Press Room
Observation of KFx Loading Operation in Rapid City
September 25, 2006
Marston & Marston, Inc. (Marston), an internationally recognized mining consulting organization,
was engaged by KFx Inc. (KFx) to observe train loading operations in Rapid City, South Dakota
and to prepare an independent report detailing those observations. The observations were
conducted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 by Doug Wagner, Senior Mining Consultant, who
has BS & MS degrees in Mining Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and
Technology along with more than 35 years of coal mining and consulting experience, including
numerous operational and technical assignments for coal mining companies in the Southern
Powder River Basin of Wyoming where he has observed the loading of literally thousands of rail
cars with subbituminous coal.
Mr. Wagner observed five over-the-road trucks arrive; although he did not observe the trucks
being loaded at the KFx facility near Gillette, KFx personnel reported that the K-Fuel™ had
been screened and treated at the loading point. Each truck unloaded an estimated 25 to 36
tons of K-Fuel™ onto the ground. Mr. Wagner did not observe any abnormal quantities of dust
from the discharged product. The K-Fuel™ appeared to be a relatively uniform product,
averaging approximately one inch in size with minimal fines. At the time of unloading, wind
conditions were reported to be between 5 and 10 mph, gusting to 15 mph; the only dust
observed during the unloading process appeared to emanate from the road surface and
surrounding land.
The unloaded K-Fuel™ was then immediately hand sprayed with a dust suppressant agent
supplied by Benetec, while being mixed and blended using a combination of a Bobcat 753 skid
loader and a Caterpillar 988 front-end-loader (FEL). The 988 FEL later placed the treated KFuel
™ into gondola rail cars; no significant dust was visible during the dumping of the coal. The
final step in the loading process was the application of a molasses based product to the top of
the loaded rail cars, which Mr. Wagner observed the loading crew performing on a railcar
loaded prior to his arrival.
At the time of Mr. Wagner’s arrival in the morning, he did observe steam rising from previously
loaded rail cars. KFx personnel tested the temperature of the K-Fuel™ in the loaded railcars,
and Mr. Wagner observed the results showing the temperature generally ranging between the
high-50 and 80 degrees F. It is not uncommon to observe steam rising from any coal product
whenever the ambient air temperature is cooler than the product, and as the ambient air
temperature rose, the steam from the K-Fuel™ dissipated.
In conclusion, Mr. Wagner observed approximately 150 tons of K-Fuel™ being treated and
loaded into rail cars without any material release of dust. The efforts undertaken by KFx
and other personnel to reduce dust emissions during the truck unloading and railcar
loading operations appeared successful in that no visible dust emanated from the KFuel
™ on a day when dust was being released into the air from other sources. The steam
observed rising from the loaded railroad cars appeared to be the natural result of the
difference in temperature between the K-Fuel™ and the ambient air.
Download the report here.
www.marston.com
phone 314.984.8800
fax 314.984.8770
13515 Barrett Parkway Drive Suite 260 St. Louis MO, 63021
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