Appalachian Research Initiative for Environmental Science (ARIES)

Visit the ARIES home page at the Virginia Center for Coal & Energy Research website.

The purpose of ARIES is to engage in detailed studies of the environmental impacts of the mining, gas, and energy sectors in Appalachia, focusing on both upstream (mining, drilling, and processing) and downstream (water, land, and air) issues. To meet that purpose, ARIES will conduct scientific inquiry and research, foster publication and contribute to the relevant literature, and engage in outreach efforts to share and disseminate results. Initially, work carried out by ARIES will focus on the coal mining industry.

The members of ARIES have undertaken a carefully-structured array of interrelated studies, currently divided into six primary focus areas:

Area 1: Assessment and mining impacts on ecosystem health and diversity

Area 2: Treatment and minimization of constituent discharges

Area 3: Accurate prediction of constituent releases by overburden and refuse

Area 4: Overburden handling plans and fill designs to minimize releases

Area 5: Next-generation design of eco-friendly mining systems

Area 6: Evaluating and optimizing the impacts of mining on community well-being