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Eco-Glossary

Mountaintop Removal Mining

 
Mountaintop coal mining is a surface mining practice involving the removal of mountaintops to expose coal seams, and disposal of the associated mining overburden in adjacent valleys ("valley fills," which occur in steep terrain where there are limited disposal alternatives). Mountaintop coal mining operations are concentrated in eastern Kentucky, southern West Virginia, western Virginia, and scattered areas of eastern Tennessee. In 1998, the U.S. Department of Energy estimated that 28.5 billion tons of high quality coal remain in the Appalachia coal mining region. Restricting mountaintop mining to small watersheds could substantially impact the amount of extraction that takes place.
 
Environmental effects include an increase of minerals in the water (leading to less diverse and more pollutant-tolerant species), reduced tree growth, fragmented forests, damaged habitats and others. (Source: EPA / Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Recent Stories


RAN's Purple Mountain Majesty

Fri, Mar 19 2010 at 12:39 AM EST

Rainforest Action Network decides enough is enough with Obama's broken promises on mountaintop mining and stages dramatic protest in front of the EPA.


Coal baron debates Kennedy over mountaintop mining

Thu, Jan 21 2010 at 4:05 AM EST

University of Charleston to host showdown on issue that often pits jobs vs. environment.


Coal comfort: Margaret Palmer on 'Colbert Report'

Video: Margaret Palmer, professor of biology at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Studies, believes there's a better way to mine for coal than blowing the tops off mountains.


A Wendy’s boycott

Tue, Jan 12 2010 at 3:24 PM EST

The fast-food company allows some of its restaurants to display signs in support of mountaintop removal.


Scientists call for end to mountaintop removal

Fri, Jan 08 2010 at 9:32 AM EST

Researchers state that the overwhelming evidence of mountaintop removal mining destruction should be enough to warrant government action.


EPA drops objection to W.Va. surface mine, congressman says

Tue, Jan 05 2010 at 9:00 AM EST

Application was under extra scrutiny as part of Obama administration's attempt to curb environmental damage from mountaintop removal.


Fear of violence grows in mountaintop mining fight

Sat, Dec 19 2009 at 10:30 PM EST

Citizens of Coal River Valley fear that the fight between miners and environmental activists will only escalate.


America's Most Endangered Mountains

Sun, Nov 29 2009 at 4:56 PM EST

A new YouTube integrated map lets Appalachian communities speak out on mountaintop coal mining.


Many in U.S. coal country oppose new emission regulations

Mon, Nov 02 2009 at 8:00 PM EST

Support of West Virginia crucial to passage of climate legislation.


EPA to delay 79 coal mining permits

Wed, Sep 30 2009 at 12:55 PM EST

Each surface coal mining permit likely would cause significant damage to water quality and the environment.


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