Re: Mercury contamination from coal burning power stations.

A very interesting article Spud.

IMO,the unfortunate thing about this resoucre, is that many more mines will be built as old ones run out of coal. Like the article says, the cutting away of mountains to locate this coal. If this process continues it can mean a whole set of disasterous consequences such as the wipe out of species, the depletion of water around these mines which means also the risk to aquatic life and also lowering the reserves of natural water for habitat and human consumption.

I use to live right below a mountain range where coal mining was taking place and still is. These mountains have been boored through, to create train tunnels to reach these coal deposits. These mountain mines have killed innocent people in the past in this area due to mountain mud and rockslides rolling into their homes, caused by weakened ground from the impact of the mine. There are certain roads up these mountians with signs warning of large rocks falls and are at risk of falling especially when there has been heavy rain. The rocks are a result from mining, being mispalced and left on ledges.

Hopefully by now these areas have been secured and safety becoming a key issue in the creation of these mines.

"What are the environmental issues?"

-Explosive residue when mountains are ripped and blown away causing total detruction and loss of all that is natural, like the flora and fauna, in the vicinty of the blast.

-Spending money on all that involves mining for coal, when that money could be used to research what would be more efficient and cleaner ways for the environment on coal exploration and mining.

-Better yet, finding an alternative source than coal to produce energy such as wind turbines, solar energy, tidal energy.

Regards, Snooz



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