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Mountaintop mining causing irreparable harm to environment: Scientists
by Jaspreet Virk - January 8, 2010 - comments
Mountaintop mining is being practiced since 1960s. The petroleum crises in 1973 and 1979 had further triggered the widespread use of mountaintop coal mining
New York, January 8 -- With the growing amount of evidence regarding the threats being posed to the environment by mountaintop mining, environmentalists have urged that the activity should be halted immediately.
In a paper presented in the journal Science, group of scientists headed by Margaret Palmer, a University of Maryland researcher, has stated that mountaintop mining is doing irreparable harm to the environment.
Mountaintop coal mining, common in the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern part of the nation, is a form of mining where mountains peaks are removed to access the coal seams below them.
The process involves stripping off forests from top of the mountain. The top is then blasted with explosives to remove up to 400 vertical feet (120 m) of mountain to expose underlying coal seams.
The excess rock and soil is dumped in what is called "holler fills" or "valley fills”.
Hazardous impacts of mountaintop mining
Strengthening the previous studies done in this area, the scientists have stated that the impact of mountaintop mining on the environment and humans is “strong and irrefutable".
Highlighting the environmental degradation, the paper states that this activity leads to deforestation at mining sites. Further, when the excess rock and soil is pushed in the valley, it interferes with and often buries the running streams.
In fact, the activity disrupts 5-10 percent of a watershed area, causing irreparable harm to the eco-system.
The reduced flow of stream due to holler or valley fills often kills plants and trees, leading to landscapes in the area.
Even if some streams continue to flow, they are polluted by the chemicals and metals released during mining activity. The chemicals are often toxic, which cause deformities in fish and poison birds and animals.
Humans are also affected by chemicals and hazardous dust released at the mining site, leading to problems like lung cancer, kidney disease etc.
Companies, environmentalists at daggers drawn
Mountaintop mining is being practiced since 1960s. The petroleum crises in 1973 and 1979 had further triggered the widespread use of mountaintop coal mining.
With an increasing call for energy independence in the nation, the prevalence of mountaintop mining has only expanded.
Of late, the Environmental Protection Agency released a permit allowing removal of mountain top in West Virginia.
The move had drawn a lot of criticism from the environmentalists. But the coal companies believe that it is better and safer than traditional deep-shaft mining.