Mountaintop removal more hazard than inconvenience

While some students in Murray were preparing for the romance and hearta-che of Valentine’s Day, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth was celebrating another holiday unknown to many Murray students: I Love Mountains Day. For the fourth year, KFTC called for an end to mountaintop removal mining.
    Mountaintop removal is a highly destructive form of coal mining in which explosives are used to destroy the tops of mountains as a cheap and effective way to access the coal inside. While it is certainly efficient from the perspective of the coal companies, the consequence of MTR is extreme damage to the surrounding environment, damage that companies like Massey Energy have not been held accountable for.
    The debris from MTR mining frequently covers nearby streams in Appalachia. The EPA estimates between 1981 and 2005, at least 1,400 miles of streams were destroyed as a result of mountaintop removal mining.
    The devastation inflicted upon the region is irreversible. Once the beautiful and biologically diverse forests and mountains have been destroyed all for the sake of cheap energy, they’re gone for good.
    The health problems resulting from this dangerous practice are astounding. Mountain debris dumped into valleys and streams pollutes our drinking water with heavy metals such as arsenic and selenium. There are numerous areas in eastern Kentucky where black water runs from kitchen faucets. According to a January 2010 study published in the journal Science, Kentuckians who live near mountaintop removal sites face higher mortality rates as well as higher rates of heart, lung and kidney disease. This includes adults as well as children.
    On Feb. 11, approximately 800 concerned citizens, including myself and 10 other Murray State students, gathered on the steps of the state capitol building to let our collective voice be heard. We called for an end to mountaintop removal, for clean, efficient power that is safe for Kentucky and its people, for corporate responsibility and for an end of the destruction of our homeland.
    Murray State’s Miranda Brown, a junior from Winchester, Ky., was one of the many speakers that day.
    “This is the fourth year of I Love Mountains Day and, as much fun as it is, I hope to never see another one,” she said.
    Our efforts have gained momentum. In September 2009, the EPA put 79 proposed mountaintop removal projects on hold. Unfortunately, the decision was reversed a short time ago. Regardless, we continue the struggle on both the state and federal levels.
    Sadly, one reason this practice is allowed to continue is apathy from the general public. The Tennessee and Cumberland rivers flow right out of the coal fields. In short, we all live downstream.
    In a time when our government cares more about corporate interests than the well-being of its people, the injustice of mountaintop removal mining will only end when more citizens take action. This includes the student body of Murray State. Answer the call and help protect Appalachia. Write or call your state senator or representative today and demand an end to MTR. If you don’t know who represents your home district or their contact information, it can be easily accessed at the Kentucky legislature Web site, lrc.ky.gov. Take action today. Our region’s future depends on it.