Brian Barton
Coal mining has a range of negative impacts on streams and other waterways. The process of mining and burning coal introduces a variety of toxic pollutants into the water, including heavy metals such as arsenic, copper, lead, mercury, and selenium. These pollutants can contaminate drinking water supplies, causing serious health issues such as birth defects, cancer, and neurological damage. The mining process also involves the removal of vegetation and soil, leading to increased erosion and sedimentation in streams, which can disrupt their natural flow and harm aquatic life. Additionally, coal-fired power plants discharge heated wastewater into streams, causing thermal pollution that further affects aquatic ecosystems. The environmental consequences of coal mining are extensive and highlight the importance of transitioning to renewable energy sources to mitigate these harmful effects on our waterways and wildlife.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Water bodies affected | Rivers, lakes, streams, and drinking water supplies |
| Water contamination | Acidic water with heavy metals like arsenic, copper, lead, selenium, mercury, cadmium, thallium |
| Impact on wildlife | 32% decline in species, 53% decline in invertebrates, fish, and salamanders, deformities in fish and birds |
| Environmental impact | Devastated landscapes, polluted waterways, greenhouse gas emissions, degraded air quality |
| Mountaintop removal impact | 2000+ miles of headwater streams buried, critical losses in wildlife habitat, clean water sources, and natural benefits |
| Coal ash impact | Leaks into drinking water supplies, increased risk of cancer, heart conditions, neurological disorders, reproductive issues |
| Thermal pollution | Increase in water temperature by up to 25°F, decreased fertility and increased heart rates in fish |
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What You'll Learn
Mountaintop removal mining
The consequences of water pollution from mountaintop removal mining are severe and far-reaching. Scientists have observed a decline in species diversity and an increase in deformities in fish and birds. High concentrations of pollutants have been found in stream insects and spiders, indicating that these contaminants move from water to land as they progress up the food chain. This poses significant risks to the health of humans, animals, and the environment.
The impacts of mountaintop removal mining extend beyond environmental degradation. Research has linked this mining practice to increased disease and death rates in nearby communities, with cancer rates twice as high and a 181% higher risk of heart defects in babies born to mothers who lived near these sites during pregnancy. Additionally, the mechanized nature of the process results in fewer jobs, contributing to higher unemployment rates and poverty in these regions.
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Acid mine drainage
AMD is often associated with abandoned mines, where the constant pumping of water to prevent flooding ceases, and the mine becomes flooded. The oxidation of metal sulfides, such as pyrite, within the surrounding rock and overburden generates acidity. Colonies of bacteria and archaea, known as extremophiles, accelerate the decomposition of metal ions, though the reactions can also occur without them.
AMD can have severe impacts on fish, animals, and plants. Many impacted streams have a pH of 4 or lower, similar to battery acid. This can kill fish and plants, as well as clog streams, disrupting their natural flow and decreasing the available aquatic habitat. In regions affected by coal mining, such as British Columbia and Montana, fish with missing gills, misshapen skulls, and crooked spines have been observed.
The long-term persistence of AMD is a significant problem, as it can occur indefinitely, long after mining has ended. Water treatment is often required in perpetuity, which can be a substantial economic burden. The complex chemistry of AMD has also inhibited the development of effective treatment options.
The prevention and mitigation of AMD are crucial to minimizing its environmental impact. While some technologies exist to predict and prevent AMD, the transition to renewable energy sources is the most effective way to reduce the harm caused by coal mining on the environment and wildlife.
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Thermal pollution from coal plants
Coal-burning power plants are a major source of air pollution, contributing to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution. Exposure to PM2.5 is associated with an increased risk of death and respiratory illnesses. According to a study by Dr. Lucas Henneman and others, for every 1 μg/m3 increase in coal PM2.5, mortality increased by 1.12%more than twice the risk previously associated with general PM2.5 exposure from all air pollution sources.
However, the focus of this answer is on thermal pollution from coal plants and its effects on streams. "Once-through" coal plants pump water from a source, heat it up, and then discharge it back. The waste water is typically hotter (by up to 20-25° F) than the water body that receives it, creating "thermal pollution". This thermal pollution can decrease fertility and increase heart rates in fish. An abrupt rise in water temperature, known as "thermal shock", can kill fish and other organisms adapted to a particular temperature range. Most aquatic organisms have enzyme systems that operate only within narrow temperature ranges, and sudden temperature changes beyond their tolerance limits can be fatal.
Elevated temperatures typically decrease the level of dissolved oxygen (DO) in water, which can harm aquatic animals such as fish, amphibians, and copepods. Thermal pollution may also increase the metabolic rate of aquatic animals, resulting in these organisms consuming more food in a shorter time, which can lead to food source shortages and a sharp decrease in population. According to the EPA, in the United States, thermal pollution from industrial sources is primarily generated by power plants, but also by petroleum refineries, pulp and paper mills, chemical plants, steel mills, and smelters.
