The average poverty rate for this region is 16.3%, above the national average of 14.6%. Mountaintop removal is any method of surface coal mining that destroys a mountaintop or ridgeline, whether or not the mined area will be returned to what is legally described as the “approximate original contour.”. Mountaintop removal is a radical form of strip mining used in the Appalachian mountain communities that is just as it sounds – the top of mountains are removed in order to get at the thin horizontal seams of coal that lie beneath. The key here is to continue the discussion in hopes that, one day, the government, coal companies and residents in mining areas can enjoy the pros without experiencing a lot of the cons. Other than occupational exposure, data and models suggested that deposits of such pollutants in lungs of the residents are significantly higher in mining areas. [83][84]. 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. Mountaintop removal mining (MTR), also known as mountaintop mining (MTM), is a form of surface mining at the summit or summit ridge of a mountain. [57] A 2012 review by Science of the Total Environment cited elevated concentrations of SO42-, HCO3-, Ca2+ and Mg2+ downstream from VF sites. Amazingly, these mining practices by-and-large have been allowed under current laws. 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. Lambert established the Prenter Water Fund which provides clean water to communities whose water has become polluted due to local MTM. Fish species are also threatened by mountaintop removal since mountaintop removal is the eradication of forests integral to fish survival. What is the Difference Between a Mountain and a Hill. A study in 2009 estimated over 500 mountains have been blown up in mountaintop removal mining (equal to around 1,160,000 acres). Hard-hitting documentary on the effects of the radical and environmentally disastrous form of coal mining known as "Mountaintop removal." "Mountaintop Removal". “Dave Matthews Joins Nashville Stars in Rallying Against Mountaintop Removal Mining: Music Saves Mountains Concert Calls Attention to Destruction in Appalachia.” CMT, CMT, 20 May 2010. 2050 (Rep. Yarmuth ) bill. Mine sites are often converted to non-native grassland and shrub land habitat with primarily invasive vegetation. In MTR, through the use of explosives and large machinery, more than two and a half times as much coal can be extracted per worker per hour than in traditional underground mines,[22] thus greatly reducing the need for workers. [29], In the United States, MTR is allowed by section 515(c)(1) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. This can result in a vertical descent of hundreds of extra feet into the earth. "[70] The ecological benefits after MTR are far below the level of the original land. 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. [76], MTR has negative effects on surface and ground water quality. It concludes that mountaintop mining has serious environmental impacts that mitigation practices cannot successfully address. Fourteen months after the world watched in astonishment as poorly regulated coal-washing chemicals contaminated the Elk River in West Virginia, coal country residents and supporters are gearing up for an epic showdown on March 16 with the state's Department of Environmental Protection—and the U.S. Congress—over the mounting death toll and health crisis from mountaintop removal strip mining. Parton, Chris. The ARRI operates utilizing the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA). They also maintain that the new growth on reclaimed mountaintop mined areas is better suited to support populations of game animals.[69]. Associated air pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide not only raise health concerns, they also have effects on all ecosystems. MTR reduces the freshwater resource that supports biodiversity. Effectively developed biotic response models can improve and refine restoration efforts by establishing target indicator species population goals and by enabling the monitoring and assessment of water chemistry and habitat changes impacting particular species. [72] Another 2011 study found "the odds for reporting cancer were twice as high in the mountaintop mining environment compared to the non mining environment in ways not explained by age, sex, smoking, occupational exposure, or family cancer history". Mountaintop Removal is the process in which the top of the mountain is removed, as the moniker may suggest. 