Science confirms that blowing up mountains harms mountains

[arcadian]

http://www.grist.org/article/2010-01-07-science-confirms-that-blowing-up-mountains-harms-mountains/

Let’s say you trundle a bunch of enormous industrial equipment into North America’s oldest mountains (an intact temperate ecosystem boasting rich biodiversity, including a number of endangered species), clear cut the forests, blow millions of tons off the top of the mountains, dump the rubble into the pristine streams below, and carry out the coal you find on enormous trucks, at high speeds, on narrow roads, through some of America’s oldest communities.

Think that would cause any ecological or human damage? Hmm ...

It might seem obvious, but as the media will tell you, “opinions on shape of earth differ,” so it’s helpful that a group of scientists has come along to assess the existing body of research on the subject.

And what does Science say? Yes, blowing up mountains causes environmental and health damage! Who woulda thunk it? In fact, the evidence is so clear that the scientists have taken the extraordinary further step of calling for an immediate moratorium on mountaintop removal mining permits

snip

Ironically, this comes on the heels of the Obama administration’s decision to approve a new MTR permit in West Virginia. Perhaps the EPA doesn’t believe that blowing up mountains harms mountains?

[EOTE]

1. I think the jury is still out here.

I'll wait until I hear what Patriot Coal's scientists have to say on the matter.

[arcadian]

2. Did you for get the sarcasm tag?

:shrug:

[EOTE]

3. I really didn't think it was necessary. NT.

[arcadian]

5. These days, I'm not so sure.

There are people on this board defending the whaling industry.

[LeftyMom]

7. Opinions differ as to whether exploding harpoons harm whales.

Japan is committed to continued testing, donchaknow.

[arcadian]

8. Good one

and accurate

[hatrack]

9. I don't know - I think more study is called for. Years and years of study!

After all, you just can't be too sure when investors' money is at stake.

[maryf]

4. Thanks!

K&R

[ShortnFiery]

6. I recently heard a progressive environmental radio host decry that the Obama Administration

cut a "Hobit deal" that will be devastating for parts of the West Virginia Environment.

I think this may link in and complement your original site reference? :hi:

http://wvgazette.com/News/201001050473

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Patriot Coal will cut in half the length of streams buried by its Hobet 45 mountaintop-removal mine, but still produce nearly the same amount of coal as the company originally hoped, under a deal announced Tuesday by the Obama administration.

Company officials modified their mining plan under pressure from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which could have blocked Patriot from receiving a Clean Water Act permit for the operation.

The deal protects the jobs of more than 350 employees and avoids what could have been a huge battle with the United Mine Workers union and West Virginia's congressional delegation.

U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., praised all sides for working to resolve the dispute.

/snip

Posted By: pipedreams57
I wonder what lap dog in Byrds corner "prepared" that statement? What a joke! The real shame here is that the Corp. of Engineers got totally thrown out of the picture when it came to the mining permit issue. I say go ahead and throw out the EPA now too, and let anyone anywhere apply for a permit to pollute anything they want, so long as the last 350 mining jobs in WV can be preserved. Byrd probably shouted "this is for Teddy" when the deal was done,...just like he did when he voted to shove "Obamacare" down Americas throat! If you conect the dots in this area of mountain top removal, you go from Danville to Sharples, Blair Mountain, Buffalo Creek, Man, Rich Creek, Logan, Whitman, Holden, and dozens more areas. When and where will it ever stop? And where is the so called "development" that coal operators and politicians alike say is possible on such sites? I grew up at Blair and Logan and have saw every one of these sites. I didn't see any factories the last time I drove through Blair.

[Lorien]

10. I still find it mind boggling that we ever allowed even ONE mountain to be destroyed like

this. Utter devastation of the environment-for what? A few months worth of coal? Studies have shown that wind farms on those very same mountains would have provided MORE energy for less over the long term. But it's all about keeping the fossil fuel barons rich and keeping the rest of us dependent on their toxic product.

[glitch]

11. It's blatantly obvious the sociopaths have a lock on our decision-making.

We cannot evolve away from them fast enough.

[4_TN_TITANS]

12. k&r for the forehead-slappingly simple OP title. n/t