Journey Up Coal River

Coal Formation and Extraction Process

                    
 
345 million years ago, swampland flourished in West Virginia, which stored massive amounts of organic matter.  Over time, these swamps became buried and highly compressed underneath the eroded material of nearby rising mountains to the east. Eventually, the intense pressure and heat created by the sediment piling onto itself "cooked" the swampland into coal, where  it remains hundreds of feet below the ground, unless otherwise disturbed by mining operations.     
 
Appalachian coal tends to be high in energy content and low in sulphur, thus its economic appeal for major coal companies.  In West Virginia, there are multiple thin layers of low-sulfur coal seams which are too narrow for traditional mining methods, which calls for mountaintop removal.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Mountaintop Removal Process
 1) CLEARING   
The hardwoord forests that blanket the mountain are clearcut to prepare the mountain for blasting. The trees are burned or pushed down the mountainside. Topsoil is supposed to be saved for reclamation, but is often pushed into the valley below.
Clear-cutting in the Amazon rainforest as viewed from above by airplane
 
2)  BLASTING
To dislodge the earth and rock above the coal seams (termed as overburden by the coal industry), ammonium nitrate explosives are detonated in holes drilled into the mountain side. In addition to the soil and rocks loosened by blasting, white silica and chemical laden dust becomes airborn, settling on the surrounding communities.  
 
 
 3) DIGGING
The rubble left in the wake of the blasts is removed by 20-story tall dragline excavators and house-sized haul trucks, exposing the mountain's coal seams. Blasting and digging can remove as much as 1,400 feet of elevation from a mountain. 

 
an example
 
 4) VALLEY FILLS

Haul trucks dump the rubble into the valleys below the mountain to create valley fills. Valley fills have burried over 1,800 miles of headwater streams. The denuded mountain and rubble-filled valleys increase the risk of flooding due to increased run off during rainfall.   

 
 
