We recently visited local coal mines to take photographs and water samples.
There is currently an important bill in the TN Legislature to ban mountain top removal coal mining (or cross-ridge mining) --
The Scenic Vistas Protection Act ( SB 3822 / HB 3348 ).
Click here for more images from our trip through mining sites in Claiborne County and Anderson County>
[Download a printable PDF of this handout from Lindquist-Environmental Appalachian Fellowship.]
Summary: This bill intends to address three specific
problems related to surface coal mining.
Problem One: The Environmental Impact Study (EIS) used
to regulate coal mining and related water permits on the state and federal
level is over 20 years old. It does not use modern scientific methods
nor contemplate current mining methods such as mountain top removal or
cross ridge mining. Consequently, all state and federal permitting decisions
for surface coal mining are being made without basic and necessary information.
The Governor and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
(TDEC) have requested that OSM conduct an Environmental Impact Study and
have been repeatedly refused.
Solution One: Part (a) of the bill provides that TDEC
will not issue or renew any water permits for surface coal mining until
there is a new EIS. Conducting an EIS is the responsibility of the federal
Office of Surface Mining (OSM). This will create an industry incentive
to foster an EIS rather than block one.The effective date of this portion
is delayed to July 1, 2011 to allow time for an quality EIS to be conducted.
Problem Two: OSM has a regulation that prohibits surface
coal mining activities within 100 feet of either side of a body of water,
known as the Stream Buffer Zone. This buffer is designed to minimize the
effects of surface coal mining on water quality. The state enforces this
same buffer, but it is a matter of policy only, not regulation. OSM is
in the process of amending the stream buffer zone to make it optional.
This will create industry pressure on the state stream buffer zone policy
and could result in surface coal mining close to and through streams,
creating an unnecessary and significant degradation of the waters of the
State of Tennessee.
Solution Two: Part (b)(1) of the bill makes the Tennessee
policy of a 100 foot stream buffer zone state law to protect our water
quality.
Problem Three: There are currently several surface coal
mining sites in Tennessee practicing mountain top removal coal mining
(MTR), sometimes called cross ridge mining. This practice, rampant in
Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia, removes as much as 1000 feet of a
mountain to get to the seam of coal inside. It destroys the hydrology
of the water shed, blights the view shed, causes wells to go bad, increases
flooding, causes disruption and displacement of communities due to blasting
noise and dust, decreases property values, forgoes development potential,
and in general diminishes the heritage and pride of the mountain communities.
In Kentucky and West Virginia, MTR has irreversibly damaged the land and
water quality without enriching those states or the mountain communities.
We should learn from their mistakes, not repeat them.
Solution Three: Part (b)(2) prohibits TDEC water permits
for surface coal mining that would alter or disturb a ridge line above
2000 feet sea level.
Food Not Bombs(Knoxville) and for more info on the Food not Bombs Movement, go to www.foodnotbombsnet
Mountain Justice Summer Working to raise awareness about the Appalachian mountains, streams–and forest being destroyed be the coal industry
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