Topic > Mining Pollution - 1119

A September 7, 2011 New York Times article titled “Pennsylvania Sues Over Coal Mine Effluent” by Deborah Weisberg is found at an important crossroads of mining operations in the United States. This intersection is illustrated by a small icon adjacent to the article tagged “Politics and Politics.” This tag is indicative of the political nature of most environmental issues today. Coal mining, with its immense environmental implications, is still a profitable economic base for many Appalachian states. When reading online articles about Appalachian mining it was common to see user comments such as "West Virginia politicians would mine their mothers' teeth if it guaranteed a campaign contribution." Comments like this indicate a frustration with the political preference of money over real environmental and labor concerns. Significantly, a historical overview of mining operations around the world during the 19th and 20th centuries exemplifies how capitalism and technological innovation were stronger forces than concern for human rights or the environment in which we live. In this essay I will focus on the issue Deborah Weisberg's article addresses, West Virginia's mining pollution from the Loveridge and Blacksville mines, and explore West Virginia's historical and geologic legacies while attempting to highlight the underlying political factors. Deborah Weisberg's article "Pennsylvania Sues Over Coal Mine Discharge" discusses how "The state of Pennsylvania" sued energy producer Consol Energy over discharges from two coal mines in West Virginia that killed thousands of fish in a tributary that passes through both states in 2009. The damage that Weisberg and initially Pennsylvania Fish and Boat are talking about is devastating:... ... middle of paper ... the Consul is well-intentioned but disconnected from the current devastating mistakes that are the result of longwall mining operations. The Consul agreed with the Environmental Protection Agency and the state of West Virginia for other environmental incidents to pay nearly $5.5 million plus an additional $500,000 to West Virginia for the restitution of the creek. This is despite the fact that most of the damage occurred in Pennsylvania, which as a result is still undergoing tedious talks with the Consul for adequate and necessary compensation. Longwall mining in the United States represents a dual legacy: one of innovation, productivity, and contribution. to our continuing industrial revolution. The other legacy is that of a still developing technology that irreparably impacts our environment and ecosystems while caught in the tangle of money and politics..