Mountaintop Removal Coal Production Drops 62 Percent From 2008 to 2014, EIA Says

摘要

The amount of coal produced at mines with mountaintop removal mining permits has decreased by 62 percent since 2008, according to Energy Information Administration figures released July 7. Coal produced from this type of surface mining has dropped from roughly 53.2 million short tons in 2008 to approximately 20.2 million short tons in 2014, the agency's preliminary numbers show. Meanwhile, the number of mountaintop mining removal permits has decreased by 37 percent, from 51 active permits in 2008 to 32 in 2014, the agency said. The EIA didn't offer a reason for the decline. In mountaintop removal mining, the summit or summit ridge of a mountain is removed to expose a coal seam and waste soil and rock is disposed of in nearby valleys and streams. This form of coal mining is considered to be a particularly destructive method that results in water and air pollution that can lead to fish deformities or human health concerns.