Mountaintop Removal Mining ~~ Links
Sites devoted specifically to Mountaintop Removal Mining
Tearing Down the Mountains: SHEAR MADNESS A Special Report which first appeared in U.S. News & World Report on August 11, 1997. The story, written by investigative reporter and Senior Editor Penny Loeb, helped to break the news to a wider audience about the devastation and destruction in the hills of West Virginia caused by Mountaintop Removal Mining. Along with in-depth facts and figures, the article also features aerial photographs, which supply the only way that most people can see the true impact of this mining method. Some of those photos also appear in the web site you are viewing now.
The Coalfield Communities of Southern West Virginia A site devoted to West Virginia communities and citizens that have felt first-hand the impact of this highly controversial mining practice. Over a dozen towns and numerous residents are profiled. The site features photos and personal statements from homeowners and well as links to view samples of documents such as DEP's Notice of Violation to a coal company. Updates on the current state of legislation are also included. The site is maintained by Penny Loeb, Senior Editor for U.S. News & World Report.
MINING THE MOUNTAINS A series of articles appearing in The Charleston Gazette, written by investigative reporter Ken Ward Jr., whose in-depth research and analysis provides the necessary background for understanding what Mountaintop Removal Mining is all about. The articles are loaded with facts and figures, charts and tables, plus photographs that relate the latest news on this very controversial mining method. This is an ongoing series, which began March 22, 1998, with new articles every few weeks.
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Sites related to the 1972 Buffalo Creek Disaster
Coal waste dams still loom over W.Va. A Charleston Gazette article by investigative reporter Ken Ward Jr. which shows that coal waste dams (impoundments) are alive and well in West Virginia. He describes how coal waste dams are constructed, and what problems have occurred in recent years, as well as potential problems.
What happened at Buffalo Creek A publication by the West Virginia Library Commission which gives a detailed account of the events on February 26, 1972, when the Pittston Coal Co.'s waste impoundment dam failed, and the entire Buffalo Creek Valley was literally wiped out. Excellent photographs. One of the pages shows a photo of Middle Fork, taken the following day, touched up to show where the dams were located. The report also states that Pittston Coal Co. (who owned the dam) was cited over 5,000 times for violations in 1971 alone, for a total of $1.3 million. They got away with paying only $275.
What Went Wrong at Buffalo Creek Part of the special series entitled "Voices of Buffalo Creek" which appeared The Charleston Gazette in February, 1997 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the disaster. This site has 9 separate pages devoted to full-color illustrations of how the coal waste dam on Middle Fork was constructed, and describes graphically exactly how and why the dam collapsed. There is also a full-color map of the Valley of Buffalo Creek, showing the location and number of fatalities for each town. An excellent site for technical information on the subject.
Time doesn't erase horror's images An article from The Charleston Gazette featuring Delegate Arley Johnson, D-Cabell Co., WV, who survived the Buffalo Creek disaster as a 12-year old boy.
REPORT of the Citizen's Commission Investigation The Commission, appointed immediately after the tragedy, recommended that coal waste dams be outlawed, because of the inherent instability of the material used to build such dams.
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Sites with Facts about Coal and the Environment
Strip Mines workers also get black lung An article appearing in The Charleston Gazette on April 20, 1998 said that recent research in West Virginia and Wyoming found that nearly 9% of surface miners get Black Lung, dispelling the old notion that only underground miners can be affected by the disease.
West Virginia Coal Association This page and the site's sub pages give facts about coal mines, coal production, and employees for West Virginia, including a breakdown by county.
Surface Mining Equipment This site belongs to The United Mine Workers of America, and has photos and descriptions of methods and equipment used in surface mining.
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act An easy-to-use research tool for specific language in the laws that regulate strip mining and mountaintop removal mining. Subchapter V is devoted to control of the environmental impacts of surface coal mining, and subchapter IV contains abandoned mine reclamation laws.
WV Division of Environmental Resources This site allows database searches for mining permits (both current and old) by a variety of keywords, including permit number, coal company name, geographical area, dates of permit, etc. There is also access to U.S. Geological Survey Maps which can be viewed online (and for WV can be downloaded).
Coal Industry Annual 1996 Data Tables loaded with facts and figures about coal production.
Electricity and Coal A publication by the Center for Energy and Economic Development about the "Energy Partnership" of electricity and coal, with facts about cost of coal and electricity, as well as comments about coal mining, coal miners, and the impact of mining on the environment.
Coal and Current Issues The home page for the Center for Energy and Economic Development which gives lots of information about the use of coal to produce electricity, and the resulting effect on the environment, particularly air quality issues, etc.
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Facts about Coal Companies
A.T. Massey's Parent Company Home page for the Fluor Corporation, parent of A.T. Massey Coal Company, the 2nd largest operating company in southern West Virginia.
Fluor Corp Financial Sheet The Fluor Corp, parent of A.T. Massey, reported revenues of $3.4 billion for the 1st Qtr of 1998. Massey is the company's star player, with 1998 1st quarter profits of $37 million; net profits for 1997 were $155 million.
Peabody Holding Company Peabody is the world's largest coal producer, with 1997 sales of approximately 165 million tons and total revenues of $2.2 billion. Peabody operates 28 mines in the U.S. and Australia, and owns more than 9 million tons of steam and metallurgical coal reserves. There are 5 major subsidiary companies in the Peabody Group, including Eastern Associated Coal and Peabody Coal, both headquartered in Charleston, WV.
Arch Coal, Inc. Arch Coal, headquartered in St. Louis, is the second largest coal producer in the nation. It has holdings in southern Appalachia as well as Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. Arch is the parent of Catenary Coal which operates the mine at the head of Cabin Creek in Kanawha County, WV (at the foot of Kayford Mountain). Arch also is parent to Hobet Mining Co., which is currently mining over 2500 acres near Blair and Sharples, WV. Arch is the largest mining company doing business in WV and employs about 2000 miners in the state. A subsite is devoted to Reclamation, the environmental impact of surface mining, and Arch's policy addressing these issues.
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More Mining Related Sites
Resources for Appalachian Advocates Home page for 1998 course in Environmental Justice at West Virginia University College of Law, created and maintained by Professor James R. Elkins. Hundreds of links to sources and materials relating to mining, including coal mining, gold mining, and heavy metals mining, environmental law issues, etc. Much of the material is obscure and otherwise difficult to locate. A good deal of information about mining in both West Virginia and Kentucky.
The Citizens Coal Council CCC has information about abandoned coal mines and other issues related to jobs and justice in the coalfields. One page has an historic photo of President Carter signing the Surface Mining and Control Reclamation Act on August 3, 1977 in the White House Rose Garden.
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