TUCA: PH648 - Mountain Top Removal Project

Don Balanay, Kathy Nguyen, Joshua Tunnage, and Huynh Nga (Nina) Vo present "Mountain Top Removal, The Bedtime story!"

Our project abstract: Mountaintop removal (MTR) has been affecting the Appalachian Areas since the 1960s due to the high demand of coal. MTR is a process where large quantities of dynamite, including the harmful substances ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel, are utilized to discharge the overburden (forest, topsoil and sand) in order to retrieve the coal. The overburden is subsequently either deposited in a valley, river, or back in its original position where it is then rendered useless. The byproducts of MTR on the exposed human population are the production of liver damage, kidney failure, lung cancer, spleen failure, bone damage, cancers of the digestive tract, and numerous birth defects. MTR destroys the environment by damaging aquatic life, reducing wetlands space, contaminating water systems, and polluting clean air. Although there are several federal and state regulations, such as the National Environment Protection Act of 1970, the Clean Water Act, and the Appalachian Mountains Preservation Act, they are not being rigorously enforced and mandated. Stricter regulations need to be implemented. A proposed solution to cease MTR is the subsidized purchasing of the land by private buyers, rather than the coal companies and be transformed into an environment found to be beneficial to the community. If the land is seen to be misused, a fine or an eminent domain will be instated.

If you'd like to see / hear more, we suggest that you visit http://ilovemountains.org/, a site that is very dedicated to the ending of mountain top removal!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Environmental
• Health