A New Study Provides More Evidence on the Detrimental Effects of Mountaintop Mining

A new study published by Dr. Margaret Palmer and several of the
nation's leading river scientists details in no uncertain terms, the
harmful and unavoidable affects of mountaintop mining on rivers,
streams, and freshwater resources. American Rivers renews its call to
end this egregious practice.

The peer reviewed findings, which were published in Science Magazine, have been covered by The Washington Post and NPR. American Rivers applauds both stories for outlining the detrimental effects of this harmful practice.

American Rivers has profiled several rivers threatened by
mountaintop mining in its annual report on America's Most Endangered
Rivers, including the Coal River in 1999 and 2000 and the Big Sandy
River in 2001. More recently, American Rivers profiled the North Fork of the Flathead River
in Montana in 2009 as threatened by similar mining practices. Proposed
mountaintop removal mine and a coal bed methane projects in Canada
threaten the river's clean water, fish and wildlife, and overall
health.

Those small mountain streams being damaged by mountaintop mining are
the capillaries of our nation's circulatory system. They provide clean
drinking water and healthy, resilient, ecosystems, which will become
even more important as we face the impacts of climate change. We must
invest in 21st century energy solutions and stop relying on 19th
century approaches that poison our water, destroy our natural
treasures, and make us more vulnerable to climate change.