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by ***faith*** on February 19th, 2011

***faith***

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should they continue moutain top removal to get coal

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Answers. 4 helpful answers below.

  • by engineer is Terminator on February 19th, 2011
    voted: No

    engineer is Terminator

    Mountain tops maintain the way those geological features are balanced.removing the top wouldn't be something that would be advised by anyone who deals with geology.It might lead to seismic disturbances in the area.

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  • by Crowsnest on February 19th, 2011
    voted: No

    Crowsnest

    At my homeland, a peak was artificially modified in order to build a new ski run and a parking. After two springs (Two snow melting seasons), the whole mountain side, slides down to the valley.

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  • by DA BEN DAN yanggui zi on February 19th, 2011
    voted: No

    DA BEN DAN yanggui zi

    no, I would rather they didn't.

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  • by iwnit on February 19th, 2011
    voted: No

    iwnit

    "Critics contend that MTR is a destructive and unsustainable practice that benefits a small number of corporations at the expense of local communities and the environment. Though the main issue has been over the physical alteration of the landscape, opponents to the practice have also criticized MTR for the damage done to the environment by massive transport trucks, and the environmental damage done by the burning of coal for power. Blasting at MTR sites also expels dust and fly-rock into the air, which can disturb or settle onto private property nearby. This dust may contain sulfur compounds, which corrodes structures and is a health hazard.

    A January 2010 report in the journal Science reviews current peer-reviewed studies and water quality data and explores the consequences of mountaintop mining. It concludes that mountaintop mining has serious environmental impacts that mitigation practices cannot successfully address. For example, the extensive tracts of deciduous forests destroyed by mountaintop mining support several endangered species and some of the highest biodiversity in North America. There is a particular problem with burial of headwater streams by valley fills which causes permanent loss of ecosystems that play critical roles in ecological processes.
    Published studies also show a high potential for human health impacts. These may result from contact with streams or exposure to airborne toxins and dust. Adult hospitalization for chronic pulmonary disorders and hypertension are elevated as a result of county-level coal production. Rates of mortality, lung cancer, as well as chronic heart, lung and kidney disease are also increased.

    A United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) environmental impact statement finds that streams near some valley fills from mountaintop removal contain higher levels of minerals in the water and decreased aquatic biodiversity. The statement also estimates that 724 miles (1,165 km) of Appalachian streams were buried by valley fills between 1985 to 2001.
    Although U.S. mountaintop removal sites by law must be reclaimed after mining is complete, reclamation has traditionally focused on stabilizing rock formations and controlling for erosion, and not on the reforestation of the affected area. Fast-growing, non-native flora such as Lespedeza cuneata, planted to quickly provide vegetation on a site, compete with tree seedlings, and trees have difficulty establishing root systems in compacted backfill. Consequently, biodiversity suffers in a region of the United States with numerous endemic species. In addition, reintroduced elk (Cervus canadensis) on mountaintop removal sites in Kentucky are eating tree seedlings.

    Advocates of MTR claim that once the areas are reclaimed as mandated by law, the area can provide flat land suitable for many uses in a region where flat land is at a premium. They also maintain that the new growth on reclaimed mountaintop mined areas is better suited to support populations of game animals"
    Source and further information:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountaintop_removal_mining#Environmental_and_health_impacts

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Is moutain top removal a local issue
Advocates of mtr claim that once the areas are reclaimed as mandated by law the area can provide flat land suitable for many uses in a region where flat land is at a premium they also maintain that the new growth on reclaimed mountaintop mined areas is better suited to support populations of game animals

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