The Environmental Problems Caused by Coal Mining in the United States of America (Essay Sample)

The Environmental Problems Caused by Coal Mining in the United States of America Name Institutional Affiliations Course Number Course Instructor Date The Environmental Problems Caused by Coal Mining in the United States of America Coal is an abundant fuel source considered inexpensive and abundantly occurring below the earth's surface. Statistically, although Coal is distributed in many places worldwide, the United States triumphs over 21% of all the coal resources (National Academies of Sciences et al., 2018). Today, the United State's coal industry is quite mature, tracing its historical origins from 1701 when Coal was first exploited in Richmond, Virginia. This was followed by aggressive mining in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and 26 other states by 2000. Coal mining has since contributed to the overall mining industry's total revenue of $544 billion in 2020 (Witchalls, 2022). The revenue growth is attributed to the fact that Coal drives several industries, including transport, manufacturing, production of electricity, and processing industries inter alia. In the constant pursuit of consumerism in addition to unrecyclable products, mining is seen as the panacea to provide necessary resources that can sustain economies as well as improve the standards of living. Coal mining in America dates back to the age of industrialization. However, over time, this alternative has given rise to serious environmental problems that were not intended initially. Consequently, this essay analyzes and critically discusses major environmental problems caused by coal mining in the USA and ultimately suggests sustainable recommendations. Coal mining poses incredible water pollution risks and contaminates nearby water bodies like lakes, rivers, and aquifers. Surface mines, often called strip mines, contribute heavily to this process. In 2021, surface mines contributed 62% of the Coal mined in the United States (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2020). The process involves the removal of soil and rocks above the coal deposits and is quite common in Wyoming's Powder River Basin, where Coal is located 70 feet from the surface. Additionally, mountain-top removal and valley-filling are coal-mining methods that have significantly affected the Appalachians in West Virginia and Kentucky. Often, removing topsoil produces much silt, which ends up in streams. Additionally, water that flows from the filled valleys contains heavy pollutants and metals like arsenic, copper, and lead (Zhang et al., 2022). When these metals are iodized in air and water through acid mine drainage, they harm considerable aquatic wildlife and plants downstream (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2017). They also alter the pH of nearby streams to dangerous levels comparable to vinegar. However, the magnitude of water pollution caused by coal mining is felt during accidental leaks and contamination. Often, after mining Coal, it is washed with water to remove impurities before it is burned (Zhang et al., 2022). The resulting coal slurry is stored in specialized ponds that may leak, spill, or fail. In 2000, Kentucky's coal slurry impoundment failed, contaminating more than 100 miles of rivers and streams with over 300 million gallons of thick black sludge (Sealey, 2017). This shows how destructive coal mining can contribute to water pollution if not effectively managed. Coal mining contributes to several principal emissions, especially during combustion. A mixture of these emissions collectively contributes to air pollution in massive quantities. Subsequently, air pollution results in anthropogenic problems, including respiratory illnesses, when people inhale those emissions. Of these emissions, sulfur dioxide causes acid rain and respiratory illnesses, nitrogen oxide brings about smog and respiratory diseases, carbon dioxide causes global warming, and particulates create smog and haze in the air. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (2020), 20% of the total air pollution in 2021 came from burning Coal. Other studies have shown that coal mining produces much methane with a global warming potential of 36 times Carbon dioxide over a hundred years (Kholod et al., 2020). Ideally, therefore, coal mining contributes immensely to air pollution. This is a significant factor in environmental degradation which contributes to global warming over time. According to Kholod et al. (2020), underestimating the environmental impact of coal mining on air pollution can potentially cripple the efforts to address global warming, which is constantly becoming a global threat. The unplanned disposal of coal combustion waste negatively impacts environmental aesthetics. Coal combustion wastes are primarily made up of ash and other unburned materials following the combustion of Coal (Keating, 2011). In large industries where Coal is exploited for its energy capabilities, these wastes are captured by specialized pollution control devices. It is estimated that over 100 million tons of coal combustion waste are generated annually in the USA, of which 76 million tons of the waste are disposed of while the rest is sold to other manufacturing industries to make cement and wallboard (Keating, 2011). Often these wastes are disposed of in landfills or surface impoundments. Most coal combustion wastes landfills are located close to industries for environmental protection. However, most of the landfills are old and overused, hence lacking protective liners. Therefore, they remain not only health hazards to the nearby communities but also destroy the beauty and aesthetics of the environment. In a bid to prevent such occurrences and hold coal mining companies and other industries accountable for their actions, the United Nations, as part of its Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), collaborates with these companies to ensure their methods of disposing of coal combustion wastes are in line with environmental protection requirements (Bandyopadhyay & Maiti, 2022). Overall, environmental aesthetics remain at risk with unregulated disposal methods and criteria for disposing of coal combustion wastes. Coal mining also contributes significantly to land subsidence. Aggressive underground coal mining in different parts of the USA leaves behind large mining goaves and empty spaces, which can potentially cause sudden rock mass collapse. Such land subsidence can have potentially long-lasting effects on soil quality and other ecosystem factors. Among the serious problems with land subsidence include soil erosion, soil degradation, and a decline in soil quality (Ma et al., 2019). More importantly, land subsidence contributes to increased soil water evaporation, which negatively impacts the soil's water-holding capacity. As a result, other components of the ecosystem, like plant density, coverage, and biomass (Ma et al., 2019), are significantly affected by coal mining. Moreover, soil's physical and chemical properties are essential in maintaining its quality. During erosion, the top fertile and quality soil is carried away by agents of erosion, leaving the ground bare. This erosion is furthered by the loose nature of silt, mainly where mountain-top removal and valley-filling coal mining practices occur. In late 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Mines reported that coal-mine subsidence in the USA directly threatened approximately 2.2 billion acres of land. Out of these statistics, 37,200 acres of urban land in Kentucky–a major coal mining state–had been identified to lie in the direct path of the threat of coal-mine subsidence (U.S. Bureau of Mines, 2022). Following this, the Bureau predicted that such occurrences would negatively affect the environment, destroying built structures and increasing soil erosion rates. In the long run, if not addressed promptly, land subsidence would alter the entire ecosystem of the affected areas. Ultimately, it is indisputable that coal mining in the USA poses significant environmental threats. While many scholars have debated this issue and forwarded solutions, more problem-specific solutions are needed. This essay makes the following recommendations with regard to the environmental impacts of coal mining in the United States: 1 The country should transition to and sustain clean energy through rigorous renewable energy programs, solar, wind, and geothermal, to relieve the pressure on Coal. 2 Incorporate stricter regulatory and monitoring systems and policies regarding water management and use during coal mining. This will define how coal wastes are managed to prevent the pollution of water bodies. 3 Promote and sustain responsible mining activities like advanced technology. This will get rid of destructive practices like mountain-top removal and valley-filling. 4 Enforce stringent policies regarding air pollution by companies that mine Coal. This will address the issue of emissions that result from coal mining. ...