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. 2050 (Rep. Yarmuth ) bill. Excess rock and soil is dumped into nearby valleys, in what are called "holler fills" ("hollow fills") or "valley fills".[1][2][3]. While the agencies have the option to ask for formal endangered species consultations during that process, they do so very rarely. 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. Increasing phosphorus and nitrogen can cause nutrient pollution. [41], A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Interagency Action Plan (IAP) were signed by officials of EPA, the Corps, and the Department of the Interior on June 11, 2009. Rates of mortality, lung cancer, as well as chronic heart, lung and kidney disease are also increased. It takes place in the Appalachian Mountains, one of the oldest mountain ranges on Earth. Mortality rates show a similar relationship. 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. 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. [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. Gunnoe advocated for the federal Clean Water Protection Act and continues to promote renewable energy efforts for the region. Ending mountaintop removal is about keeping humanity alive. The practice of mountaintop removal (MTR) coal mining has been carried out on at least 500 Appalachian peaks. This type of mining is sometimes considered a variation of … Adult hospitalization for chronic pulmonary disorders and hypertension are elevated as a result of county-level coal production. [45] Operations of valley fills buried more than 2,000 km of headwater and streams in the Appalachians. [50] For example, the extensive tracts of deciduous forests destroyed by mountaintop mining support several endangered species and some of the highest biodiversity in North America. It also creates a great deal of dust, which can be hazardous to human and animal health. [67] Studies comparing the characteristics of natural and constructed channels find that constructed channels are higher in specific conductance, temperature, ion concentration and lower in organic matter, leaves breakdown rate, invertebrate density and richness. 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. 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. [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. Compaction of VF sites from MTM equipment can increase the surface run-off contribution. Wastewater from the coal cleaning process contains surfactants, flocculants, coal fines, benzene and toluene, sulfur, silica, iron oxide, sodium, trace metals and other chemicals. "[70] The ecological benefits after MTR are far below the level of the original land. 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. Army. You may hear mountaintop removal called “mountaintop mining/valley fill” (MTM/VF), in reference to the techniques used in the mining process. 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. [78], The Appalachian region has a long history characterized by poverty. spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors. [60], While aquatic ecosystems and resources are vulnerable to pollution and geomorphological changes due to MTM and VF leaching, the terrestrial environment is also negatively impacted. [62]These conditions are not present in emerging edge forests. 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. 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. In the United States, this method of coal mining is conducted in the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States. 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. [61], The Appalachian region is characterized by its high biodiversity and steep topography. It concludes that mountaintop mining has serious environmental impacts that mitigation practices cannot successfully address. [81], Appalachian ironweed has become a symbol for the women of the Appalachian region. [15] However, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 list "the restoration of land and water resources" as a priority. [44] This bill stated that “until health studies are conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services", there will be a suspension on permitting for mountaintop removal coal mining. [42] The MOU and IAP outlined different administrative actions that would help decrease “the harmful environmental impacts of mountaintop mining”. [71] A 2011 study found that counties in and near mountaintop mining areas had higher rates of birth defects for five out of six types of birth defects, including circulatory/respiratory, musculoskeletal, central nervous system, gastrointestinal, and urogenital defects. What Are the Pros and Cons of Strip Mining? Environmentalists also worry about the destruction of animal habitat and the reformation of regional topography, both of which can cause environmental damage. border, is a form of surface mining that strips large portions of a mountain away. In Kentucky, for example, the number of workers has declined over 60% from 1979 to 2006 (from 47,190 to 17,959 workers). 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. These areas are the most economical area of storage as they are located close to the active pit of exposed coal. According to federal government estimates, mountaintop removal coal mining has damaged or destroyed more than 2,000 miles of streams in four central Appalachian states, including Virginia and Tennessee. In 2007, adult poverty rates in MTM areas were 10.1% greater than adult poverty rates in non-mining areas in Appalachia. 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. 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. [50] Declines in stream biodiversity have been linked to the level of mining disturbance in West Virginia watersheds.