The practice of mountaintop removal long suspected of polluting streams, is guilty as charged, scientists say.
Researchers at the Ecological Society of America conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, presented conclusive evidence of a link between MTR and environmental damage. Their research shows that even relatively small mining operations cause serious harm to ecosystems.
"Even at very low levels of mining we found a dramatic impact on water quality and stream composition," Emily Bernhardt, a biologist at Duke University .The scientists have called on the US EPA to tighten the water pollution limits faced by mining companies. “Even at very low levels of mining we found a dramatic impact on water quality and stream composition.”
The study addresses the mining’s contention that water-quality standards should not be tightened because stream conductivity changes often reflect urbanization and other changes in land use.
The new report was released just a few days ago and clearly backs up environmental groups stand that MTR is destroying waterways. The mining industry clearly disregards the Clean Water Act and because the EPA fails far too often to enforce it, streams are being buried and contaminated throughout West Virginia.
Throughout West Virginia streams and lakes have fish consumption warnings due to the high levels of mercury and selenium they bare. If we do not stop Mountaintop Removal soon our greatest natural resource could be brought to a level where it can never be made healthy again.
source Associated Press
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