Study Finds Surface and Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining Degrades Water Quality

Interview with Emily Bernhardt, an associate professor of biology at Duke University, conducted by Melinda Tuhus

In December, an article appeared in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that exposes the impact of surface and mountaintop removal coal mining on water quality downstream of mining sites. The study reveals that the problem persists many years after reclamation, indicating current environmental protection strategies are not addressing the problem. The findings show a clear connection between the amount of mining in a watershed area and the impact on water quality downstream.

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