Coal Industry : Need For Coal Produces Environmental Damage

When asked to think of coal mining, what comes to mind? A mountain with a hole cut into the side of it with a set of railroad tracks disappearing into it? Maybe an old mine car or two full of some rocks or coal, with a pickaxe and shovel leaning against it. A few guys with hard hats covered in a black powder coming walking out of the mine pushing a car or two full of coal. The technology has advanced but the process is basically still the same as well as the outcome. Coal is retrieved from underground and taken to factories to be burnt to create electricity or to fuel the steel mills.

Clean coal is proposed as being an emission cleaner form of regular coal, because it reduces the amount of sulfur-dioxide, and nitrogen oxide that is produced by burning coal. It does this by removing impurities from the coal that are contributing to the higher emissions within regular coal, which is created through “clean coal technology”. Clean coal is obtained just like regular coal through either mining it or by mountaintop removal. A technique called coal washing is used to remove impurities, such as sulfur and other unwanted minerals, by washing them in a liquid to remove them.

The pollution is leaving our footprint rate out of control! Knowing that they have gotten rid of all the coal generators is a big reduction of the ecological footprint. Without the generators burning off the coal, the pollution will stay at a lower rate causing the footprint to decrease. It is more sustainable now than before because our city doesn't have to worry about trying to maintain the pollution levels as much as we used to and we can focus on more of the major projects.

Driving down the Franconia Notch Parkway, the mountain walls rise up around me and consume me. On one side, the guardrail separates me from the cars speeding past in the opposite direction. On the other side, nothing is separating me from the slopes. My eyes slowly follow the smooth curvature of the faces of the mountains. Wind, rain, snow, and ice have shaped the rock in such a way that the rock looks like silk sheets. As my eyes take in more, they come across the sharp jagged edges and ridges where rocks have recently fallen and taken parts of the mountain as their casualties. The sun peeks from behind the summit and causes the great mountains to cast shadows on their smaller counterparts. Crimson, goldenrod, bronze, and saffron leaves dance across the air as the cool gusts of wind blow them along. Soon the trees will become bare and blend with the barren slopes above the treeline, but for now the contrast between the two is unmistakably noticeable.

What is Pollution? Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can be in forms of chemical substances, such as heat noise or light. What are pollutants? A pollutant is a substance that pollutes something, especially water or the atmosphere. How is coal related to pollution? Coal is related to pollution in two ways . . . the first one is by CO2 emissions that absorb ultraviolet rays from the sun which causes temperatures to rise, the second one is causing pollution because when it’s being mined it’s destroying public land and mountains. The CO2 emissions are caused by the chemicals in the coal. Coal is made up of mostly Carbon but also has many traces of Sulfur, Nitrogen, Hydrogen,

Coal is a dirty industry from beginning to end, but until recently the public knew very little of how the coal cycle ends -- with millions of tons of toxic coal ash waste produced each year. Coal ash can cause many health problems for people who are exposed to it, and it can also damage our environment.The EPA has been very lenient with coal ash reuse and storage, and due to that leniency, many communities were and still are being negatively affected. Coal ash is not only negatively affecting North Carolina and the United States, it’s negatively affecting Earth in general. Coal ash is a global problem, and the EPA should be more strict with companies that reuse or store coal ash. As we deal with decades of coal ash waste, ultimately, we must stop burning coal to make power and find better ways to efficiently create electricity without making global warming worse.

It was hard to breathe but I had never respired without a mask on so this was a whole new sensation and I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to experience a pollution-free utopia. I ran through the muddy green trees desperately looking for the next seal. I found it but there were no people. The next group were gaining on us but when the hairs on the back of my neck tingled something felt suspicious. The group behind was approaching fast. I ripped the next door open and collapsed to my knees as it sealed behind me. The fresh air brushed the grime off me and embraced me like a new blanket placed ever so gently around me. The smell of freshly clipped grass engulfed me, reminded me of what the world once was. I had reached utopia. I had reached the Green

1. Surface mining of coal causes direct and indirect damage to wildlife. The impact on wildlife stems primarily from disturbing, removing and redistributing the land surface. Some impacts are short-term, and confined to the mine site; others

Entering the area I first noticed the mountains, covered in rugs of green, gold, ember red, and burning orange trees. The mountains were the spines of the land, holding together the whole landscape. Off to a distance shining white pyramids could be seen. The tops of the mountains soared up to the sky and to the heavens as to kiss the stars with the cold peaks. I was just a quiet observer of there glorious range. They stood ghost-like, and the only thing bigger then these slumbering giants was my gaze when taking them in.

Do you think that coal mining is risky. Some people belive that it is not even worth it. But on the other hand some people probably really want their electricity. It is very risky job. In 2010, 33 chilean coal miners were trapped almost half a mile underground for 69 days as it says in the passage. wow that is a long ways down for a long time. But these people do get there money for it. There salary is $21 per hour. And we get electricity so it is a win win. Yet it is super dangerous because you could get black lung disease from long-term exposure in coal mines.

We sit in the bus for a while for the bus driver to come back and to tell us what had happened and why we stopped. To pass my time, I stare out in the window and distract myself. For once I can concentrate. I notice the bright blue sky that hangs over the emptiness of the bare open flatness which stretches out, over the horizon. Its rugged beauty is like looking at a child’s painting where at first glance, it’s nothing more than lines and colours but when you pay close attention you can see its beauty described through the imagination of the artist. On the wide-spread landscape, you can see the animals roaming about almost like their trying to escape the harsh and unforgiving sun.

The social issue that was chose for my lesson was centered on the use of coal. Coal is an ever growing problem around the world, and students need to become more aware of the negative effects that coal causes because many people are losing sight of the cause and effect between our coal use and our environment. The topic is interesting because even though most individuals have a drive to decrease their carbon footprint and are making necessary changes to use natural resources are energy sources, the United States of American is still very dependent on coal. It is important for students to become more aware of their energy uses and know the impacts that come along with energy consumptions.

Polymet Mining is a mining industry that is proposing to create Minnesota’s first sulfide mine. The company is wanting to create an open pit copper and nickel mine that is located north of Hoyt Lakes in the Superior National Forest (BC Hydro). They plan to call this project the NorthMet Mining Project. There is a dire need for nickel and copper in America, and building this mine will help obtain these resources. There are many pros and cons to the mine being built in one of Minnesota’s National Forests. The building of this mine would help obtain the necessary resources that the United States is lacking, but will also destroy the natural state of the Superior National Forest and many habitats of the animals living within the forest.

Why does the difference of interpretation about coal industry appear in National Coal Mining Museum for England and the Coal Museum of China?

The mining industry has seen an explosive growth from the past few decades. It has played an important role in economic growth, infrastructure development and a raise in the living standard of the whole world. According to the Australian National Accounting System, the mining sector has made contributions of 9.8% GDP growth to the Australian economy between 2008 to 2009 (Australia Bureau of Statistics, 2012). However, the mining industry has caused many environmental issues such as adverse effect to air, land and water quality and continues to affect global environment as a whole. According to the World Health Organization, it evaluated that 25% of worldwide death are directly associated with environmental pollution (Blacksmith Institute, n.d). This essay will outline the environmental issue raised by the mining industry with pinpoint focus on the effects to air, water and land. It will also provide strategies for mining companies to improve the environmental conditions.