So long soil! Mountaintop removal mining effects on forest soils in Appalachia

Abstract This paper was written for a writing‐intensive course at Oregon State University. The goal of the paper is to identify the sustainability concerns surrounding mountaintop removal mining (MTR), specifically those concerning soils. It is estimated that over 500 mountains and ∼1 million acres of hardwood forest have been affected by this practice in central Appalachia, mostly in West Virginia. MTR takes place through a series of steps starting with clearing vegetation, then removing overburden through the use of ballistics and heavy equipment. The most well‐developed soils are often pushed into adjacent valleys, along with rock, in a practice known as valley fill (VF). VF buries headwaters and leaches mine tailings into waterways harming aquatic animal populations and poisoning groundwater. After the coal has been extracted, the mine site undergoes reclamation as outlined by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. In this process unweathered and inadequate rock is often used as a soil replacement. The rock is compacted to increase slope stability and allow the land to be further developed. Replaced soils are undeveloped, lacking organic material and made of rubble as opposed to the native fine‐grained soils. I propose that the only sustainable solution is the total abolition of MTR as a practice. If it is to continue, strict enforcement and a reduction in the issuing of point‐source pollution permits need to take place. Topsoil needs to be saved along with large organic material, like tree roots, for reclamation.