Introduction to Longwall Mining in Illinois

In November 2009, Eco-Justice Collaborative (www.ecojusticecollaborative.org) traveled with representatives of Topless America and the Sierra Club to central Illinois to take a first-hand look at longwall mining. This highly-mechanized form of mining includes planned subsidence, causing land to drop from 4 to 6 feet. It is occurring under some of the best farmland in the world, trading prime farmland for cheap coal. As land subsides, foundations crack and septic systems and wells are affected. Residents often leave their homes and farms, depopulating and destroying what used to be cohesive communities, rather than negotiate repairs with mining companies.

Longwall mining is Illinois form of mountaintop removal mining. As with mountaintop removal mining, toxic chemicals are used to process coal. Evidence suggests that these chemicals are leaching into ground water and water supplies at selected locations. This video highlights impacts in central Illinois Macoupin County, and takes an initial look at the proposed Deer Run Mine in Montgomery County which, if constructed as planned, will be the largest coal mine in the U.S.

To learn more, contact Pam or Lan Richart at ejc@ecojusticecollaborative.org or Citizens Against Longwall Mining: edmiston@abingdon.net.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• longwall mining
• longwall mining illinois
• ecojustice colaborative
• clean coal

[mick4294]

Coal mining paid for my new house, my new car, my big tv etc. I love coal mining.

[1tonyota]

im not against coal minning or coal miners but that is slightly a barbarack practice that makes me wonder if im living in the us or china.

[rahs98991]

Destroying land and the eco system its wrong no matter how much you make its wrong anyway you look at it . It needs to be stopped the voters were tricked into voting for this it was fraud plaid and simple my parents own land over that way and their land is going to be destroyed because of longwall mining Im totally against it

[chum702001]

i live in hillsboro and the coal smells like shit

[strechinpick]

is this video discussing the new Hillsboro mine where they are developing their longwall?

[bigd19922006]

Idiots like the dumbass who posted this video is whats ruining coal mining. If you want to live like the fucking amish go right ahead, but I believe I'll keep on mining

[dylan8495]

Wow a little coal dust omg and remember COAL DRIVES THE USA

[mick4294]

@aquinor the rest of the world doesnt mean anything to me, and gee whiz, wasn't mother earth getting moist when i tore her a new heading.

[coalminer24605]

YEAH THOSE MTR RECLAIMED MINES THE WILDLIFE ARE THRIVING BUT WHEN YOU BUILD THAT CONCRETE JUNGLE( CITY ) NOTHING IS RECLAIMED AND NO WILDLIFE!!! IF YOU DONT LIKE THE COAL LIVE LIKE A CAVEMAN AND PROVE IT!!!!

[lukerchaffey]

It took power from coal to power your computer to upload and view this movie..

Digging the black.