This is a general and personal beef of mine that I would love to get off of my chest.
The key to a better future for our country lies within our ability to maintain a stable and healthy environment. I think about this often when I travel to and from my hometown of Hooversville, Pennsylvania. I live in the middle of coal mining country, where our regions major source of income is through our mineral resources. I fully understand the need for coal, but what I don't understand is the lack of knowledge when it comes to future effects mineral removal has on the surrounding ecosystem.
For instance: Acid runoff (also known as pyritization) could occur unpredictably when rock is exposed to oxygen and the elements. This runoff, which produces a putrescent orange stain wherever it goes, is toxic to most creatures that depend on streams and rivers to live. (Last time I checked, that was most everything.) The rivers stain orange, the smell of sulphur abounds, the water is hard and full of iron. This is not a healthy environment by any cost.
I understand that past mining exploits had no true science to fall on when addressing acid runoff. Geology and its workings really only got off to a start in the 1800's. Today, though, we have no excuse. When a creek turns orange after it has been healthy for a certain amount of time, there is a problem.
This is a call for research, and funding for research. It is my belief that for a healthy America, we need to know more about our effects on the water table. How can we tell if there is a chance that Iron and Sulfer will oxidize, poisoning all of our fish? Right now I believe there is no surefire way. How do we make mines responsible for their effects on the Earth? Right now I believe there is no surefire way.
Acid runoff is only a minor problem. Underground fires (see Centralia, PA) subsidence, and air pollution are other mining problems. Mining safety and low impact legislation should be carefully reviewed. More grant money should be funneled to these important areas.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Safety for workers in coal mines has been in the news quite a bit lately. Fourteen people have died in coal mine accidents in West Virginia in the last few weeks.