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National Mining Association Attacks EPA Report on the Polluting Effects of Mountain Top Coal Mining

By Joel ScanlonSep 2 2010

Environment Activists in Appalachia (USA) are talking about the polluting impact of mountain top coal mining but the economic impact is being considered by the government instead.

The Environment Protection Agency is seeking to ban the practise of mountain top mining in which heavy explosives are used to access coal seams in the Appalachia area.

The rainwater runoff usually takes the leftover debris from the mountain top and pollutes the rivers and streams close by. The EPA has strict water quality standards in place which have been coming in for criticism by the National Mining Association. The NMA feels that the regulations are not based on quantifiable terms.

A study released by the NMA on Thursday said that the EPA researchers in West Virginia did not prove that environmental harm was caused by mountain top mining. It also said that the study by the EPA was based merely on one organism, a type of mayfly. The NMA said that such a narrow case study could be representative of the entire region’s ecology.

The NMA also criticized the data used to set the water quality standards saying that the EPA used inaccurate and unreliable data. This is in violation of the agency’s methodology criteria and many federal laws.

Written by

Joel Scanlon

Joel relocated to Australia in 1995 from the United Kingdom and spent five years working in the mining industry as an exploration geotechnician. His role involved utilizing GIS mapping and CAD software. Upon transitioning to the North Coast of NSW, Australia, Joel embarked on a career as a graphic designer at a well-known consultancy firm. Subsequently, he established a successful web services business catering to companies across the eastern seaboard of Australia. It was during this time that he conceived and launched News-Medical.Net. Joel has been an integral part of AZoNetwork since its inception in 2000. Joel possesses a keen interest in exploring the boundaries of technology, comprehending its potential impact on society, and actively engaging with AI-driven solutions and advancements.

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Scanlon, Joel. (2019, March 19). National Mining Association Attacks EPA Report on the Polluting Effects of Mountain Top Coal Mining. AZoMining. Retrieved on May 01, 2025 from https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=292.
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Scanlon, Joel. "National Mining Association Attacks EPA Report on the Polluting Effects of Mountain Top Coal Mining". AZoMining. 01 May 2025. <https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=292>.
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Scanlon, Joel. 2019. National Mining Association Attacks EPA Report on the Polluting Effects of Mountain Top Coal Mining. AZoMining, viewed 01 May 2025, https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=292.