[44] This hearing involved the H.R. Ending mountaintop removal is about keeping humanity alive. The cost efficiency of treatments can be increased through the use of models that are able to accurately predict ecosystem responses to various inputs; thus enabling restoration groups to determine the overall most effective treatment combination. [12] Any streams in a valley are buried by the overburden. In mountaintop removal, entire coal seams running through the upper portion of a mountain are mined by removing all of the overburden (rock or soil overlying a mineral deposit), creating a level plateau or gently rolling contour. Further studies calculated that 12m2 of mined land produced one metric ton of coal. This time-series of images of a surface mine in Boone County, West Virginia, illustrates why this controversial mining method is also called “mountaintop removal.” Filmed over a two-year period, Mountain Top Removal features citizen activists, such as Ed Wiley, Larry Gibson, Julia Bonds, Maria Gunnoe, and Mountain Justice Summer volunteers, in their efforts to stop the destruction of Southern Appalachia's natural landscape. Mountaintop removal is a relatively new type of coal mining that began in Appalachia in the 1970s as an extension of conventional strip mining techniques. Mountaintop removal mines in Appalachia have demolished an estimated 1.4 million acres of forested hills, buried an estimated 2,000 miles of streams, poisoned drinking water, and wiped whole towns from the map. Mayflies (Order Ephemeroptera) are abundant in streams in the Appalachian Mountain region.They are highly sensitive to water quality, as their immature forms require unpolluted water. Google Earth Engine and Landsat imagery report the extent of newly mined land from 1985 to 2015 to be 2,900km2. [19], Current remediation methods may vary, but expensive treatment costs persist. Mountain Top Removal Citizen activists from southern Appalachia struggle to preserve their communities and culture from the damage caused by Mountain Top Removal Coal mining. [37], A federal judge has also ruled that using settling ponds to remove mining waste from streams violates the Clean Water Act. To uncover this coal profitably, mining companies engineer large—sometimes very large—surface mines. This is an important distinction because forest conditions vary from both classifications. [6] On September 28, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) independent Science Advisory Board (SAB) released their first draft review of EPA’s research into the water quality impacts of valley fills associated with mountaintop mining, agreeing with EPA’s conclusion that valley fills are associated with increased levels of conductivity threatening aquatic life in surface waters. People also object to mountaintop removal on aesthetic grounds, because the results are crude and very ugly. Primarily, mountaintop removal is occurring in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. Listen to Mountain Top Removal by Michael Bucher, 50 Shazams. Mountaintop removal refers to a type of mining that removes the summit of a mountain by using explosives to expose the coal seams underneath it, making it vastly different from the traditional mining practice of manually digging a tunnel through mountains. Selenium is toxic and can bioaccumulate. [68], Advocates of MTR claim that once the areas are reclaimed as mandated by law, the area can provide flat land suitable for many uses in a region where flat land is at a premium. [17] The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI), established in 2004, works to promote the growth of hardwood trees on reclaimed mining sites. spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors. Explosives are used to remove up to 400 vertical feet (120 m) of mountain to expose underlying coal seams. He also declared that the Army Corps of Engineers has no authority to issue permits allowing discharge of pollutants into such in-stream settling ponds, which are often built just below valley fills. Mountaintop Removal (2007) [10], Land is deforested prior to mining operations and the resultant lumber is either sold[10] or burned. Environment Complete. As the name suggests, it literally removes up to 800 feet off the tops of mountains to try to reach coal seams that are not accessible by other mining techniques because the terrain is too steep or the veins are too thin. Conventional coal mining involved miners tunneling underground to access and extract the coal. Surface water in MTM regions has higher concentrations of arsenic, selenium, lead, magnesium, calcium, aluminum, manganese, sulfates and hydrogen sulfide from overburden. Mountaintop removal mining (MTR) is a form of surface mining increasingly being used to replace underground mining to extract coal from the Appalachian Mountain regions of eastern Kentucky, southwest West Virgina, southwest Virginia and eastern Tennessee. Supporters of mountaintop removal point out that it is an extremely cheap and efficient method for accessing minerals, and with rising concerns about oil around the world, a cheap source of coal for electricity generation could be very beneficial. The overburden from MTR is either placed back on the ridge, attempting to reflect the approximate original contour of the mountain,[4] and/or is moved into neighboring valleys. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and [43] The EIA also stated that the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), the EPA and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers are collaborating with each other to make an environmental impact statement (EIS) “analyzing environmental impacts of coal surface mining in the Appalachian region”. In the past few decades, over 2,000 miles of streams and headwaters that provide drinking water for millions of Americans have been permanently buried and destroyed. Many sites are left ugly after coal is taken out.Big sludge Impoundments have been shown to … Gunnoe advocated for the federal Clean Water Protection Act and continues to promote renewable energy efforts for the region. Some of the most common treatments include plugging mine openings, altering the landscape to divert incoming water from at risk ecosystems, alkaline inputs, limestone channels and treatment ponds or wetlands. This can result in a vertical descent of hundreds of extra feet into the earth. [57] A 2012 review by Science of the Total Environment cited elevated concentrations of SO42-, HCO3-, Ca2+ and Mg2+ downstream from VF sites. This process is considered to be safer compared to underground mining because the coal seams are accessed from above instead of underground. After backstacking and grading of overburden has been completed, topsoil (or a topsoil substitute) is layered over the overburden layer. Mountain top removal is a type of mining process where the entire tops of mountains are blown off in order to open them up. Purtle, Joshua R. "Mingo Logan Coal Co. V. Previously mined land can be reclaimed as sustainable agricultural land and solar farms. Coal seams are extracted from a mountain by removing the land, or overburden, above the seams. [61], Reclaimed soil generally has high bulk density and lower in infiltration rate, nutrients content and organic matter; reclaimed sites are generally not successful to reestablish the pre-mining forests that once occupied due to poor soil quality. Mountaintop removal mining (MTR), also known as mountaintop mining (MTM), is a form of surface mining that involves the topographical alteration and/or removal of a summit, hill, or ridge to access buried coal seams. Although most coal mining sites must be reclaimed to the land's pre-mining contour and use, regulatory agencies can issue waivers to allow MTR. See more ideas about appalachia, coal mining, how to remove. Rates of mortality, lung cancer, as well as chronic heart, lung and kidney disease are also increased. Mountain top removal (MTR) mining is a form of strip mining in which coal companies use explosives to blast as much as 800 to 1,000 feet off the tops of mountains order to reach the coal seams that lie underneath. exciting challenge of being a wiseGEEK researcher and writer. If the land owner has requested other post-mining land uses the land can be reclaimed to be used as pasture land, economic development or other uses specified in SMCRA. Apr 15, 2016 - This isn't about keeping mountains looking pretty. Adult hospitalization for chronic pulmonary disorders and hypertension are elevated as a result of county-level coal production. [80] Economic and health disparities are concentrated in MTM areas. Mountaintop removal mining (MTR), is a form of surface mining that involves the mining of the summit or summit ridge of a mountain. Reclaimed grassland and shrub land are unsuitable for habitat specialists in the near future. Mountaintop removal is done by surface mining the tops of mountains and ridge lines. WASHINGTON (May 17, 2010) -- Roughly 1.2 million acres, including 500 mountains, have been flattened by mountaintop removal coal mining in the … [82] Gunnoe and Lambert both organized and led grassroots efforts to educate their communities on the human health risks of MTM, with an emphasis on safe drinking water. Michael Hendryx: Mountaintop removal is a form of surface coal mining. These are photos I took looking out across an active mountain removal site on Kayford Mountain in West Virginia. Mountaintop removal Shames our name Darling my dear I tell you what is right The moon on the lake And swimming by its light Darling my dear I tell you what is wrong I went to the mountain But the mountain top was gone And I cant stand it What’s the use in making something new If all that made us must be ruined I cant demand shit I got nothing This type of mining is sometimes considered a … Mountain top removal ppt 1. See more ideas about appalachia, coal mining, how to remove.
It destroys … Mountaintop removal is a form of mining which involves blasting away the top of a mountain to get at the valuable minerals inside, particularly coal. Fish and Wildlife Service Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act | url=, Burton, Mark L. Michael Hicks and Cal Kent (2001) "The Fiscal Implications of Judicially Imposed Surface Mining Restrictions in West Virginia", West Virginia Legislature, Joint Committee of Government and Finance, June, 2001 Center for Business and Economic Research, Marshall University. Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the These areas are the most economical area of storage as they are located close to the active pit of exposed coal. [53], A United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) environmental impact statement finds that streams near some valley fills from mountaintop removal contain higher levels of minerals in the water and decreased aquatic biodiversity. Mountaintop removal takes place primarily in eastern Kentucky, southern West Virginia, southwestern Virginia, and eastern Tennessee. Army. In addition, the operation provides opportunities for contamination leaching. In addition, increases in metal ions, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids due to elevated concentrations of sulfate are closely linked to the extent of mining in West Virginia watersheds. The destruction of mountaintops results in forest loss and fragmentation. Changes in flow can also be attributed to the formation of aquifers from VF that can store water entering from groundwater sources, surface run-off and precipitation. The film explores how mountaintop removal mining in West Virginia has affected local communities. Rivera Sun . mountaintop removal “valley fills” are responsible for burying more than 2,000 miles of vital Appalachian headwater streams, and poisoning many more. Environmentalists also worry about the destruction of animal habitat and the reformation of regional topography, both of which can cause environmental damage. Since the 1970's, conventional coal mining has been eclipsed by MTR, because it allows coal companies to access coal more effectively and efficiently while reducing the overall number of employed miners. [79] Poverty rates are directly proportional to mountaintop mining areas. Apr 15, 2016 - This isn't about keeping mountains looking pretty. Fast-growing, non-native flora such as Lespedeza cuneata, planted to quickly provide vegetation on a site, compete with tree seedlings, and trees have difficulty establishing root systems in compacted backfill. This method differs from more traditional underground mining, where typically a narrow shaft is dug which allows miners to collect seams using various underground methods, while leaving the vast majority of the overburden undisturbed. Mountaintop Removal Mining: 48 flights with 126 passengers, representing 66 organizations. May 28, 2008. A January 2010 report in the journal Science reviews current peer-reviewed studies and water quality data and explores the consequences of mountaintop mining. At current rates, MTR in the U.S. will mine over 1.4 million acres (5,700 km²) by 2010,[8] an amount of land area that exceeds that of the state of Delaware. [9], Mountaintop removal has been practiced since the 1960s. [31], Different organizations have tried to revise a stream buffer rule placed in 1977. [42] The MOU and IAP outlined different administrative actions that would help decrease “the harmful environmental impacts of mountaintop mining”. Mortality rates show a similar relationship. Today, The Alliance for Appalachia includes fifteen different member organizations working directly with impacted communities throughout Appalachia and participating in regional and federal-level campaigns. Mountaintop removal is a safer way of mining coal than digging a mine, but West Virginia should really consider the reasons why we should stop this process. Published studies also show a high potential for human health impacts. [62] Fragmentation results in an increase in edge forests and a decrease in interior forests. Ca2+, Mg2+ and SO42− alter water chemistry by increasing pH, salinity and electrical conductivity. Mountaintop removal mining (MTR), frequently referred to as mountaintop mining/valley fills (MTM/VF), is a type of surface mining that entails great topographic change to the summit or summit crest of a mountain. Fish species are also threatened by mountaintop removal since mountaintop removal is the eradication of forests integral to fish survival. It's hard to get a feel for the size of the mining site without being there. M.A. [46][47] Land disturbance from forestry cutting, soil and bedrock displacement/removal and use of heavy machinery can decrease soil infiltration rate, terrestrial habitat and carbon sequestration, increase in runoff and sediment weathering. A study conducted in 2017 found that herpetofaunal (reptiles and amphibians) habitat generalists are associated with all habitats, while habitat specialists are only associated with forest sites. Mountain Top Removal
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2. Mountaintop removal, a form of surface mining, has already leveled or severely impacted 500 mountaintops in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, … Under current policy, as long as a given MTR mining operation complies with federal surface mining law, the agency presumes conclusively, despite the complexities of intra- and inter-species relationships, that the instance of MTR in question is not damaging to endangered species or their habitat. After years of drafting and refinements, the rule took effect in January 2017 before being revoked by Congress in February through the Congressional Review Act. More than 500 mountains in the US have been destroyed by this process, resulting in the burial of 3,200 km (2,000 mi) of streams. From 2013- 2017, 6.5% to 41.0% of the population in Appalachia was impoverished. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Mountaintop Mining/Valley Fills in Appalachia: Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement," issued 2005 June 25, available at, Digest of Federal Resource Laws of Interest to the U.S. [78], The Appalachian region has a long history characterized by poverty. MTR reduces the freshwater resource that supports biodiversity. They also maintain that the new growth on reclaimed mountaintop mined areas is better suited to support populations of game animals.