Strip MiningSoraya Sadeghi, Nicole

Mehdian, Dami Kim

What is Strip Mining?    

•Strip mining is the mining of ore or coal from an open mine

Process of Strip Mining

• Coal stacked up in layers in Earth. • Strip miners blow up a portion of the

Earth using bulldozers and dynamites

Process of Strip Mining

• Top layer(overburden) is carried away, revealing the coal/mineral

• Overburden is either deposited into the valley or put back on the mining area.

Impact on Water

• The waste from coal mining is filled with mercury, diesel, and other toxic

chemicals.

Impact on Water

• This waste is placed in dams, which seep into groundwater and eventually go into the drinking water.

• The overburden that is placed in the valleys increases the amount of metal in the water, causing floods or blockage.

Impact on Air Quality• Once vegetation is

removed, windborne particulates such as lead and arsenic are formed from elements in the air. (cause problems with respiratory tract when inhaled)

• The toxic chemicals from the diesel-run engines pollute the air.

Impact on EcologyImpact on Ecology

• Because of increased soil erosion and metal loading, the aquatic Because of increased soil erosion and metal loading, the aquatic life is affected negatively leaving behind fewer species.life is affected negatively leaving behind fewer species.

• Restoring the land that was destroyed is hard because trees Restoring the land that was destroyed is hard because trees almost never grow and these new ecosystems do not accept all almost never grow and these new ecosystems do not accept all types of wildlife. types of wildlife.

What are the causes?What are the causes?• Coal is needed for Coal is needed for

energyenergy

• The demand for coal The demand for coal is so high that is so high that mining companies mining companies need cheaper, need cheaper, easier, and faster easier, and faster ways to collect coal. ways to collect coal.

SolutionsSolutions

• An average person can join petitions and campaigns such as An average person can join petitions and campaigns such as the Mountain Justice Program to stop or lessen strip mining.the Mountain Justice Program to stop or lessen strip mining.

• Look for alternative ways to collect sources of energy other Look for alternative ways to collect sources of energy other

than coal, such as wind, solar, and water. Ex: The Coal River than coal, such as wind, solar, and water. Ex: The Coal River Wind project uses windmills to produce energy instead of Wind project uses windmills to produce energy instead of coals.coals.

OutlookOutlook• Surface Mining Control and Surface Mining Control and

Reclamation Act of 1977: controls Reclamation Act of 1977: controls the environmental effects from strip the environmental effects from strip miningmining

• Regulations include…permitting, Regulations include…permitting, bonding, inspecting, restricting on bonding, inspecting, restricting on lands.lands.

Contacts

You can contact these guys :

Organizations..for example.. Mountain Justice Program

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Email: GetInfo@osmre.gov