Mountain top Mining in the Appalachian Mountains (Essay Sample)

MOUNTAIN TOP MINING IN THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
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Introduction
Mountain top mining is a form of surface mining that involves the mining of the summit of a mountain. Mineral resource seams are usually extracted from the mountain by removal of the overburden above the seams. The Appalachian Mountains mining demonstrate this method of mining where coal is mined in the US. The extraction of coal in these mountains employs explosives that are used to remove about 120 meters of the mountain so as to expose the underlying coal seams (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2005). The soil as well as excess rocks, which are laden with toxic byproducts emanating from mining usually, are dumped in the nearby valleys as valley fills. This method is different from the traditional underground mining where a shaft is dug and the miners collect seams using different methods thereby leaving the majority of overburden to be undisturbed. Mountaintop mining has severe environmental effects as well as loss poof biodiversity and toxicities of water tables. Additionally, this method of mining has adverse effect on human health resulting from contact with affected water and toxic air and dust.
Background
Mountain top mining is associated with extraction of coal in the Appalachian Mountains. This method of mining has increasingly resulted to environmental degradation as the environmental protection agency estimates that about 2000 square miles of forests have been cleared to pave way for extraction (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2005). The increased demand for coal has led to mountaintop mining given that it is a more economical way of extraction requiring few workers compared to the underground mining. Due to mountaintop mining being economical, it has expanded further to retrieve low sulfur coal that is desirable as a result of the clean air Act tightening of emissions limits.
Prior to mining operations, land has to be cleared and the top soil is removed and set aside, but due to waivers granted rendering reclamation of the mountain impossible. The overburden is blasted using Explosives to expose the underlying seams. These processes of mining usually damage the ecosystem given that it is not possible to reclaim the mountain as well as the forest cover that existed. This has raised concern to environmentalists and well as the health of the community who se livelihood depends on the forests.
Environmental Position
Large areas of forest are destroyed rivers and streams buried as well as the ecosystem that existed. This affects communities living in the area in one way or another given that the process leaks toxic substances into the underground water as well air pollution (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2005). Mountaintop extraction has serious environmental effects than it is addressed to mitigate its effects. This is demonstrated by the destruction of indigenous forests and the burying of headwater streams by valley fills. This causes a permanent loss of the ecosystem which plays a critical role in ecological processes. Additionally, coal mining produces toxic byproducts have destroyed watersheds in the mining area and this affects the biodiversity of the region.
The decline in the biodiversity is linked to the increased level of mountaintop mining that has disturbed watersheds (Williams, 2003). Studies indicate that about 700 miles of Appalachian streams have been buried in the valley fills, and this has greatly affected the quality of water as a result of valley fills emanating from mountaintop mining. The valley fills have greatly increased the level of conductivity thereby threatening the aquatic life in surface waters. Living things as well as non living factors are affected by the problem of air pollution.
The living things are affected by poor air quality. This is demonstrated by high rate of health hazards like respiratory and skin illness due to increased pollution of air. This effect has also become evident in both plant and animals in that many plant and animal species are declining in number since they too rely on the polluted air that is provided to them. This is significant evidence that proves the tremendous need of reversing and reducing major air pollutant contributors to enhance a sustainable environment for future generations (Liang, Ryvak, & Sayeed, 2012).
There are ecological problems that are associated with mountaintop mining such as aridity and, water scarcity that is caused by increased dumping of waste in fresh water during mining. Heavy metals are liberated and transferred into the ecosystem and the sedimentation of rivers increases susceptibility to water and geologic erosion (Shpirt & Rainbow, 2006). The end result is habitat loss due to pollution of rivers, deforestation thereby causing organisms 6to disappear or migrate to other regions.
Economic Position
Despite coal mining being a billion dollar industry that is hard to deny given that the existence of towns around the mining regions are due to the support of coal, but there are many problems that are associated with it. Studies have indicated an increased risk for human health that result from contact with toxic substances and exposure to polluted air and dust (Tzerman, 2006). This has resulted to increased hospitalization of individuals living around mining areas due to chronic illness that have been elevated by the increased levels of coal production. This is specifically in the sense of financial resources that are requires in providing medical assistance to the affected population.
Additionally, there is an increased rate of birth defects that emanates from toxics released in water streams and in the air. This demonstrates that the health effects of mountaintop mining that is related to water and air pollution has increased compared to non mining regions. This is because of the excess toxins such as selenium that are released into water sheds due to coal mining (Lemly, 2009). This element once released in water causes genetic mutation in aquatic life thereby altering the lifespan and their reproductive systems thereby dropping the aquatic life population and hence breaking the food chain. Therefore, the economic activities of communities living around mining areas are affected by the destruction of the ecosystem.
Currently many millions are being used to reclaim the ecosystem back as well as cleaning the water bodies so that they can support life again (Tzerman, 2006). The spending of such huge funds in land reclamation is a burden to the economy and this could alter the mining practices in future. The mountaintop mining was considered to be a cost effective method but the ecological cost has an economic impact to operators since they have to clean after their operations. This could render mountaintop mining to become inactive due to increased cost of mining.
Existing Policies
The center for biological diversity has continued to fight against mountaintop mining by advocating the end of policy that waives the endangered specie act and renew mining procedures. This is because mountaintop mining has continued to damage the ecosystem thereby endangering the habitat for endangered species (Burns, 2005). Even though the mining operators comply with the federal laws provided the complexity of the species and their ecosystems can not be maintained.
The mountaintop mining has continued to negatively impact the lives of endangered species and therefore, a requirement has been put in place that allows institutions concerned with environment to conduct surveys for any potential of endangered species (Reis, 2009). This offers guidelines on how mining ...