Environmental Effects Of Strip Mining On The Appalachian Region

Today’s society relies on fossil fuels for nearly every industrial process. Oil, coal, and natural gas are utilized for heat, work, and lubrication. It is easy to see the benefits gained from the use of these substances, as they all provide the everyday conveniences humans have become accustomed to. However, their impact on the environment, specifically when they are harvested, is a matter that is frequently overlooked. The processes that humans use to extract fossil fuels have been shown to cause drinking water pollution, air pollution with greenhouse gases, a loss of species diversity, and a loss of geological diversity from “blasting off mountaintops to access underlying coal seams” (Arnold 1). An analysis of dated sources reveals that

The process requires “blasting off mountain tops to access underlying coal streams” (1). Such a description automatically indicates the geologic effects of strip mining. Entire mountains are being destroyed, and the placement of sediment in the surrounding valleys is leveling out huge areas of land. The rivers that flowed through the valleys have been overlooked, as “724 stream miles were covered by valley fills from 1985 to 2001” (6). Clearly, strip mining has had a severe negative impact on vital aspects of the Appalachian Region, primarily the land and water. Another key concern that arises from strip mining is the release of selenium. “Many species of fish . . . are sensitive to elevated concentrations of aqueous or food-born selenium” (2). The selenium released into tributaries from strip mining has been linked to the poisoning of several species of fish. Its effect has been skeletal deformities in both fish and their larvae. A cause for concern is generated because of how widespread strip mining has become. It is estimated that “1,200 miles of headwater streams [were] impacted between 1992 and 2002” (6). This “metal contamination has led to the disappearance of sensitive taxa” (6) in a huge area encompassing the Appalachian Mountains and the surrounding region. The loss of landscapes, ecological diversity, and streams are all linked to strip

This is due to an overall lack of study on both governmental and private levels. The government has been hesitant to spend taxpayer dollars on such studies, because the results may hinder profits from natural gas extraction due to necessary further regulation. Therefore, a study that notes such a significant environmental concern as water contamination from a purely objective point of view is groundbreaking in the field. The journal article was published in 2011, which allows the study to contain relevance to the communities of today that are affected by hydraulic fracturing. The authors are affiliated with the Nicholas School of the Environment and the Biology Department of Duke University. In addition, the publisher, the National Academy of Sciences, is a nonprofit that is asked to use private studies in science and technology to provide advice to the nation’s government. Given the background of both the authors and the publisher, the credibility of these results is