The ground shakes at 10:28AM and again at 3:22PM every day, as if it were an alarm going off for the people in the large Appalachian hollow. The lively peoples’ lives stop and is filled with worry. The 22-wheeled coal trucks come around the bin of the hollow, sounding and looking as if they had no mercy for the mountains, the environment, and the people.
Mountaintop removal (MTR) is the “newest and most efficient” mining process, according to the National Mining Association (NMA). The problem with MTR and what the NMA says is the dramatic effects it has on the environment, people, and economy, not only in the Appalachian region, but nationally; which the NMA fails to mention. I do not agree with MTR because of the physical, emotional, and mental damages it has on the Appalachian people, economy and the environment they live in. While there are many sites, books, and articles stating the ungodly things MTR has contributed to, but the NMA had nothing but praise for this innovation. They even established this marvelous project called the “Clean Coal Technology Program”. The Appalachian people suffer with MTR five days a week, and could last 24 hours a day. This means there is a constant rush of toxins in the air they breathe in, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and arsenic. These dangerous chemicals and heavy metals also find their way into the creeks and wells of the people living around the MTR sites by “sludge spills”. Coal washing often results in thousands of gallons of contaminated water that looks like black sludge and contains toxic chemicals and heavy metals. The sludge, or slurry, is often contained behind earthen dams in huge sludge ponds. One of these ponds broke on February 26th, 1972 above the community of Buffalo Creek in southern West Virginia. The Pittston Coal Company had been warned that the dam was dangerous, but they did nothing. Heavy rain caused the pond to fill up and it breached the dam, sending a wall of black water into the valley below. Over 132 million gallons of black wastewater swept through the valley. A depressing 125 people were killed, 1100 injured and 4000 were left homeless. Over 1000 cars and trucks were destroyed and the disaster did 50 million dollars in damage. The coal company called it an “act of God”. If one drop of arsenic touched the tongue of one of these people, it would be fatal. Many reports have been made stating that MTR has harmed and even killed some of the people of Appalachia. (Find quote or report of health issues). Aside from the health issues, there has been property damage, such as cracked foundations, broken windows, and complete destruction to homes and businesses.
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