[Coach_Owens87]

I researched and tried to find the total area of land mined, I couldn't. I read several articles that gave an estimate, which is 1.2 million acres since 1980, 5% of the total land mass, so according to you coal companies should only mine 1% more of the land, thats just not true. (these stats are from the UK department of agriculture.)


90% of mined land not used[B]I figured you would try to slam my stats, I hate to break you're heart but it didn't come from an environmental site, although I'm sure they have the stats too. The statistics I got came from the UK department of agriculture.[/B]



http://windpub.com/dirtymoney.htm
http://arri.osmre.gov/KYResearch.htm

If you check your article again you will find that they estimated 1.2 million acres being permitted, not mined, since 1980, what it doesn't say is how much of the 1.2 million acres are for contour permits, underground permits, roads, prep plants, load outs, rail sites, MTR or other mining related projects.

Even if we mined the estimated 1.2 million acres, and we developed 10% (which I think is higher) of that land it would mean that 120,000 acres of mined land is being used for other purposes.[/QUOTE]

I know my stats are estimates, I told you that was all I could find. Buts it's as close as I could get.

I could only find estimates on how much of that land has been developed, some sites, which arent from "Tree-hugging" sites say that as little as 2% has been developed. A look at google earth, which has constantly updated photos, shows that very little land is developed, Anything above 5% would be a stretch. A lot of Strip sites are located in isolated areas, which make them very hard to get people into moving business there.

The slurry ponds companies leave sometimes develop into marshes and attract small amounts of wildlife, they call this a "wildlife reserve" and claim it to be a developed area. Most of these sites are just small ponds surrounded by vast amounts of nothing but grass and dirt, hardly a wildlife reserve in a forested area.