Environmental impact of Mountaintop Removal

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Environmental impact of Mountaintop Removal
Introduction
Mountain top removal is a form of mining that is preferred by mining companies, as it is a quick and cheap method of coal extraction (Burns, Evans and House 52). However, it has detrimental effects on the environment and local communities nearby the mining sites. Communities are forced to relocate to other areas when the effects that have a high health impact become unbearable (Humphries 28).This paper shall give an elaborate account of the process of mountain top removal and show how the process affects the environment.
Mountain top removal is practices for purposes of extracting coal deposits. Coal is an important source of energy for America. Appalachia is the most explored area for purposes of coal extraction through mountain top removal. According to an article titled Coal mining and the role of public, the area includes Southern Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee (2).
This form of coal extraction destroys large land area through the use of explosives. The explosives blow large land mass with the intention to expose the location of deposits of coal (Howard 25). This results in untold damage of the mountain’s ecosystem as well as difficult circumstances for the community. The large amounts of coal dust emitted from the explosion circulate in the air and pose a health threat to the community. Additionally, pollution of the water reservoirs forces populations into new habitable locations (Humphries 28).
Mountain top mining companies are driven by the desire to make high profits. They resort to this method as it allows for cheaper and faster extraction of coal which drawing large profits. In fact, it has been noted that mountain top removal is the cost effective technic of mining dating from the 1990s (Clark 28). Coal is on high demand in America and to meet this demand, mining companies are willing to destroy the environment without considering the long-term consequences.
The process of mountain top removal
The first step in the process involves clearing of the target land area. This is done to ensure that the top soil and other important species. Most companies are required to do a thorough assessment of the plant life on the ecosystem before launching the explosions. The top layer of the area is then carefully stored as it may be used for reclamation of that portion of the mountain after the completion of the mining process.
After the top layer of the land mass is removed, the next step involves the launching of the explosives. They blow up the overburden and the subsoil to expose the coal deposits (Humphries 53). After blasting, the overburden is then extracted using sophisticated machines that transfer the material into the nearby valleys.
Excavation then begins and the coal is transferred into the processing points. After excavation is complete, the companies are required to reclaim the land by planting trees and other vegetation. However, this rarely happens because the plants fail to survive owing to the environmental degradation caused by toxic mineral deposits on the land.
Effects on the environment
One of the detrimental effects of mountain top mining is the flattening of large landmasses. The areas that once had beautiful scenic view of mountainous ecosystem are converted into bare plateaus. These areas are less likely grounds for development activity. The landmasses become unusable and this is a high loss. Additionally, the deposits of toxic elements on the soil hamper growth of vegetation and hence Mountain top coal mining is a substantial contributor to global warming (Humphries 23). Increasing vegetation cover and safeguarding the existing vegetation cover vegetation cover is important in combating th...