[outdoorsman43]

lol, if you honestly think vegetation grows back better on reclaimed mines, then you are truly lost. I can state facts, give links, or other sources that prove you wrong, but it does no good, as no one listens, or either fails to understand the facts. I can take you to several mine sites here in knott county that have been "reclaimed" more than 20 years ago, and the only thing on those sites or a few bushes and a few trees here and there. Most reclamation is a joke.

As far as a little pollution, thats a joke too. One example of this would be selenium, MTR puts large amounts of selenium into the waterways, but even small amounts can be dangerous when it undergoes biomagnification. Biomagnification is a simple process, here is an example. A small amount of X pollutant is released into a water way, the fish consume this, in turn the fish are consumed by other predators, be it other fish, or birds. These other predators eat large amounts of the polluted fish, which means that the prey are highly toxic. The prey die, have offspring, or leave their waste in streams, meaning the cycle of toxicity will continue for generations. DDT is a prime example of this.

The maximum in discharges of selenium (82ug/l) is over 15 times the threshold for toxic bioaccumulation. So this means that it doesn't take long for selenium to become toxic in the streams and waterways. I have conducted studies with other classmates that show MTR sites do decrease the density and diversity of species downstream.

And before you bring out your typical crap about the streams being buried or polluted are only ephemeral streams, please read the second study, she describes why this argument from coal companies is absurd, and completely ignorant. These streams are vastly important to wildlife, and water quality because when water is not present on the surface, it still resides in underground pools, which seep through the surface and filter the water. Many animals depend on these streams, and they have highly diverse species populations.

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:vOR-...clnk&gl=us

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:naiH...clnk&gl=us

Even if all this hoopla is true, how do you suppose we mine our coal?? I bet you have no such answer for that. Quit mining it, right? Just another uninformed arguer that just doesn't understand what he/she is arguing against. Would you rather have nuclear energy as our primary energy source so it would be ten times as dangerous? I don't know about the rest of you, but as long as the mining companies follow all guidelines, regulations, and laws of the D.E.P. (which are strict and must be followed), then I have no problems.

Let's look at your article. If the mining operations aren't following laws and regulations, then they will be forced to follow them, or will be fined until they can't even think about mining coal anymore. I am for all regulations and laws that are in effect by the D.E.P. and most mining companies follow these. I mean, do you think if mining companies don't follow the laws and regulations then nothing happens?? And so we should kill the coal industry?? Come on. If laws aren't followed (and they are strict, yet solid laws), then penalties and fines are issued. There is no beating around the bush for the mining operations. It's the EPA that is creating all of this ridiculous problems for the coal industry right now.

You should do a tad bit of research on the "other side" of the coal industry, maybe a little cap-and-trade research would help you too. Then you might understand my point-of-view a little better. I highly doubt either of those things will happen though. :eyeroll: