Do they still do strip mining?
It occurs most commonly in West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky, the top two coal-producing states in Appalachia. At current rates, MTR in the U.S. will mine over 1.4 million acres (5,700 km²) by 2010, an amount of land area that exceeds that of the state of Delaware.
Where is strip mining done in the US?
Strip mining has occurred mainly in the Appalachian Mountains and adjacent areas, the Central Plains from Indiana and Illinois through Oklahoma, and new mines for subbituminous coal in North Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana.
Is there still coal mining in Appalachia?
Coal mining production in Appalachia declined from 1990 to 2015, but there is some debate over why. The number of coal mining jobs in the region remained steady from 2000 to 2010, but declined by 37% between 2011 and 2015.
Is mountaintop removal mining still happening?
Since the 1970s, the coal industry has blown up more than 500 of the oldest, most biologically rich mountains in America and destroyed more than 2,000 miles of headwater streams. Despite an ongoing citizen movement to end the destruction, and despite the decline in coal, it’s still happening.
Why did strip mining start?
In the 1960s, mining companies began to bulldoze and dynamite hillsides to reach coal veins without digging. This form of strip-mining, called contour mining, caused more visible damage than traditional deep mining, leaving mountains permanently gouged and, sometimes, farmland destroyed.
How is mountaintop removal legal?
Disposal of excess overburden associated with mountaintop removal mining has generally been permitted under Nationwide Permit 21 (NWP 21), which authorizes discharges from surface coal mining activities that result in no more than minimal impacts (site-specifically and cumulatively) to the aquatic environment.
Why does West Virginia have so much coal?
The first widespread use of West Virginia coal began when the saltworks along the Kanawha River expanded dramatically in the decades before the Civil War. When the anthracite fields of Pennsylvania no longer could provide the tonnage needed, American industrialists discovered the massive coalfields of West Virginia.
How many coal mines are still open in West Virginia?
In West Virginia 99% of the generated electricity comes from coal. There are currently 14 coal fired electric generating facilities located in West Virginia.
Is mountaintop mining legal?
Mountaintop mining is regulated under several laws, including the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). Viewed broadly, the Administration’s combined actions on mountaintop mining displease both industry and environmental advocates.
What is abandoned strip mine?
Abandoned Mine Lands are those lands, waters, and surrounding watersheds where extraction, beneficiation, or processing of ores and minerals (excluding coal) has occurred. These lands also include areas where mining or processing activity is inactive.
Which type of mining is least harmful to the environment?
Sub-Surface mining is likely the least harmful to the environment.
Where are the abandoned coal mines in Virginia?
The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy’s interactive map shows the locations of abandoned coal mines throughout the state of Virginia. The map allows users to explore a range of mine features.
How big is the strip mining in Appalachia?
It found that a total of 1,400 square miles of Appalachia within the Ohio River basin has been scarred by strip mining, with the tops and sides of mountains blasted away and steep mountains valleys filled with so-called “waste rock.”
How are strip mines reclaimed from the ground?
Many former strip mines are reclaimed with the goal of stabilizing the ground so that it doesn’t all run off with a heavy rainfall. Remnants of the rock and soil removed to expose coal are replaced with new material that’s graded and seeded, often with nonnative species like autumn olive, which is known for holding soil.
Is it legal to work in a strip mine?
An A & G Coal Corp. bulldozer crew was improving a road at the edge of the hillside. It is legal to work on a strip mine that close to a house — and to work at night.
