Mountaintop Coal Mining In Alabama

Alabama is home to the Black Warrior River. It supplies drinking water to Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, two of Alabama’s largest cities. The river is home to many aquatic species including nine threatened or endangered species. Parts of the river are rated among the top 2% for having outstanding recreational values by the National Park Service. All of this is threatened by Mountaintop Coal Mining.
Every year, the US Army Corps of Engineers issues permits to the coal industry allowing the coal industry to dump mining fill material into the river. Alabama Department of Environmental Management and Alabama Surface Mining Commission have not controlled pollution, and tolerate the coal industry’s pollution of rivers. Coal mining in this region is destroying river systems by destroying wetlands and tributaries and threatening health by polluting the water with heavy metals.
Stronger protections must be enforced to hold the coal industry accountable for destroying these ecosystems. The clean water act promises the nation that our waters will be swimmable, fishable, and drinkable. If we continue to let the coal industry pollute our waters, this will not be achieved.
Wind energy is a alternative to coal power. A mountaintop wind farm could produce enough energy to power 70,000 homes. Not only that, it would provide permanent jobs and would provide an annual county tax receipt of $1.74 million whereas the receipt from coal would be $36,000.
Coal is an abundant source of energy but is the most carbon intensive of all fuels. Twice the levels of carbon dioxide are released when burning coal compared to natural gas and 40% more than petroleum. According to the National Research Council’s 2009 Report, Hidden Costs of Energy, “coal-fired power plants are the single largest source of greenhouse gases in the U.S. Unfortunately, greenhouse gas emissions are building up in the atmosphere, acting as a primary driver of global warming.”
Two of the main driving forces behind the coal industry are economics and policy. Policy makers continue to side with the coal industry, and our nations demand for a cheap reliable energy source keep the coal industry running strong. These two factors in combination with each other don’t paint a pretty picture for the future of the Black Warrior River.


"Coal Strip Mining Threatens Public Health Safety." American Rivers. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb 2012. .

Elliot, Greg. "Coal from the Mountaintops." Environmentalism. N.p., 07-11-2009. Web. 13 Feb 2012. .