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. These efforts can help to diversify and stimulate the local economy by providing jobs and other economic opportunities. [59] VF processes limit these functions, negatively impacting surrounding rivers and watersheds. As stated in the book Bringing Down the Mountains: "Some of the main problems associated with MTR include soil depletion, sedimentation, low success rate of tree regrowth, lack of successful revegetation, displacement of native wildlife, and burial of streams. In comparison, the reference site that did not experience MTM measured conductivity values that ranged from 30 to 260μS/cm. For example, a reduction in salamander populations on reclaimed sites can be attributed to an overall loss in mesic conditions. From 2013- 2017, 6.5% to 41.0% of the population in Appalachia was impoverished. The Original Mountain Top Aluminium flat hard Tonneau Cover is a highly functional, heavy duty pick-up bed cover. Gunnoe advocated for the federal Clean Water Protection Act and continues to promote renewable energy efforts for the region. Since the 1970s, when mountaintop removal first became popular with mining companies, people have objected to it on a number of grounds. This type of mining is sometimes considered a variation of … Additionally, many personal interest stories of coalfield residents have been written, including: "Mountaintop Removal" redirects here. Adult hospitalization for chronic pulmonary disorders and hypertension are elevated as a result of county-level coal production. Measured conductivity values ranging from 159 to 2720 μS/cm were recorded downstream. The Appalachian region is home to one of the oldest and most biologically diverse mountain systems on the continent. MTR is sometimes the most cost-effective method of extracting coal. [42] The plan also includes near and long-term actions that highlight “specific steps, improved coordination, and greater transparency of decisions”. [79] Poverty rates are directly proportional to mountaintop mining areas. Mountaintop Removal is the process in which the top of the mountain is removed, as the moniker may suggest. Wastewater is often injected and stored underground and has the potential to contaminate other water sources. The new ecosystem differs from the original forest habitat and can have lower diversity and productivity. 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. [42], The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) stated that the Clean Water Rule was completed on May 27, 2015 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Directed by Michael Cusack O'Connell. [20] MTR accounted for less than 5% of U.S. coal production as of 2001. [17] The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI), established in 2004, works to promote the growth of hardwood trees on reclaimed mining sites. Given the evidence that MTR impaired surface and ground water quality, safety of drinking water requires more efforts for protection and prevention. [32] The Obama Administration, in July 2015, wrote up a draft "Stream Protection Rule". Published studies also show a high potential for human health impacts. Additionally, terrestrial changes have transformed natural forest carbon sinks into carbon sources. Mortality rates show a similar relationship. Environment Complete. In April 2005, a group of Kentucky writers traveled together to see the devastation from mountaintop removal mining, and Wind Publishing produced the resulting collection of poems, essays and photographs, co-edited by, Dr. Shirley Stewart Burns, a West Virginia coalfield native, wrote the first academic work on mountaintop removal, titled, Dr. Burns was also a co-editor, with Kentucky author Silas House and filmmaker Mari-Lynn Evans, of. [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. After backstacking and grading of overburden has been completed, topsoil (or a topsoil substitute) is layered over the overburden layer. There is a particular problem with burial of headwater streams by valley fills which causes permanent loss of ecosystems that play critical roles in ecological processes. Award-winning videographer Trip Jennings highlights communities at risk of MTR and emphasizes the importance of reviving the economy in order to create a healthy future. The layer of topsoil and vegetation must be removed and cleared away to … [31], Different organizations have tried to revise a stream buffer rule placed in 1977. 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. Surface coal mining methods in the steep terrain of the central Appalachian coalfields include mountaintop removal, contour, area and highwall mining. [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. These areas are the most economical area of storage as they are located close to the active pit of exposed coal. [58], Headwater streams play a major role in the physicochemical quality of larger rivers and streams because of their close association to the surrounding landscape. [25], Proponents argue that in certain geologic areas, MTR and similar forms of surface mining allow the only access to thin seams of coal that traditional underground mining would not be able to mine. Thus, they can be utilized as an effective indicator species to quantify restoration progress through modeling efforts focused on mountaintop mining driven changes in adjacent ecosystems. Increasing phosphorus and nitrogen can cause nutrient pollution. Ground water samples from domestic wells in mining areas documented contaminations of arsenic, lead, barium, beryllium, selenium, iron, manganese, aluminum and zinc levels surpassing drinking water standards. This proposed legislation would have been the only legislation of its kind in the United States; however, the bill was defeated. The destruction of mountaintops results in forest loss and fragmentation. But over the last decade, Indiana University researcher Michael Hendryx has been examining another consequence of this form of coal surface mining that had previously been overlooked: the health impacts on the people in the surrounding communities. They tore em down years ago. Mountaintop removal coal mines have changed the shape, altitude, and ecology of large areas of the Appalachian coalfields. [10], Established in 1977, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act set up a program “for the regulation of surface mining activities and the reclamation of coal-mined lands”. Wikibuy Review: A Free Tool That Saves You Time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money That Actually Work. What Are the Pros and Cons of Strip Mining? Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and [14] Although U.S. mountaintop removal sites by law must be reclaimed after mining is complete, reclamation has traditionally focused on stabilizing rock formations and controlling for erosion, and not on the reforestation of the affected area. The rule states that certain conditions must be met, or the mining operation must take place “within 100 feet of a stream”. the ultimate in pickup accessories In Kentucky, for example, the number of workers has declined over 60% from 1979 to 2006 (from 47,190 to 17,959 workers). Remember those trees. [28], Reclamation projects designed in conjunction with community needs can aid local economic development. Selenium is toxic and can bioaccumulate. Epa." The explosives generate huge amounts of waste material, which is pushed around the perimeter of the mountain, in a practice known as “valley fill,” because it fills the valleys around the mountain. Further studies calculated that 12m2 of mined land produced one metric ton of coal. Rates of mortality, lung cancer, as well as chronic heart, lung and kidney disease are also increased. [77] Another study showed that ecological integrity of streams negatively correlates with cancer mortality rate in West Virginia; unhealthy streams correlates with higher cancer mortality rate. Excess rock and soil is dumped into nearby valleys, in what are called "holler fills" ("hollow fills") or "valley fills".[1][2][3]. It destroys their culture, their way of making a … Nearby communities, however, are not economically secure and depend on these operations for jobs. [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. VF and AMD are the leading causes of water chemistry and habitat alterations in this region, the driving factors limiting mayfly populations. Where as kids we dreamed. Poverty rates in MTM areas were found to be significantly higher than in non-mining areas. Apr 15, 2016 - This isn't about keeping mountains looking pretty. Coal mining operations are found in Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Alabama and Tennessee. The Stream Protection Rule was developed by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) over the course of seven years during the Obama administration. 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. [1][3][6], MTR in the United States is most often associated with the extraction of coal in the Appalachian Mountains. While West Virginia has plenty of hills… After the seam of coal or other desirable material in the mountain is exposed, a dragline pulls it out for processing, typically running it through water filtration and creating a toxic slurry which must be stored and eventually cleaned up. Mountaintop Removal Mining. "Mountain top removal mining is not an issue of jobs v the environment. When topsoil is removed, the land is incapable of restoring native hardwood forest habitat. In addition, the operation provides opportunities for contamination leaching. Lissie Lyrics. 18 Feb. 2014. [80], The Alliance for Appalachia was established in 2006, with the mission to promote a healthy Appalachia centered around community empowerment. An aerial view from a aircraft show an Appalachia mountain being mined by the strip mining practice called 'Mountain Top Removal' in southern West Virginia, in a July 24, 2009 file photo. [63] Forest communities as well as flora and fauna diversity depend on habitats provided by old growth forests. 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. Is Amazon actually giving you the best price? 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. 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. [32], In February 2017, President Trump signed a bill that did away with the stream protection rule previously administered by the Obama Administration. 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. [64] In addition, reintroduced elk (Cervus canadensis) on mountaintop removal sites in Kentucky are eating tree seedlings. The overall loss of forest cover reduces suitable soil for revegetation efforts, carbon sequestration and biodiversity. Dr. Rebecca Scott, another native West Virginian, examined the sociological relationship of identity and natural resource extraction in central Appalachia in her book, Cultural historian Jeff Biggers published, Mountaintop removal is a major plot element of, In 2010, a concert series titled "Music Saves Mountains" raised funds and awareness for mountaintop removal, featuring artists, This page was last edited on 13 February 2021, at 17:05. [43] The Clean Water Rule “more precisely defines waters protected under the Clean Water Act”. [73], Research has shown that MTR increases human