To address thermal pollution, Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) requires the EPA to ensure that the location, design, construction, and capacity of cooling water intake structures reflect the best technology available (BTA) for minimizing adverse environmental impacts, including thermal pollution. The EPA has been developing rules to define how states will establish standards for cooling water intake structures at large power plants. However, industries are concerned about the high costs associated with retrofitting cooling towers, and some generating capacity may be forced to retire due to stringent cooling tower rules.
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Coal ash waste
Coal ash is a grey powder-like substance that is left behind after coal is burned. Its chemical composition depends on the type of coal burned, but all coal ash contains concentrated amounts of toxic elements, including arsenic, lead, mercury, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, nickel, and selenium. In 2006, coal plants in the United States produced almost 72 million tons of coal ash, with this number rising to over 100 million tons annually in later years.
The disposal of coal ash has been a significant environmental concern. Coal ash waste is often stored in landfills, abandoned mines, and hazardous ponds, many of which are unlined and leak toxic substances into nearby groundwater and waterways. This has led to the contamination of drinking water sources and the poisoning of fish and wildlife, with costs exceeding $2.3 billion at 21 sites according to one expert. In 2008, a Tennessee power plant experienced the largest industrial spill in American history, with over a billion gallons of coal ash slurry released into local waterways and swamping 15 homes. The spill led to the deaths and illnesses of workers involved in the cleanup, with 200 suing the contractor for endangering their health.
Despite the clear evidence of the toxic nature of coal ash, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States has classified it as solid waste rather than hazardous waste. This designation results in less stringent federal regulations regarding its handling and disposal. The coal industry has lobbied for this classification, which gives states and utilities primary responsibility for enforcement. It was only in 2015, in response to the Tennessee spill, that the federal government issued its first-ever rule pertaining to the disposal of coal ash.
The lack of adequate regulations for coal ash disposal has resulted in widespread contamination of water sources. A 2010 report by the Environmental Integrity Project and Earthjustice identified 31 new damage cases that were not listed by the EPA, including coal ash pollution sites in 14 states. Arsenic, selenium, and boron were among the dangerous chemicals found to have contaminated nearby water sources. Groundwater contamination has also been an issue, with 94% of coal ash ponds in the United States found to be unlined and leaking toxins into groundwater above safe levels.
The impact of coal ash pollution on aquatic life has been significant. Selenium pollution, for instance, has been linked to the decline in sensitive fish populations and deformities in fish and birds in regions affected by coal mining. The concentration of pollutants can increase as they move up the food chain, posing risks to higher-level predators and even humans. The damage caused by coal ash waste highlights the urgent need for stricter regulations and the transition to renewable energy alternatives to mitigate harm to the environment and wildlife.
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Sediment runoff
The sediment-laden runoff can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems. The increased sediment load in streams can clog and disrupt their natural flow, reducing the available aquatic habitat for fish and other organisms. The sediment itself can also directly harm aquatic life, as it may contain toxic substances released during mining, such as heavy metals and chemicals. These pollutants can accumulate in the food chain, leading to a process known as biomagnification, which can have severe consequences for higher-level predators, including humans who consume contaminated fish.
Additionally, sediment runoff can contribute to the degradation of water quality. The sediment can stir up and suspend pollutants, such as coal ash and heavy metals, within water bodies, making them more available for aquatic organisms to ingest. This can lead to various health issues, including birth defects, cancer, and even death among the wildlife and potentially humans who rely on these water sources.
The impact of sediment runoff on stream ecosystems is long-lasting and challenging to mitigate. Once the sediment and pollutants are introduced into the water, they can settle and accumulate on the stream bed, continuing to affect water quality and aquatic life even after mining operations have ceased. Restoring these degraded streams and their surrounding habitats can be a complex and lengthy process, highlighting the importance of implementing preventive measures during mining operations to minimize sediment runoff and its ecological consequences.
Furthermore, sediment runoff can contribute to the formation of valley fills, a common practice in mountaintop removal mining. In this process, excess rock, soil, and debris are dumped into adjacent river valleys, permanently burying headwater streams and altering the natural flow of water. This practice has already impacted over 2,000 miles of headwater streams, causing irreversible losses in wildlife habitat and clean water sources, as well as disrupting natural processes such as nutrient regulation and flood control.
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Frequently asked questions
Coal mining pollutes streams through acid mine drainage, which is when highly acidic water containing heavy metals like arsenic, copper, and lead contaminates nearby rivers and lakes. This happens when substances like iron sulfide are oxidized after being exposed to air and water, changing the pH of streams.
Mountaintop removal is a destructive form of surface coal mining where explosives are used to blast off the tops of mountains, removing up to 600 feet or more of elevation. The resulting debris is dumped into adjacent valleys, permanently burying headwater streams and causing irreversible losses in wildlife habitat, clean water sources, and natural benefits like flood control.
Coal mining has devastating impacts on aquatic life in streams. It has been linked to a decline in species diversity, with a 32% decrease in the number of species and a 53% decline in the total number of invertebrates, fish, and salamanders in affected streams. Additionally, selenium pollution from coal mining is associated with deformities and population declines in sensitive fish populations, which can then affect higher-level predators in a process called biomagnification.