5) PROCESSING and    RECLAMATION    
After coal is processed and dumped into sludge impoundments and there is no more coal to dig at an MTR site, the final step in MTR takes place. Barren land is covered with foreign plants and grass, to grow and continue interrupting the once fertile and flourishing ecosystem.    
an example
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Sylvia_Bradford1-max.mp3Sylvia Bradford clip 1hazy-04-hazy-and-shumates-today
Sylvia_Bradford2-max.mp3Sylvia and Rick Bradford on how MTR has affected their liveshazy-04-hazy-and-shumates-today
Sylvia_Bradford3-max.mp3The Bradfords and trainshazy-04-hazy-and-shumates-today
debbie_jarrell-1-max.mp3Debbie Jarrell on disappearing housing stockhazy-04-hazy-and-shumates-today
Charles-EdClip3.mp3Ed Wiley on the Appalachian Mtns. and waterhazy-04-hazy-and-shumates-today
Sylvia_Bradford5-max.mp3The Bradfords on lack of accesshazy-04-hazy-and-shumates-today
debbie_jarrell-1-max.mp3Debbie Jarrell on Marsh Fork Elementarycoal_river_101-06-changes-in-lifestyle
debbie_jarrell-2-max.mp3Debbie Jarrell on lack of access to the mountainscoal_river_101-06-changes-in-lifestyle
MTR2CharlieBEdit1.mp3Charles Ballard on changes since MTRcoal_river_101-06-changes-in-lifestyle
BettyRoss.mp3Betty Ross on Floodingcoal_river_101-06-changes-in-lifestyle
Meadows1.mp3Jimmy Meadows on outmigrationcoal_river_101-05-outmigration
judy_crm_clip1.mp3Judy Bonds on Coal River Mountaincrm-01-current-land-use-on-coal-river-mountain
Charles-EdClip2.mp3Ed Wiley on Health Effects at MFEhazy-02-marsh-fork-elementary
Thompsonclip1.mp3Ernie Thompson on Slurry Impoundmentsmtr-02-environmental-impacts
Thompsonclip2.mp3Ernie Thompson "Money got in the way"mtr-03-legislation-permits-regulations
Maria1.mp3Maria Lambert on Water Qualityprenter-04-health
Rory-GB4.mp3Gary Anderson on Coal River Windwind-01-introduction-to-coal-river-wind
Rory-GB3.mp3Barbara Anderson discusses Mountain Access and Traditional Usewind-01-introduction-to-coal-river-wind
Rory-Chuck1.mp3Chuch Nelson on Threat of Valley Fills on Coal River Mountainwind-02-the-threat-of-mtr-on-coal-river-mountain
Rory-GB2.mp3Gary Anderson describes 2001 Clear Fork Floodswind-02-the-threat-of-mtr-on-coal-river-mountain
Rory-Chuck4.mp3Chuch Nelson "We gotta shut 'em down"wind-02-the-threat-of-mtr-on-coal-river-mountain
Rory-Judy2.mp3Judy Bonds "The Last Vestige of Jobs and Sustainability"wind-03-the-coal-river-mountain-wind-campaign
Rory-GB5.mp3Gary Anderson Imagines a New Wind Industrywind-04-wind-vs-mtr-for-coal-river-mountain-the
Rory-Chuck3.mp3Chuck Nelson "This is Our Last Chance"wind-06-a-just-transition
MTR2VernonHEdit1B.mp3Vernon Haltom on Protecting Places and Resourcescrm-01-current-land-use-on-coal-river-mountain
EdWileyInEdit1.mp3Ed Wiley "A Magical Place"crm-02-community-land-use-in-coal-river-valley
Meadows1.mp3Jimmy Meadows on Loss of Underground Mining Jobscrm-03-undergound-mining
Charles-EdClip1.mp3Ed Wiley on Sludge Impoundmentshazy-02-marsh-fork-elementary
238002.mp3Laffon Pettry, "Molly mooching"crm-02-community-land-use-in-coal-river-valley
080009.mp3Donna Wills, "nothing I can't can"crm-02-community-land-use-in-coal-river-valley
074025.mp3Randy Halstead, Joys of ginsengincrm-02-community-land-use-in-coal-river-valley
077007.mp3Joe Aliff, harvest timecrm-02-community-land-use-in-coal-river-valley
088006.mp3John Bowman, keeping the mash warmcrm-02-community-land-use-in-coal-river-valley
050002.mp3Benny Turner, Native Americans on Bolt Mtn.coal_river_101-01-history-of-coal-river-part-1
077010.mp3Joe Aliff and his Cherokee grandfathercoal_river_101-01-history-of-coal-river-part-1
119011.mp3Howard Miller, corn-woodland-pastureland systemcoal_river_101-01-history-of-coal-river-part-1
215001.mp3Howard Miller, people hiding on mtn. from marauding soldierscoal_river_101-01-history-of-coal-river-part-1
Joe_Aliff_we_had_a_full_fledged_war_077022.mp3Joe Aliff, arming miners for Battle of Blair Mtn.coal_river_101-02-history-of-coal-river-part-2
046012.mp3Mae Bongalis, a visit with Mother Jonescoal_river_101-02-history-of-coal-river-part-2
141006.mp3Cody Dickens, a visit from the land companycoal_river_101-04-absentee-land-ownership
162008.mp3Dr. Jim Michael Wills of Rock Creek on absentee landownershipcoal_river_101-04-absentee-land-ownership
038002.mp3Shorty Bongalis on West Virginians migrating to Ohiocoal_river_101-05-outmigration
088003.mp3John Flynn about moonshinincoal_river_101-05-outmigration
088004.mp3John Bowman, staying in Coal River by moonshinincoal_river_101-05-outmigration
077024.mp3Joe Aliff, how Coal River Mtn. is a drug storecrm-01-current-land-use-on-coal-river-mountain
Thompsonclip1.mp3Ernie Thompson, former mine inspector on slurry impoundmentscrm-05-the-brushy-fork-slurry-impoundment
Jen-JackSpaderoClips.mp3Jack Spadero, engineer on impacts of MTR and slurrycrm-05-the-brushy-fork-slurry-impoundment
Rory-GB4.mp3Gary Anderson, Coal River Mountain Wind campaignwind-06-a-just-transition