[69]. Mountaintop-removal meaning A method of coal mining which involves stripping a mountain bare of vegetation, blasting off the top of the mountain with explosives, and storing the copious waste in nearby valleys and streams. Mountain Top Removal - Coal, Mining, Appalachian, Mountaintop, Water and Forest Destruction Issues Various Authors. [10] However, coal companies are often granted waivers and instead reclaim the mountain with "topsoil substitute". [8] In some regions, however, the percentage is higher, for example, MTR provided 30% of the coal mined in West Virginia in 2006. Edge forests are warmer, drier, more susceptible to windier conditions and can be better suited for invasive species. [7] Sites range from Ohio to Virginia. According to a spokesperson for the Alberta government, the definition of the term is extremely narrow and does not apply unless the top of a mountain is “completely” removed. Because many of these mines tend to be in some of the poorest areas of the world, it can provide an economic boost to the local area through the hiring of hundreds of local workers who live, shop, and find entertainment options at home. [28], Reclamation projects designed in conjunction with community needs can aid local economic development. [34][36], On December 2, 2008, the Bush Administration made a rule change to remove the Stream Buffer Zone protection provision from SMCRA allowing coal companies to place mining waste rock and dirt directly into headwater waterways. As edge forests become more prevalent, biodiversity is threatened. Along with other mining industry participants, we have noted the steady decline in MTR production since 2008 and are of the view that MTR is likely be phased out in the near to medium-term future. What is … Researchers have concluded that MTR has detrimental impacts on the aquatic system and the current assessments cannot adequately evaluate the quality of the constructed channels and failed to address the functional importance of the natural stream. United Mountain Defense (UMD) United Mountain Defense (UMD) is a nonprofit organization committed to halting mountaintop removal coal mining (otherwise referred to … While West Virginia has plenty of hills… Rivera Sun . [34][35] Massey Energy Company is currently appealing a 2007 ruling, but has been allowed to continue mining in the meantime because "most of the substantial harm has already occurred," according to the judge. [43]  The Clean Water Rule “more precisely defines waters protected under the Clean Water Act”. [62]These conditions are not present in emerging edge forests. Wastewater is often injected and stored underground and has the potential to contaminate other water sources. Evidence suggests that such methods can decrease the biodiversity over time. Mountaintop Removal Never Ended: Coal River Mountaineers Fight On Yes, Virginia, in 2016 formerly bankrupt coal companies continue to blast away historic Coal River Mountain and adjacent communities. Considering surface mining sites prior to 1985, the cumulative total of mined land was calculated to be 5,900km2. Poverty rates in MTM areas were found to be significantly higher than in non-mining areas. Depending on surface land owner wishes the land will then be further reclaimed by adding trees if the pre-approved post-mining land use is forest land or wildlife habitat. Mountaintop removal Mountaintop Removal (MTR), while an established and regulated mining method, continues to be subject to political, judicial, and regulatory scrutiny. Excess rock and soil is dumped into nearby valleys, in what are called "holler fills" ("hollow fills") or "valley fills".[1][2][3]. In comparison, the reference site that did not experience MTM measured conductivity values that ranged from 30 to 260μS/cm. [32] This draft adds “more protections to downstream waters”, but it will also debilitate the current buffer requirements. While the agencies have the option to ask for formal endangered species consultations during that process, they do so very rarely. The waivers are granted if adequate amounts of topsoil are not naturally present on the rocky ridge top. Mountaintop removal coal mining, often described as "strip mining on steroids," is an extremely destructive form of mining that is devastating Appalachia. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Its prevalence expanded further in the 1990s to retrieve relatively low-sulfur coal, a cleaner-burning form, which became desirable as a result of amendments to the U.S. Clean Air Act that tightened emissions limits on high-sulfur coal processing. Increasing phosphorus and nitrogen can cause nutrient pollution. This time-series of images of a surface mine in Boone County, West Virginia, illustrates why this controversial mining method is also called “mountaintop removal.” Based on data from Landsat 5, 7, and 8, these natural-color images document the growth of the Hobet mine as it moves from ridge to ridge between 1984 to 2015. [34], The Bush administration appealed one of these rulings in 2001 because the Act had not explicitly defined "fill material" that could legally be placed in a waterway. [54][55] Because of higher pH balances in mine-affected streams, metals such as selenium and iron hydroxide are rendered insoluble, bringing attendant chemical changes to the stream. [80], The Alliance for Appalachia was established in 2006, with the mission to promote a healthy Appalachia centered around community empowerment. Next, the topsoil is removed so that it can be used in environmental reclamation, either on the site after mining is complete, or on an off-site location. VF and AMD are the leading causes of water chemistry and habitat alterations in this region, the driving factors limiting mayfly populations. Primarily, mountaintop removal is occurring in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. Mountaintop Removal (MTR) is a very effective form of coal mining. 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