Thursday, April 8, 2010

EPA takes action to limit effects of Mountaintop Removal Mining

By Stephanie Shepard

On April 1st, an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) press release announced a new set of actions that will help strengthen and clarify the requirements for Appalachian mountaintop removal. The actions will set clear policies for mining in an effort to prevent more damage and irreversible effects to the Appalachian environment, particularly to watersheds. The practice of mountaintop removal mining (MTR) has been occurring since the 1960’s, in response to the nation’s increasing demand for coal. MTR is particularly abundant in the Appalachian region of the nation. MTR is a form of surface coal mining, and the process involves the removal of mountaintops to expose coal seams. This type of mining has many detrimental effects on our environment which include, but are not limited to, the increase of zinc, sodium, selenium, and sulfate levels in the water, which can negatively impact fish and other animals, the loss of Appalachian forests (more than 7% have been cut down as a result of MTR) and the often permanent damage to ecosystems and streams that are used for swimming, fishing and drinking. The EPA has split their course of action into three parts; the first is called Improved Guidance and Clarity. This step will clarify existing requirements in the Clean Water Act and ensure that future mining will not continue to cause significant problems to the environment, water outlets, or human health. The next step is called Strong Science, which will make two scientific reports by the Office of Research and Development publicly available. The third step is Increased Transparency, which is the creation of a permit tracking website so the public knows the status of mining permits. Even though the environmentally-harmful process of mountaintop mining is still happening, it is uplifting to see the EPA taking steps to help limit its negative effects.

Sources:

1) http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/guidance/mining.html
2) http://www.epa.gov/region3/mtntop/index.htm
3) http://www.ilovemountains.org/resources#mtrenvironment
4) http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2010/04/01/breaking-news-not-an-april-fools-joke-epa-actually-does-take-unprecedented-steps-to-reduce-damage-from-mountaintop-removal-coal-mining/

9 comments:

  1. Instead of flattening the approximated 1 million acres of land in the next ten years, appvoices.org recommends using a different energy approach. Placing wind turbines around could possibly bring about a less damaging form of energy gathering. Also changing the mountain regions economic base to a more nature friendly one could help. Sustainable forestry, farming, recreational facilities, amnd even underground coal mining seem to be good ways to do this.
    http://www.appvoices.org/index.php?/site/voice_stories/could_wind_power_replace_mtr_coal/issue/518

    ReplyDelete
  2. Not to mention taking away the aesthetic beauty of the mountains. Have you driven up I70 just before the exit to black hawk? Those waste piles are useless and ugly, as well as contaminating the river. Taste the Rockies, and the contaminated water it's made from (though i do like coors). MTR is probably a bigger problem in the appalachians, but it also affects people in the rockies. Native Indian tribes have been struggling as a result of this for decades. The Dine' (Navajo) families around Black Mesa in southern co have continually had to deal with the devastation from MTR due to coal mining. There is a volunteer trip through cu scheduled this spring to bring aid to these tribes, help them herd sheep, build fences and other infrastructure. If anyone is interested the website is www.blackmesais.org

    ReplyDelete
  3. I too think its great that they are doing something to limit the negative effects of MTR mining, but it seems that the steps they have made are rather limited in there results. The use of coal as a resource has enough negative impacts on our environment, let alone the mining process. The use of MTR mining should be limited to remote areas where its effects to human and ecological environments are minimal.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is Awesome! growing up in North Carolina, I have taken many trips through Tennessee. In some areas of Tennessee Mountain top removal mining, and strip mining are so prevalent, the areas have become a lifeless wasteland. This can have compounding negative effects on the environment. This technique is extremely irresponsible, and unsustainable. It is good to see action in progress.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Although this type of coal mining is very detrimental to the environment, the industry does supply jobs to and essentially sustains the residents and economies of small, remote towns near the mines. That being said, I agree with JoeAmerican in that alternatives are needed, but they must provide jobs and opportunities to the mining communities if the communities are to transition away from coal mining.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Coal is a horrible way to power our lives but do we really have a choice at this time? I would love to see Mountain tops covered in wind-turbines rather than seeing a barren wasteland but this sort of behavior is sparking the alternative energy revolution. With the energy demands increasing like they are people need energy now and lots of it. Unfortunately the technology in the alternative energy field is just not where it needs to be yet to meet the energy demands of today.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is a terrible thing that is occurring. I saw a documentary on this not too long ago, and it has literally destroyed people's lives. Their water is not safe to drink, and they're houses are worth so little money that they cannot even sell them and move away, as the money they would receive would not be substantial. Many of these people also come from long lines of miners and are not entirely sure that they even have another choice. Something must be done to help these poor people while keeping the environmental degradation to a minimum.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It seems to me that mountain top mining is also an issue of environmental justice. Working in these mines is very dangerous, but oftentimes those who do work in these mines do not have many other options to provide for themselves and their families. Although this type of mining provides job oppurtunties, it is ultimately destroying the area's where the miners live by causing extensive land degradation and pollution of the nearby water sources. The general population needs to evaluate the effects they are having on the lives of these miners as well as the environmental effects that their demand for coal based electricity is having.

    ReplyDelete
  9. MTR might provide jobs, but it's also extremely detrimental to the surrounding communities. Cancer rates, water contamination, dust and contaminates in the air, the list can go on forever. I'm surprised the EPA is getting involved, though. I think the real problem is that there are organizations that are supposed to regulate MTR, such as the OSM, but they're not effectively doing such. For example, there's a ton of regulation, such as SMCRA, that says mining companies have to create a reclamation effort after they've finished mining an area and there's stringent criteria they're supposed to meet - they just haven't been enforced. All we need to do is place fines on these companies and force them to fix the areas they've destroyed and suddenly MTR won't be cheap.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.