Mountaintop removal mining, also known as mountaintop mining, is a practice that has been occurring in the Appalachia region since the 1960s. It involves the removal of the excess rock lying on top of coal and other resource deposits. Once the resources are extracted, the top layers are put back on top of the mountain so that it slightly resembles its pre-removal appearance. The rubble and soil that aren't used for reconstruction are deposited in nearby valleys.
There are several environmental problems associated with mountaintop removal mining. The practice greatly reduces biodiversity. The excess material has completely destroyed over 2000 miles of streams in Central and Southern Appalachia. It is also often contaminated with toxic materials from the explosives used to remove the tops of the mountains. It runs off into nearby rivers and streams that serve as water resources for the surrounding communities. A number of toxins are also released into the air. This leads to a number of hazards not only to the plants and wildlife that depend on the mountains and water resources, but also to the people who live in the area.
The organization I Love Mountains is dedicated to educating people about the the harmful effects of the mountaintop removal mining. It has recently released a new interactive site that allows you to see the effects of the process on the communities in the Appalachia region. The group used 21 peer-reviewed studies to comprise data specific to the region. According to the studies, "not only has mountaintop removal permanently destroyed more than 500 Appalachian mountains, but people living near the destruction are 50% more likely to die of cancer and 42% more likely to be born with birth defects compared with other people in Appalachia." Other problems associated with mountaintop removal are heart, respiratory, and kidney diseases, low birth weight, lowered life expectancy, and high poverty rates.
The problems posed by mountaintop removal are clear. Though the process does eliminate the dangers associated with traditional, human-labor mining, it is still posing a some serious risks to the ecological and human communities of the Appalachian region. The issue reminds me of several of the case studies discussed in class where poor, local communities were the victims of environmental injustice. It is done by major corporations who are simply looking for the cheapest and most effective way to extract their resources with no regard to the environmental and ethical consequences of their practices. Those who are most affected are the poor communities in the surrounding areas. Due to their socioeconomic status, it is difficult for them to bring attention to the issue and seek environmental justice. We saw this in several of the articles we read in class, especially the more recent ones where the voices of indigenous populations were silenced by the ambitions of "the West."
To learn more about the issue and the studies, go to http://ilovemountains.org/the-human-cost. Here's a link to the YouTube channel for Appalachian Voices, another pro-mountain group, where you can find a number of videos about the debate on mountaintop removal: http://www.youtube.com/user/AppalachianVoices.
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ReplyDeleteI had some first hand experience with this issue during my Appalachia seminar in West Virginia. Our group visited a mountain top removal site and also spoke with the CEO of the mining company at the particular site. I entered into the seminar with the bias that mountain top removal was undeniably detrimental to the environment and to the people living in the immediate area, and that it should be stopped. After speaking with parties on both sides of the issue, it is easy to see that is more complicated than a clean black and white, and rather, that there are many grey areas. For starters, it seemed as though the mining industry was demonized and the problem exaggerated. Mining representatives expressed their annoyance at the never ending medical claims that were filed against them for ailments that were clearly not caused by the mine pollutants. The Appalachia people have the reputation of using the mining industry as a scape-goat for their medical needs and many attempt to abuse the system to get medical needs paid for. Also, in favor of the mining companies is the fact that our country is dependent on coal for energy. Coal is the greatest source of energy that we use, meaning that mining it essential.
ReplyDeleteThis is not to say that the mining industry is completely innocent. They are responsible for many a toxic spill, resulting in polluted drinking water. The removal of a whole mountain top has very obvious, devastating effects on the ecological system that was there previously. We were able to see the progression of restoration programs they implemented after the removal of the mountain and extraction of all the coal. The mountains were restored to their same height, and in some instances higher than they were previously. The coal mining representatives also showed us pictures of wildlife returning to the area. Lastly, the mountain top removal process carries significantly less risk factors for miners than does regular mining techniques.
I would agree that the Appalachia people are at a disadvantage due to their economic status in terms of speaking out against the mining industries, who rake in millions every year. It is an extremely profitable industry that brings a lot of revenue to the state and it also a huge employer for the Appalachia people.
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