining and Hayden Station are the largest year-round employers in the county. In addition, the plant provides a large portion of funding for local schools. To accomplish this goal, Xcel Energy committed to a public process including public meetings, workshops, publicity, and individual contact in order to collect community input and involve the community in decision making. Another way the plant owners sought to gain public support for the project was to mitigate any environmental impacts that were encountered. As project planning progressed, it became apparent that, what initially appeared as wide-open country, was in fact filled with constraints (See Figure 1). These constraints included: • U.S. Highway 40 within a half mile of the plant, a major east-west route through the area. Also, a county road used primarily as a commuting route; • The Yampa River, the second largest watershed in the state, and associated wetlands located within a mile of the plant; • Hayden Airport and access road, approximately 1.5 miles away, which September 2013 Figure 1: As project planning progressed, it had to work alongside a number of constraints. A new coal unloading facility—including enclosed hopper, stockpile conveyor and stacking tube—was designed to accomodate either train or truck fuel delivery. www.coalage.com 25