The Modern Mine Cleanup Crisis
A mine in Pike County, Kentucky that has not produced coal since 2019. Photo taken December 2023.
Appalachian coal communities have powered the country for more than a century. But as demand for coal declines, companies are often failing to repair the land they have already mined, cutting corners to save money.
Coal companies are supposed to repair damaged land and water as they mine to help limit harm to people, wildlife and waterways. But many companies are failing to clean up after themselves, and state and federal authorities aren’t using the tools available to them to hold coal companies accountable.
More than 600,000 acres need to be cleaned up at current mines in the East. “Zombie mines” are leaving people in danger of landslides, increased flood damage and other problems, and changes are urgently needed.
Tell federal regulators to ensure cleanup of coal-mined lands!
Cane Patch Mine
The failure of the mine reclamation system
The process of restabilizing mined lands, planting vegetation, fixing safety hazards and repairing water pollution is known as mine reclamation. Before 1977, coal companies were not required to reclaim their mines, and they abandoned thousands of polluting sites. These decades-old abandoned mines are being reclaimed through the Abandoned Mine Lands Fund, which received a much-needed $11.3 billion boost in 2021 through the bipartisan infrastructure law.
When Congress passed the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, they wanted to be sure no mine was ever abandoned again without cleanup funds in place. The law requires coal companies to clean up disturbed areas soon after mining and to post bonds that show that they have funds available for cleanup if the responsible company fails to do so.
But today, the mine cleanup system is failing as more companies declare bankruptcy or avoid reclamation. For years, coal companies have failed to put aside enough money to pay for cleanup, leaving many states without sufficient funds to clean up these sites. Coal-mining communities in Appalachia and around the country are already experiencing a new wave of abandoned mines — and this time, there’s no backup fund to deal with the mess left behind.
- No Time to Waste Averting Another Coal Mine Cleanup Crisis (Front Porch Blog)
- WATCH: Why Coal Companies Love Bankruptcy (Bloomberg Businessweek)
- West Virginians Could Get Stuck Cleaning Up the Coal Industry’s Messes (Mountain State Spotlight and ProPublica)
- Mine Cleanup Concerns Grow as Industry Declines (The Appalachian Voice)
- WATCH: How a ‘Clean Coal’ Mogul Became a Big Coal’s Fall Guy (Bloomberg Businessweek)
Learn more
Walk through this interactive interface to learn about the coal mining and mine cleanup process
Four reasons why mine reclamation bonds aren’t funding mine cleanup as intended
A 2021 examination of the outstanding reclamation needs at modern surface coal mines in the East found more than 633,000 acres in need of cleanup, at an estimated cost of $7.5 to $9.8 billion. Bonds available for cleanup amounted to $3.8 billion.
Satellite images from 1984 to 2022 show the expansion of three mountaintop removal coal mines over the years and the lack of remediation at many locations.
The post The Modern Mine Cleanup Crisis appeared first on Appalachian Voices.
Protecting the Central and Southern Appalachian Mountain Region
Source: https://appvoices.org/coal-impacts/modern-mine-crisis/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below!
Order by Phone at 888-809-8385 or online at https://mitocopper.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomic.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomics.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Humic & Fulvic Trace Minerals Complex - Nature's most important supplement! Vivid Dreams again!
HNEX HydroNano EXtracellular Water - Improve immune system health and reduce inflammation.
Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin - Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much more.
MitoCopper - Bioavailable Copper destroys pathogens and gives you more energy. (See Blood Video)
Oxy Powder - Natural Colon Cleanser! Cleans out toxic buildup with oxygen!
Nascent Iodine - Promotes detoxification, mental focus and thyroid health.
Smart Meter Cover - Reduces Smart Meter radiation by 96%! (See Video).
| Online: | |
| Visits: | 1,603,479,478 |
| Stories: | 8,150,237 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
