Why it matters:
Because, for some reason, chaining ourselves to mountains and singing ballads about ash-laden silt just isn’t having the desired effect.
Recap:
Frequent readers of EMD will know, all objectivity aside, we’re not fans of Mountain Top Removal Mining. Well now it seems we’re not alone.
According to a recent AP article, a group of 12 scientist from the Appalachian region (not to be confused with “Appalachian scientists”, whose idea of delicate instruments include sticks with ornery raccoons tied to ‘em) are calling on federal regulators to put a stop to Mountain Top Removal (MTR) mining.
Mountain Top Removal is no hyperbolic euphemism. The process can be summed up thusly: Blow off top of Appalachian peak, sift through rubble for coal, dump leftover mess into nearby streams.
No. Seriously.
Margaret Palmer, a University of Maryland professor, was the lead author of the original article, which appeared in the “Policy Forum” section of the journal Science. Palmer and her colleagues acknowledge the rarity of scientists taking what amounts to a political stance on an issue, but all agree the science behind the conclusion was “rigorous” (comprising nearly a dozen studies) and the evidence it uncovered “overwhelming.” (Sounds like a climate issue that’s been in the news as of late.)
Not surprisingly, the National Mining Association is incredulous. As far as NMA spokeswoman Carol Raulston is concerned the scientists have it out for the mining industry, and asserts that, while the group is entitled to its opinion, there’s nothing in the research that “points to any new conclusions.”
Commentary:
Maybe that’s because the conclusion has always been the same: destroying mountains (and the resident flora and fauna) and pouring the detritus into mountain streams is bad. In fact, almost 500 mountains have been leveled and 1500 miles of streams choked to death or rendered utterly toxic.
Ah but you can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs, eh? Unfortunately the only people eating the MTR omelet are the CEOs and shareholders of the mining companies. MTR’s ham-fisted approach to mining requires fewer skilled hands, and thousands of jobs have been lost as a result. Okay, enough with the breakfast analogies.
If the COP15 conference has taught us anything, its that politicians are often more interested in projections from economists and CEOs than irrefutable studies from scientists. The MTR announcement is encouraging nonetheless. And though the two are linked, the MTR debate is not complicated like the climate change debate. If fighting climate change is like fighting cancer, then putting a stop to MTR is removing a suspicious-looking mole: a simple and obvious procedure.
Coal has a well-deserved image problem. At best it’s dirty and dangerous to mine, and dirty and dangerous to burn. Maybe adding MTR to the mix is just par for the course. But as long as we’re stuck with such a nasty fuel for the short term, is it too much to ask that we not destroy hundreds of mountains and streams while we’re busy destroying the atmosphere?
Creative Solutions:
- Send a letter to President Obama
- Donate your Facebook Status & Tweet This: “@barackobama Mr President, please come to Appalachia & see the devastation of Mountaintop Removal for yourself www.ran.org/obamamtr #MTR”
- Sign the petition at ilovemountains.org and stopmountaintopremoval.org
- Find out your connection to MTR
- Call your representative
- Send a letter to your local representative
- Support the Clean Water Protection Act
- Support the Appalachia Restoration Act
