Use explosives to blow the tops of the mountains is very devastating for native plants and wildlife, depriving the environment of wealth and of the surroundings and the people near his impoverished.
It is suggested that more than 1.5 million acres in the southern Appalachians, approved or assets for the removal of the mountain, according to Maria Gunnoe, an environmental activist living behind a high chain link fence, two guard dogs and security because of their activism.
In a clear example of the relationship between the coal industry and the government, a federal judge in Charleston rejected an effort by environmental groups to the company, the impact on the health and environmental impacts in the process should be considered review for the granting of minors "drag-and- fill "permits, according to a report published by the Charleston Gazette.
Dredge and fill permit, available to firms for disposal of waste in American waters under § 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), according to the agency by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Individual authorizations are reviewed by the Army Corps of Engineers, which is supposed to evaluate the applications of public interest and established by CWA Section 404 guidelines environmental criteria.
Noted the recent decision that the Corps "failed, the scientific studies that take into account the open pit to public health problems, if the agency approves new Clean Water Act allows mining."
The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, a grass-roots organization dedicated to the preservation of the environment, has his heart and soul into the education coal companies put in four specific studies testing the risk of adverse health effects by people experienced in the vicinity of landfills mountain.
Dozens of peer-reviewed studies have found that air quality in the vicinity of the open pit sites is significantly lower. The particles and high concentrations of certain pollutants causes increased respiratory rate, including lung cancer. Congenital malformations, an increase of certain diseases, cancer and premature death plague the inhabitants of the southern Appalachians.
Surface mining destroys entire mountains
Mountain Mining requires logging and brush before you destroy explosives, more than 500 feet of mountain to expose coal seams.
Dragas collected 100 tons of rock with a single charge, the variation of heavy metals that, if it causes left in the ground, are no problem, but once exposed to air, pollute streams and rivers.
The process moved 20 tons of rock to take a ton of coal, while tapping groundwater, surface water and air. Since 1986, over 7,500 acres of forested mountains were completely destroyed.
Thanks to a man whose family values and the love for the environment has conquered greed, 50 land is preserved in mountain Kayford. Larry Gibson's family had connections to the mountain from the 1700s, but its share has been increased from 500 to only 50 hectares.
The coal industry has for his country (50 million euros) offered Gibson $ 1,000,000 per hectare, but he refused, instead of preserving the land and protecting a family cemetery, where more than 300 of their relatives are buried.
The law allows mines. Less than 100 m At the cemetery, and 300 m. A house. Cemeteries small family farms were destroyed by the coal industry.
Kayford Mountain is one of the largest coal open pit mining in the Appalachian Mountains, the. Than tourist site for those that surround an authentic destruction of the coal industry live acts Gibson family used to live in the lowest height of the mountain and the view of the surrounding peaks; But now is at the highest peak Kayford.
Although the coal industry has won his last fight, will not stop activists fight until the federal government recognizes the suffering of the country of Appalachia and its people.
Other sources:
http://www.ohvec.org
http://www.wvgazette.com
http://water.epa.gov
http://www.wvgazette.com
http://www.wvcoalfield.com
http://mountainkeeper.blogspot.com
