Surface coal mines are ugly and disfiguring, underground mines are dangerous and Hg emissions not good. Plus there are coal fires that are difficult to put out (China has enough of those going to make as much CO2 as all the US cars and light duty trucks do). It may be good to export coal to help the balance of payments. We may want to use it to make Diesel.
Composition of the Atmosphere
From NASA
Composition of Earth’s atmosphere
“The atmosphere is primarily composed of Nitrogen (N2, 78%), Oxygen (O2, 21%), and Argon (Ar, 1%). A myriad of other very influential components are also present which include the water (H2O, 0 - 7%), “greenhouse” gases or Ozone (O, 0 - 0.01%), and Carbon Dioxide (CO2, 0.01-0.1%).”
Typical composition of dry air at sea level:
Species Percent by Volume
N2 78.08
O2 20.95
Ar 0.93
CO2 0.031
Ne 0.0018
He 0.00052
Kr 0.00011
Xe 0.0000087
H2 0.00005
CH4 0.0002
NO 0.00005
O3 0.000007 (summer)
0.000002 (winter)
As you will notice Hg vapor isn’t even listed. Scrubbers take care of fine particles from burning of coal.
OEHHA: “Where does methylmercury in fish come from?
Methylmercury in fish comes from mercury in the aquatic environment. Mercury, a metal, is widely found in nature in rock and soil, and is washed into surface waters during storms. Mercury evaporates from rock, soil, and water into the air, and then falls back to the earth in rain, often far from where it started. Human activities redistribute mercury and can increase its concentration in the aquatic environment. The coastal mountains in northern California are naturally rich in mercury in the form of cinnabar ore, which was processed to produce quicksilver, a liquid form of inorganic mercury. This mercury was taken to the Sierra Nevada, Klamath mountains, and other regions, where it was used in gold mining. Historic mining operations and the remaining tailings from abandoned mercury and gold mines have contributed to the release of large amounts of mercury into California’s surface waters. Mercury can also be released into the environment from industrial sources, including the burning of fossil fuels and solid wastes, and disposal of mercury-containing products.” So it is not so much HG vapor doing the harm.
Co2 and “Global Warming” or are you saying that CO2 drives the climate. If you are, I suggest you educate yourself like I did. Good place to start is Watts Up With That or WUWT.com. Co2 regulations is a politicians wet dream for tax revenue and control.
As far coal mining being dangerous. but it is not the most dangerous job. Strip mining is ugly. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So tell me again why we need to limit coal burning electric power plants?