APES- Land and Water Use

Unit Mountain Top Removal

Webquest http://appvoices.org/end-mountaintop-removal/
Name: Jenifer Bui
Answer the following questions: Mountaintop Removal 101
1: What is mountaintop removal?
It is a form of extracting coal. Coal companies will destroy hundreds of feet of mountain tops by
using explosives.

2: How does each of the following affect the environment:

Clearing
They are clearing everything and this harms the environment because they usually burn stuff
and illegally dump the leftovers into communities.

Blasting
This removes at least 600 feet of elevation
Digging
This removes coal using huge machines.

Dumping Waste
They dump the waste into nearby valleys affecting communities.

Processing
They treat the coal with chemicals to ship them off.

Reclamation
The areas will receive more than a spraying of exotic grass seed

3: Where is mountaintop removal happening? -It takes place primarily in eastern Kentucky,
southern West Virginia, southwestern Virginia, and eastern Tennessee.
4: What can be done to stop mountaintop removal?

A way is more restrictions on mine permits.

5: What agencies are involved in regulating mountaintop removal?
-The Office of Surface Mining, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S., Reclamation, Army
Corps of Engineers, and Enforcement are the federal agencies
6: What is one reason why we dont need to use this type of process?
We dont need it because it only provides around 1-3 percent of our nations electricity and that
is basically nothing.
7: Summarize the economic impacts of mountaintop removal
I think it causes less jobs for miners but the machine gives more coal production.
8: Summarize the ecological impacts of mountaintop removal
One of the ecological impacts is pollution around the areas and many species are becoming
endangered.
9: How does mountaintop removal affect the local community?
It creates many health problems because the water could be contaminated by the dusk, rocks,
and other things.