Strip Mining

The history of strip mining dates back to the late 19th century, when it was first used in the Appalachian region of the United States. Over time, the method has evolved with …

Strip Mining

Strip Mining. Surface mining, including strip mining, open-pit mining and mountaintop removal mining, is a broad category of mining in which soil and rock overlying the mineral deposit (the overburden) are removed, in contrast to underground mining, in which the overlying rock is left in place, and the mineral is removed through shafts or tunnels.

Strip-Mining and Grassroots Resistance in Appalachia: …

Appalachian Mountains. In his sweeping article, From Pick and Shovel to Mountaintop Removal: Environmental Injustice in the Appalachian Coal Fields, Patrick C. McGinley, a seasoned public interest coalfield litigator and scholar, surveys the marred historical landscape of strip-mining conflicts in West ia.

Appalachia's Strip-Mined Mountains Face a Growing Flood Risk

The area with the largest extent of strip-mining damage in the entire Ohio River basin is the Big Sandy watershed, which includes Pigeon Creek, and it's also the most threatened by extreme weather related to climate change, according to the new analysis. ... Across Appalachian coal country, mining companies, flood victims, environmental ...

What Is Mountaintop Removal Mining?

Mountaintop removal coal mining, often described as "strip mining on steroids," is an extremely destructive form of mining that is devastating Appalachia. ... We have been advocating in Congress for stronger protections for Appalachian …

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During the strip mining process, vast areas of flat land were created. When the mining was done, the land would go into a reclamation process where vegetation was planted in an attempt to return the land to nature. ... Appalachian Legacy …

Mountaintop Removal – The Alliance for Appalachia

Mountaintop removal is a type of coal mining that began in Appalachia in the 1970s as an extension of conventional strip mining techniques. ... The studies showed that not only has mountaintop removal permanently destroyed more than 500 Appalachian mountains and buried over 2,000 miles of stream, ...

Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining

The Appalachian Mountains are among the oldest mountains in the world and one of the most biologically diverse locations in this hemisphere. Our communities here are culturally rich. ... In the last 40 years I've seen strip mining, deep mining, auger mining, mine blowouts, sludge pond breaks, blasting and flooding. But mountaintop removal is ...

Coal Production and Employment in the Appalachian Region …

This brief report examines coal production and employment trends in the Appalachian Region from 2000 to 2023, along with comparative analysis for the non-Appalachian U.S. The report relies on mine-level data from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), gathered and compiled for the Appalachian Regional Commission by EconAlyze, LLC.