exposure to particulate matters, PAHs and crustal-derived elements. Published studies also show a high potential for human health impacts. As you can imagine, mountaintop removal results in rather dramatic changes to the topography of the landscape, and it has met with considerable opposition from people with very diverse concerns, ranging from economists to environmental activists. Methods of mountaintop removal coal mining include, but are not limited to: cross-ridge mining, box-cut method mining, steep slope mining, area mining or mountaintop mining. CNN correspondent Soledad O'Brien's recent piece on mountaintop removal (MTR) in the Appalachian mountains has the troubling title, "Steady job or … 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. [7] Sites range from Ohio to Virginia. [18] This group also facilitates restoration efforts by educating and training members of the coal industry on their role in promoting and adopting effective management practices. A study in 2009 estimated over 500 mountains have been blown up in mountaintop removal mining (equal to around 1,160,000 acres). 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. Nearby communities, however, are not economically secure and depend on these operations for jobs. Previously mined land can be reclaimed as sustainable agricultural land and solar farms. [12] Any streams in a valley are buried by the overburden. [5] It occurs most commonly in West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky, the top two coal-producing states in Appalachia. The land does not retake the form it had before the MTR. Mountain Top Soft Roll Cover is a good alternative to our aluminium roll cover if you’re looking for a more affordable solution. With Judy Bonds, Larry Gibson, Maria Gunnoe, William Mapother. They function to retain floodwaters, store nutrients and reduce sediment accumulation. 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. Factors contributing to disturbed stream flow include vegetation removal, subsequent aquifer formation, compaction of fill surface and overall loss of headwater streams. The rulemaking was an effort to better protect public waterways from mountaintop … This process is considered to be safer compared to underground mining because the coal seams are accessed from above instead of underground. 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. While some of the land is able to be turned into grassland which game animals can live in, the amount of grassland is minimal. In 2008, North Carolina and Georgia were the top two consumers of mountaintop removal coal. 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. Biotic indicators present within stream ecosystems impacted by valley fill (VF) activity and AMD are valuable assets to increase the cost efficiency of restoration efforts. Mountaintop Mining Consequences. Air pollution contributes to issues such as water and soil acidification, chemicals bioaccumulation in the food web and eutrophication. [16], Historically, reforested mining sites have been characterized by seedling mortality, slow growth and poor production. [33], Permits must be obtained to deposit valley fill into streams. The trees are typically clearcut so that they can be sold for timber, with the mountain being set on fire in some cases to burn the brush and scrap to the ground. These defect rates were more pronounced in the most recent period studied, suggesting the health effects of mountaintop mining-related air and water contamination may be cumulative. The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers changed a rule to include mining debris in the definition of fill material, and the ruling was overturned. [5], A front-end loader or excavator then removes the coal, where it is transported to a processing plant. A mountaintop removal site in Kentucky photographed in 2012. docsearls/flickr August 2, 2016 As coal mining declines, community mental health problems linger. These defect rates were more pronounced in the most recent period studied, suggesting the health effects of mountaintop mining-related air and water contamination may be cumulative. While there are economic benefits to this practice, there are also concerns for environmental and human health costs. 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. The soft cover gives your pickup a sleek, streamlined appearance with the black vinyl neatly closing off your vehicle bed. This is an important distinction because forest conditions vary from both classifications. 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. I went to the mountain. [62]These conditions are not present in emerging edge forests. Google Earth Engine and Landsat imagery report the extent of newly mined land from 1985 to 2015 to be 2,900km2. Of large areas of the oldest and most biologically diverse mountain systems on the effects of Appalachian. Treatment costs persist 're getting the best price on amazon be mined into now. Waters protected under the Clean water Act by issuing such Permits spread in a descent... Defines waters protected under the Clean water Rule “ more protections to downstream ”!, salinity and electrical conductivity Different organizations have tried to revise a stream Rule... 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