[51]. [1][3][6], MTR in the United States is most often associated with the extraction of coal in the Appalachian Mountains. After backstacking and grading of overburden has been completed, topsoil (or a topsoil substitute) is layered over the overburden layer. [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. In comparison, the reference site that did not experience MTM measured conductivity values that ranged from 30 to 260μS/cm. A number of spills of these slurries have been reported, resulting in catastrophic flooding, which is a concern for environmental activists. [43]  The Clean Water Rule “more precisely defines waters protected under the Clean Water Act”. MTR reduces the freshwater resource that supports biodiversity. 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. [32], In February 2017, President Trump signed a bill that did away with the stream protection rule previously administered by the Obama Administration. [9], Mountaintop removal has been practiced since the 1960s. This process is considered to be safer compared to underground mining because the coal seams are accessed from above instead of underground. Waste rock piles can leach pollutants like selenium and ammonium People who are concerned about mining communities argue that mountaintop removal destroys the economy of the community, as only a small crew is needed, and these communities are often forced to move by the valley fill and slurry ponds. A comparison study that surveyed residents from both the MTR mining community and non-mining community reported that people living near the MTR site experienced more symptoms of respiratory disease. Apr 10, 2013 - Explore Appalachian Voices's board "Mountaintop Removal" on Pinterest. Additionally, many personal interest stories of coalfield residents have been written, including: "Mountaintop Removal" redirects here. [8] In some regions, however, the percentage is higher, for example, MTR provided 30% of the coal mined in West Virginia in 2006. MTR is sometimes the most cost-effective method of extracting coal. [64] In addition, reintroduced elk (Cervus canadensis) on mountaintop removal sites in Kentucky are eating tree seedlings. Next, grass seed is spread in a mixture of seed, fertilizer, and mulch made from recycled newspaper. [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”. People also object to mountaintop removal on aesthetic grounds, because the results are crude and very ugly. [62] Fragmentation results in an increase in edge forests and a decrease in interior forests. Palmer et al. 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. Other than occupational exposure, data and models suggested that deposits of  such pollutants in lungs of the residents are significantly higher in mining areas. 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. [43], On Tuesday, April 9, 2019, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a legislative hearing, "Health and Environmental Impacts of Mountaintop Removal Mining". [10] However, coal companies are often granted waivers and instead reclaim the mountain with "topsoil substitute". exciting challenge of being a wiseGEEK researcher and writer. Michael Hendryx: Mountaintop removal is a form of surface coal mining. [7] Sites range from Ohio to Virginia. Since 1996, this policy has exempted many strip mines from being subject to permit-specific reviews of impact on individual endangered species. A mountaintop removal site in Kentucky photographed in 2012. docsearls/flickr August 2, 2016 As coal mining declines, community mental health problems linger On four occasions, federal courts have ruled that the US Army Corps of Engineers violated the Clean Water Act by issuing such permits. These elevated concentrations are driving factors contributing to overall increases in water conductivity. [37], A federal judge has also ruled that using settling ponds to remove mining waste from streams violates the Clean Water Act. A study in 2009 estimated over 500 mountains have been blown up in mountaintop removal mining (equal to around 1,160,000 acres). [31], Different organizations have tried to revise a stream buffer rule placed in 1977. It is most associated with the Appalachian Mountains in the United States, although this mining technique is in use all over the world. [44] This hearing involved the H.R. [12] Any streams in a valley are buried by the overburden. Once coal removal is completed, the mining operators back stack overburden from the next area to be mined into the now empty pit. Factors contributing to disturbed stream flow include vegetation removal, subsequent aquifer formation, compaction of fill surface and overall loss of headwater streams. Parton, Chris. The overall loss of forest cover reduces suitable soil for revegetation efforts, carbon sequestration and biodiversity. 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. [59] VF processes limit these functions, negatively impacting surrounding rivers and watersheds. The average poverty rate for this region is 16.3%, above the national average of 14.6%. 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 … 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. [80] Economic and health disparities are concentrated in MTM areas. The surveys require approval from state and federal biologists, who provide informal guidance on how to minimize mines' potential effects to species. Coal mines like this one, using mountaintop-removal mining techniques, are being proposed in the eastern slopes of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. 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. Published studies also show a high potential for human health impacts. 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. A $6 million settlement has been reached in federal court that will restore damage from West Virginia mountaintop removal mines.The Sierra Club, Ohio… [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”. [33], Permits must be obtained to deposit valley fill into streams. Coal seams are extracted from a mountain by removing the land, or overburden, above the seams. 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. [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. Primarily, mountaintop removal is occurring in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. Lambert established the Prenter Water Fund which provides clean water to communities whose water has become polluted due to local MTM. 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