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Kayford Mountain

WHAT IS MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL MINING?

Mountaintop removal mining (MTR) is a radical form of coal mining in which entire mountains are blown apart to access coal.  MTR has devastated over one million acres of Appalachia, polluting headwater streams, contaminating drinking water and destroying a distinctly American culture that has endured generations.  Over 2,000 miles of streams have been buried and more than 500 mountains and ridge tops literally have been "blown apart"....gone for eternity.

mountaintop-removal-mining

Photos by Pam Richart, Eco-Justice Collaborative. Click here or the image above for a slide show.

Mountaintop removal mining began in the 1970's when increased demand for coal in the United States - sparked by the 1973 and 1979 petroleum crises - created incentives for a more economical form of coal mining.

MTR expanded further in the 1990's to retrieve relatively low-sulfur coal which became desirable as a result of amendments to the U.S. Clean Air Act. These regulations tightened emissions limits on more polluting high-sulfur coal processing.

HOW ARE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY MTR?

Even government agencies that regulate mountaintop removal agree that the effects on nearby homes and communities can be devastating. In their Mid-Atlantic Regional Assessment, the Environmental Protection Agency states:

“The impact of mountaintop removal on nearby communities is devastating. Dynamite blasts needed to splinter rock strata are so strong they crack the foundations and walls of houses. Mining dries up an average of 100 wells a year and contaminates water in others. In many coalfield communities, the purity and availability of drinking water are keen concerns.”

In addition to the frequent loss or pollution of drinking water, families living near mountaintop removal sites contend with: flooding; blasting; and sludge dams.  Visit ilovemoutains.org for a description of these impacts, as well as answers to most frequently asked questions about mountaintop removal mining. nyt_mtr Visit Mountain Justice for a description of the steps and the impacts associated with mountaintop removal mining.

INTERESTED IN A DELEGATION?

Click here for a sample flier and here for a sample itinerary. Use our contact form to let us know you are interested and we'll be in touch with you right away. This video, filmed and produced by The Topless America Project, is from EJC's inaugural delegation to Coal River Valley, West Virginia.

Blowing Our Top CAN TV Interview with Pam and Lan Richart And Parson Brown, The Topless America Project