Bam! Rock and debris fly through the air. The quiet and peaceful forest which once accommodated numerous different animals is now a biological wasteland suffering from a devastating method of coal collection called strip mining. Humans leave numerous amounts of destruction in their wake, whether it be on a small or large scale. This amount of coal excavation is an immense detriment to Appalachia, and is a horrid evil which needs to be addressed right now. While some say strip mining in the Appalachian mountains is a profitable and safe way to fuel America, the long term negative effects of strip mining far outweigh any perceived benefits. The vast and open mountain range that spans the east coast, known as the Appalachian Mountains is home
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Beginning back millions of years ago, anthracite coal as well as bituminous coal were deposited within the Appalachian Mountains. All over the United States, in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia coal deposits are found (“Appalachian Mountains,” 2015). Today, 1.8 billion pounds of high explosives were used in just West Virginia and Kentucky alone. These explosives may shake and crack house foundations, startle wildlife, or spray a large area with rock and other debris. The blasting and flooding caused by this mining has ruined hundreds of houses and displaced families (Reece, 2007 p 58). Vast areas of wildlife habitat, the most biologically diverse forest in North America, have been obliterated. 2000 miles of streams have been filled or severely degraded by mining waste, all in the pursuit of coal (Butler, 2009). The rather benign term flyrock is defined as everything that scatters when the explosives are detonated (Reece, 2007 p 88). This decimation seems to only be for one thing, profit. Coal corporations are profiting ridiculously from this heinous activity and there seems to be nothing to stop it. Federal law does not require formerly deforested mine sites to be reforested (Butler, 2009). Some may feel that strip mining brings much needed jobs to poverty stricken mountain towns; however, the opposite reigns true. The equipment …show more content…
A perfect example of this can be seen in the decline of bird species that are immensely diverse throughout the Appalachian Mountain Range. Specifically the cerulean warbler among many others have seen a 70 percent plunge since 1966. This species, like so many others, needs a large undivided tract of woods to protect it from predatory species (Reece, 2007 p 7). Bison, elk and wolves once common to the Appalachians, disappeared long ago (“Appalachian Mountains,” 2016). Mostly due to increased human presence and expansion throughout the mountains, strip mining can cause this trend to be exacerbated. Furthermore, the safety issues that arise from strip mining and mountaintop-removal are incredibly serious, and the lack of government regulation seems to help keep these safety concerns and health issues from seeing any kind of reconciliation. Acid rain and acid mine runoff, has caused a dangerously high level of mercury to be present in Kentucky streams. Pregnant women who eat fish from said streams risk causing serious, lifelong harm to the child. Of the 113 tons of mercury produced each year in the U.S. 48 tons comes from coal fired power plants. In Kentucky, the number of children treated for asthma has risen almost 50 percent since 2000 (Reece, 2007 p 25). This major statistically correlation as strip mining has increased cannot be overlooked.
Beginning back millions of years ago, anthracite coal as well as bituminous coal were deposited within the Appalachian Mountains. All over the United States, in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia coal deposits are found (“Appalachian Mountains,” 2015). Today, 1.8 billion pounds of high explosives were used in just West Virginia and Kentucky alone. These explosives may shake and crack house foundations, startle wildlife, or spray a large area with rock and other debris. The blasting and flooding caused by this mining has ruined hundreds of houses and displaced families (Reece, 2007 p 58). Vast areas of wildlife habitat, the most biologically diverse forest in North America, have been obliterated. 2000 miles of streams have been filled or severely degraded by mining waste, all in the pursuit of coal (Butler, 2009). The rather benign term flyrock is defined as everything that scatters when the explosives are detonated (Reece, 2007 p 88). This decimation seems to only be for one thing, profit. Coal corporations are profiting ridiculously from this heinous activity and there seems to be nothing to stop it. Federal law does not require formerly deforested mine sites to be reforested (Butler, 2009). Some may feel that strip mining brings much needed jobs to poverty stricken mountain towns; however, the opposite reigns true. The equipment …show more content…
A perfect example of this can be seen in the decline of bird species that are immensely diverse throughout the Appalachian Mountain Range. Specifically the cerulean warbler among many others have seen a 70 percent plunge since 1966. This species, like so many others, needs a large undivided tract of woods to protect it from predatory species (Reece, 2007 p 7). Bison, elk and wolves once common to the Appalachians, disappeared long ago (“Appalachian Mountains,” 2016). Mostly due to increased human presence and expansion throughout the mountains, strip mining can cause this trend to be exacerbated. Furthermore, the safety issues that arise from strip mining and mountaintop-removal are incredibly serious, and the lack of government regulation seems to help keep these safety concerns and health issues from seeing any kind of reconciliation. Acid rain and acid mine runoff, has caused a dangerously high level of mercury to be present in Kentucky streams. Pregnant women who eat fish from said streams risk causing serious, lifelong harm to the child. Of the 113 tons of mercury produced each year in the U.S. 48 tons comes from coal fired power plants. In Kentucky, the number of children treated for asthma has risen almost 50 percent since 2000 (Reece, 2007 p 25). This major statistically correlation as strip mining has increased cannot be overlooked.