Mountaintop Mining Is Destroying The Environment In The Appalachian Region

Since the 1970’s mountaintop mining has been destroying the environment in the Appalachian region, particularly in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. This destructive process threatens areas that support some of the most bio-diverse ecosystems in North America. The industry impoverishes the citizens that reside in counties that conduct mountaintop mining. Although environmental regulations are supposed to prevent the permanent destruction of these habitats, but current regulations are not strict enough to limit the negative impacts of mountaintop mining. Action needs to be taken to limit mountaintop mining and incentivize the production of clean alternative energies such as solar and wind energy.

The mountaintop

Counties with mountaintop mining show higher mortality rates and poverty rates compared to counties that lack mountaintop mining within the same states (Hendryx). Mountaintop mining also results in, “depressed property values, employment declines and volatility, and foregone alternative economic opportunities (Hendryx). Surface mining jobs require much fewer employee hours per ton of coal than other mining methods and as a result the number of mining jobs within the Appalachian region has decreased by more than 50% between the years 1985 and 2008 (Hendryx). Companies and other potential sources of employment are unlikely to develop businesses in these areas. Residential areas affected by mountaintop mining lose their property value as coal dust and water pollution make the properties undesirable for living. This in turn further depresses the local economies. Structures near the mines are subject to structural damage caused by the blasting. The ground disturbance causes cracks in walls, floors, and foundations, along with broken windows and destroyed water wells (Winegard). The companies are only liable for damages caused by the blasting if the property owners have their property surveyed before the mining begins, and those outside of a half mile radius from the mines are expected to pay for their own survey. Many of the impoverished residents are unable to afford these expensive surveys and so

One study shows that residents that live near mountaintop mining areas reported, “significantly more days of poor physical, mental, and activity limitation and poorer self-rated health compared with the other county groupings (Zullig).” Another study showed an increase in the prevalence of birth defects in mountaintop mining areas compared to the rates in non-mining areas