DCL
In the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, mountaintop mining has blasted the tops off of mountainous peaks. And it has also left towns divided. Nearly all of the residents in the area are affected by mountaintop mining, whether their stance is pro-mining or con. The heated debate over the issue stems from its complex nature, and the fact that whole towns are supported by the business. Townspeople often rely on mountaintop mining as their livelihood. However at the same time, these same residents and their surrounding environment suffer from the pollution and residual effects of the explosive process.
What is Mountain Top Mining?
Mountaintop mining aims to extract coal from mountains by blasting off their peaks. The process occurs in 5 steps, according to the EPA
1.Layers of rock and dirt above the coal (called overburden) are removed.
2.The upper seams of coal are removed with spoils placed in an adjacent valley.
3.Draglines excavate lower layers of coal with spoils placed in spoil piles.
4.Regrading begins as coal excavation continues.
5.Once coal removal is complete, final regrading takes place and the area is revegetated.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
Mountaintop Mining's Effects on Environment
Not only do the massive explosions cause pollution and destroy natural habitats, the 'overburden' that is dumped into adjacent valleys fill the streams. This causes damage the ecosystem and surrounding landscape below. According the Sierra Club: this destructive practice has damaged or destroyed nearly 2,000 miles of streams and threatens to destroy 1.4 million acres of land by 2020.
Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency has been working to further regulate mountaintop mining. The EPA expressed concern over the nearby water quality as a result of the mining. The EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers createdMemorandum of Understanding
How You Can Help
Research alternatives to mountaintop mining Use sustainable sources of energy, like solar power Find out your connection to mountaintop removal Send awareness emails
Find out more about mountaintop mining issues in Focus Earth: July 11 2009, Mountain Minefield and Coal's Hard Truth. Check the Planet Green schedule for listings.