Rory-Judy1.mp3Judy Bonds, coal is NOT West Virginiawind-06-a-just-transition
hazy-01-near-the-mouth-of-hazy1hazy3
coal_river_101-01-history-of-coal-river-part-11coal-river-1011
crm-01-current-land-use-on-coal-river-mountain1crm2
prenter-01-prenter-and-surrounding-communities1prenter4
mtr-01-introduction1mtr6
wind-01-introduction-to-coal-river-wind1wind7
cresources-01-community-resource-mapping1cresources5
hazy-02-marsh-fork-elementary2hazy3
coal_river_101-02-history-of-coal-river-part-22coal-river-1011
crm-02-community-land-use-in-coal-river-valley2crm2
prenter-02-water-quality2prenter4
mtr-02-environmental-impacts2mtr6
wind-02-the-threat-of-mtr-on-coal-river-mountain2wind7
cresources-02-children-are-the-future-of-the-coal-rive2cresources5
hazy-03-absentee-land-ownership3hazy3
coal_river_101-03-glimpse-into-a-coal-river-family-mid-20t3coal-river-1011
crm-03-undergound-mining3crm2
prenter-03-coal-slurry3prenter4
mtr-03-legislation-permits-regulations3mtr6
wind-03-the-coal-river-mountain-wind-campaign3wind7
cresources-03-bill-lucas3cresources5
hazy-04-hazy-and-shumates-today4hazy3
coal_river_101-04-absentee-land-ownership4coal-river-1011
crm-04-forest-resources-and-timbering4crm2
prenter-04-health4prenter4
wind-04-wind-vs-mtr-for-coal-river-mountain-the4wind7
cresources-04-chronicling-the-coal-river-valley-s-coal4cresources5
hazy-05-update-lawsuits-possible-new-location-fo5hazy3
coal_river_101-05-outmigration5coal-river-1011
crm-05-the-brushy-fork-slurry-impoundment5crm2
prenter-05-community-responses5prenter4
wind-05-wind-vs-mtr-for-coal-river-mountain-ener5wind7
cresources-05-clear-fork-couple5cresources5
coal_river_101-06-changes-in-lifestyle6coal-river-1011
crm-06-community-letter-to-w-va-gov-joe-manchin6crm2
prenter-06-stories-from-prenter6prenter4
wind-06-a-just-transition6wind7
cresources-06-connie-and-terry-dillon6cresources5
prenter-07-news7prenter4
wind-07-update-blasting-has-begun-on-coal-river7wind7
cresources-07-danny-cook-and-mack-james-creek7cresources5
wind-08-organizing-for-wind-power8wind7
cresources-08-debbie-jarrell8cresources5
cresources-09-delbert-and-judy-gunnoe9cresources5
cresources-10-elmer-mays-horse-creek10cresources5
cresources-11-frankie-mooney11cresources5
cresources-12-gary-and-barb-anderson12cresources5
cresources-13-jimmy-platt13cresources5
cresources-14-junior-walk14cresources5
cresources-15-justin-wills15cresources5
cresources-16-kathleen-dickens16cresources5
cresources-17-kay-and-danny-howell17cresources5
cresources-18-kendra-dickens18cresources5
cresources-19-lonnie-burnside19cresources5
cresources-20-project-build-it-up-wv-summer-youth-prog20cresources5
cresources-21-project-community-greenhouse21cresources5
cresources-22-project-first-solar-thermal-installation22cresources5
cresources-23-project-greenhouse-gardens23cresources5
cresources-24-project-mural-project-in-whitesville24cresources5
cresources-25-project-the-tadpole-project25cresources5
cresources-26-rachel-bey26cresources5
cresources-27-ray-and-lottie-cottrell27cresources5
cresources-28-sandy-simmons28cresources5
cresources-29-shannon-dickens29cresources5
cresources-30-sharon-thompson30cresources5
cresources-31-sheila-and-natasha-walk31cresources5
cresources-32-sherry-geisler32cresources5
cresources-33-wilma-cook33cresources5
Charles Ballardcoal_river_101-06-changes-in-lifestyleCharles BallardCharles Ballard
Judy Bondscrm-01-current-land-use-on-coal-river-mountainJudy BondsJudy Bonds
Judy Bonds, 1 of 3coal_river_101-01-history-of-coal-river-part-1Judy Bonds, 1 of 3Judy Bonds, 1 of 3
Judy Bonds, 2 of 3coal_river_101-01-history-of-coal-river-part-1Judy Bonds, 2 of 3Judy Bonds, 2 of 3
Judy Bonds, 3 of 3coal_river_101-01-history-of-coal-river-part-1Judy Bonds, 3 of 3Judy Bonds, 3 of 3
Sarah Haltomcrm-01-current-land-use-on-coal-river-mountainSarah HaltomSarah Haltom
Vernon Haltomcrm-01-current-land-use-on-coal-river-mountainVernon HaltomVernon Haltom
Vernon Haltomhazy-02-marsh-fork-elementaryVernon HaltomVernon Haltom
Debbie Jarrellcoal_river_101-06-changes-in-lifestyleDebbie JarrellDebbie Jarrell
Debbie Jarrellhazy-04-hazy-and-shumates-todayDebbie JarrellDebbie Jarrell
Debbie Jarrellwind-01-introduction-to-coal-river-windDebbie JarrellDebbie Jarrell
Debbie Jarrellhazy-02-marsh-fork-elementaryDebbie JarrellDebbie Jarrell
Debbie Jarrellcoal_river_101-05-outmigrationDebbie JarrellDebbie Jarrell
Jen Oshacrm-03-undergound-miningJen OshaJen Osha
Jen Oshacoal_river_101-06-changes-in-lifestyleJen OshaJen Osha
Jen Oshahazy-04-hazy-and-shumates-todayJen OshaJen Osha
Jen Oshacrm-05-the-brushy-fork-slurry-impoundmentJen OshaJen Osha
Jen Oshaprenter-07-newsJen OshaJen Osha
Jen Oshacrm-04-forest-resources-and-timberingJen OshaJen Osha
Jen Oshahazy-01-near-the-mouth-of-hazyJen OshaJen Osha
Jen Oshahazy-02-marsh-fork-elementaryJen OshaJen Osha
Ed Wileyhazy-02-marsh-fork-elementaryEd WileyEd Wiley
Ed Wileyhazy-04-hazy-and-shumates-todayEd WileyEd Wiley
Ed Wileycrm-02-community-land-use-in-coal-river-valleyEd WileyEd Wiley
Ed Wileycoal_river_101-06-changes-in-lifestyleEd WileyEd Wiley