As would seem relatively obvious to most unbiased observers, coal mining has not typically advanced the cause of clean water, especially when it comes to mountaintop removal. The process of coal mining can have some pretty disastrous downsides. Margaret Palmer – a member of American Rivers’ scientific and technical advisory committee – and a number of other scientists published a study in Science this week detailing the full environmental cost of mountaintop removal. The authors find:
“Mining permits are being issued despite the preponderance of scientific evidence that impacts are pervasive and irreversible and that mitigation cannot compensate for the losses.”
The practice buries streams that are important to the overall health of the watershed, destroys forests, and decreases biodiversity. Contaminants from mining sites have been found to spread far downstream and degrade water quality. There are also significant threats to human health. In mined areas, there are higher levels of chemicals in well water and elevated rates of mortality, lung cancer, and heart, lung, and kidney disease.
John Q Richmonder on said:
What do you know, another environmentalist crying about the affects of fossil fuels all the while typing this complaint on a laptop that was charged by a coal powered plant. Either get off the grid or invent a better way to produce electricity. Another do I say, not as I do hippie.
holly on said:
I love the fact that our rails run by the river. they’re so beautiful.
holly on said:
and sure coal mining can screw some things up but the tracks rocks.
Scott Burger on said:
Holly, wouldn’t it be great to have passenger rail alongside the river instead of coal?
Richmond reached its zenith in terms of power and prestige as a passenger rail center that rivaled NYC shortly before the Civil War. Those days could return, with the end of the coal trade.
Actually my laptop was charged at least in part with solar.
Again, not political bickering so much as stating the truth.
James tepe on said:
For those not familiar, scott burger has nothing more to say other than corporate conspiracy theory rhetoric and othe extreme activist bologna that is backed by half truths and cherry picked data. Its old. He needs to work on cleaning up the litter that surrounds him in oregon hill then get an education on the bigger world matters he tries to tackle.
Nice picture of the best downtown section of River in the country!
Scott Burger on said:
For those not familiar, James tepe deals in personal attacks and insults, but with no countering facts or meaningful debate.
Again, not bickering so much as stating the truth.
TOT on said:
John Q Richmonder makes a good point! With that said, God Bless the Amish….they are the only true environmentalist in America: no power, no computers, but they may light a fire every now and then to stay warm and cook stuff…..plus they wear the same outfits day in and day out….not like these trendy liberals who have twenty pairs of skinny jeans . To all the Environmentalist Liberals…GO AMISH or GO HOME!!!
David on said:
He needs to work on picking up the litter that surrounds Oregon Hill?? Where exactly do you see all this litter in Oregon Hill, James? I will be more than happy to volunteer my time to pick it up. Just let me know where it is.
evan on said:
the confluence of the river and the trains definitely allows for some picturesque moments that i think start to reflect the gritty texture of richmond that we all know and love.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
Sadly, we see more of West Virginia pass by ever day.
http://ilovemountains.org/
It’s good to see our country taking advantage of this energy resource, although natural gas is becoming a more competitively priced.
We can thank a lot of this mountaintop removal on hometown heroes Dominion. Jerks.
Stop bickering about politics and appreciate the most beautiful river in the world!
I am not bickering. I appreciate the river and want to protect it.
http://www.americanrivers.org/newsroom/blog/coal-mining-and-clean-water-1-10.html
As would seem relatively obvious to most unbiased observers, coal mining has not typically advanced the cause of clean water, especially when it comes to mountaintop removal. The process of coal mining can have some pretty disastrous downsides. Margaret Palmer – a member of American Rivers’ scientific and technical advisory committee – and a number of other scientists published a study in Science this week detailing the full environmental cost of mountaintop removal. The authors find:
“Mining permits are being issued despite the preponderance of scientific evidence that impacts are pervasive and irreversible and that mitigation cannot compensate for the losses.”
The practice buries streams that are important to the overall health of the watershed, destroys forests, and decreases biodiversity. Contaminants from mining sites have been found to spread far downstream and degrade water quality. There are also significant threats to human health. In mined areas, there are higher levels of chemicals in well water and elevated rates of mortality, lung cancer, and heart, lung, and kidney disease.
What do you know, another environmentalist crying about the affects of fossil fuels all the while typing this complaint on a laptop that was charged by a coal powered plant. Either get off the grid or invent a better way to produce electricity. Another do I say, not as I do hippie.
I love the fact that our rails run by the river. they’re so beautiful.
and sure coal mining can screw some things up but the tracks rocks.
Holly, wouldn’t it be great to have passenger rail alongside the river instead of coal?
Richmond reached its zenith in terms of power and prestige as a passenger rail center that rivaled NYC shortly before the Civil War. Those days could return, with the end of the coal trade.
Actually my laptop was charged at least in part with solar.
Again, not political bickering so much as stating the truth.
For those not familiar, scott burger has nothing more to say other than corporate conspiracy theory rhetoric and othe extreme activist bologna that is backed by half truths and cherry picked data. Its old. He needs to work on cleaning up the litter that surrounds him in oregon hill then get an education on the bigger world matters he tries to tackle.
Nice picture of the best downtown section of River in the country!
For those not familiar, James tepe deals in personal attacks and insults, but with no countering facts or meaningful debate.
Again, not bickering so much as stating the truth.
John Q Richmonder makes a good point! With that said, God Bless the Amish….they are the only true environmentalist in America: no power, no computers, but they may light a fire every now and then to stay warm and cook stuff…..plus they wear the same outfits day in and day out….not like these trendy liberals who have twenty pairs of skinny jeans . To all the Environmentalist Liberals…GO AMISH or GO HOME!!!
He needs to work on picking up the litter that surrounds Oregon Hill?? Where exactly do you see all this litter in Oregon Hill, James? I will be more than happy to volunteer my time to pick it up. Just let me know where it is.
the confluence of the river and the trains definitely allows for some picturesque moments that i think start to reflect the gritty texture of richmond that we all know and love.
blah blah blah insert trollbait here blah blah.