Mining Mountains

Mining Mountains How mountaintop mining is done and its effects on the environment: Giant earthmovers In the last decade, the scope and scale of mountaintop mining has escalated with dragline use. These machines can weigh up to 8 million pounds and stand as tall as a 20-story building. In an 8-hour shift, a dragline operator can move enough soil for 40 million houseplants. DRAGLINE THE PROCESS 4 The draglines and 250-ton trucks dump the 1 Trees are clear-cut, topsoil and rock into areas called valley fills. and explosives are used to loosen the rock and topsoil. 5 Coal companies are supposed to reclaim land, but native trees have trouble growing on disturbed topsoil. 2 Huge shovels dig into the topsoil, and trucks start hauling it away. FORMER MOUNTAIN CONTOUR VALLEY FILL 2 3 A dragline digs into the rock to COAL SEAM expose the coal. ADVERSE EFFECTS Destruction of streams Destruction of forests Flooding When large areas of forests are clear-cut, wildlife habitats are destroyed. Wildlife and plantlife become more vulnerable to In recent years, valley fills have buried or damaged 1,200 miles of streams. Blasting Explosions can cause damage to home foundations and wells. The destruction of natural streams by valley fills and the loss of vegetation can cause flooding. predatorial species. Sources: Arch Coal Inc., West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Ohio Valey Envirormental Coalition, Natural Resources Defense Council Alisa Nance/The New York Times Mining Mountains How mountaintop mining is done and its effects on the environment: Giant earthmovers In the last decade, the scope and scale of mountaintop mining has escalated with dragline use. These machines can weigh up to 8 million pounds and stand as tall as a 20-story building. In an 8-hour shift, a dragline operator can move enough soil for 40 million houseplants. DRAGLINE THE PROCESS 4 The draglines and 250-ton trucks dump the 1 Trees are clear-cut, topsoil and rock into areas called valley fills. and explosives are used to loosen the rock and topsoil. 5 Coal companies are supposed to reclaim land, but native trees have trouble growing on disturbed topsoil. 2 Huge shovels dig into the topsoil, and trucks start hauling it away. FORMER MOUNTAIN CONTOUR VALLEY FILL 2 3 3 A dragline digs into the rock to COAL SEAM expose the coal. ADVERSE EFFECTS Destruction of streams Destruction of forests Flooding When large areas of forests are clear-cut, wildlife habitats are destroyed. Wildlife and plantlife become more vulnerable to In recent years, valley fills have buried or damaged 1,200 miles of streams. Blasting Explosions can cause damage to home foundations and wells. The destruction of natural streams by valley fills and the loss of vegetation can cause flooding. predatorial species. Sources: Arch Coal Inc., West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Ohio Valey Envirormental Coalition, Natural Resources Defense Council Alisa Nance/The New York Times Mining Mountains How mountaintop mining is done and its effects on the environment: Giant earthmovers In the last decade, the scope and scale of mountaintop mining has escalated with dragline use. These machines can weigh up to 8 million pounds and stand as tall as a 20-story building. In an 8-hour shift, a dragline operator can move enough soil for 40 million houseplants. DRAGLINE THE PROCESS 4 The draglines and 250-ton trucks dump the 1 Trees are clear-cut, topsoil and rock into areas called valley fills. and explosives are used to loosen the rock and topsoil. 5 Coal companies are supposed to reclaim land, but native trees have trouble growing on disturbed topsoil. 2 Huge shovels dig into the topsoil, and trucks start hauling it away. FORMER MOUNTAIN CONTOUR VALLEY FILL 2 3 3 A dragline digs into the rock to COAL SEAM expose the coal. ADVERSE EFFECTS Destruction of streams Destruction of forests Flooding When large areas of forests are clear-cut, wildlife habitats are destroyed. Wildlife and plantlife become more vulnerable to In recent years, valley fills have buried or damaged 1,200 miles of streams. Blasting Explosions can cause damage to home foundations and wells. The destruction of natural streams by valley fills and the loss of vegetation can cause flooding. predatorial species. Sources: Arch Coal Inc., West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Ohio Valey Envirormental Coalition, Natural Resources Defense Council Alisa Nance/The New York Times Mining Mountains How mountaintop mining is done and its effects on the environment: Giant earthmovers In the last decade, the scope and scale of mountaintop mining has escalated with dragline use. These machines can weigh up to 8 million pounds and stand as tall as a 20-story building. In an 8-hour shift, a dragline operator can move enough soil for 40 million houseplants. DRAGLINE THE PROCESS 4 The draglines and 250-ton trucks dump the 1 Trees are clear-cut, topsoil and rock into areas called valley fills. and explosives are used to loosen the rock and topsoil. 5 Coal companies are supposed to reclaim land, but native trees have trouble growing on disturbed topsoil. 2 Huge shovels dig into the topsoil, and trucks start hauling it away. FORMER MOUNTAIN CONTOUR VALLEY FILL 2 3 3 A dragline digs into the rock to COAL SEAM expose the coal. ADVERSE EFFECTS Destruction of streams Destruction of forests Flooding When large areas of forests are clear-cut, wildlife habitats are destroyed. Wildlife and plantlife become more vulnerable to In recent years, valley fills have buried or damaged 1,200 miles of streams. Blasting Explosions can cause damage to home foundations and wells. The destruction of natural streams by valley fills and the loss of vegetation can cause flooding. predatorial species. Sources: Arch Coal Inc., West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Ohio Valey Envirormental Coalition, Natural Resources Defense Council Alisa Nance/The New York Times Mining Mountains How mountaintop mining is done and its effects on the environment: Giant earthmovers In the last decade, the scope and scale of mountaintop mining has escalated with dragline use. These machines can weigh up to 8 million pounds and stand as tall as a 20-story building. In an 8-hour shift, a dragline operator can move enough soil for 40 million houseplants. DRAGLINE THE PROCESS 4 The draglines and 250-ton trucks dump the 1 Trees are clear-cut, topsoil and rock into areas called valley fills. and explosives are used to loosen the rock and topsoil. 5 Coal companies are supposed to reclaim land, but native trees have trouble growing on disturbed topsoil. 2 Huge shovels dig into the topsoil, and trucks start hauling it away. FORMER MOUNTAIN CONTOUR VALLEY FILL 2 3 3 A dragline digs into the rock to COAL SEAM expose the coal. ADVERSE EFFECTS Destruction of streams Destruction of forests Flooding When large areas of forests are clear-cut, wildlife habitats are destroyed. Wildlife and plantlife become more vulnerable to In recent years, valley fills have buried or damaged 1,200 miles of streams. Blasting Explosions can cause damage to home foundations and wells. The destruction of natural streams by valley fills and the loss of vegetation can cause flooding. predatorial species. Sources: Arch Coal Inc., West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Ohio Valey Envirormental Coalition, Natural Resources Defense Council Alisa Nance/The New York Times