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To: yorkie

Strip mining of coal is probably safest, although accidents can happen with large machinery. But, strip mining of coal is high on the list of environmental disasters around Pittsburgh as the Mon River was determined to be dead from open pit runoff. However, strip mining can be done safely WRT the environment and surface reclamation although it is more expensive. Coal is already twice the cost it was a few decades ago and these fatal accidents are sure to drive the cost higher. There is coal to last centuries and Peak Coal is still decades off, worst case.


28 posted on 08/18/2007 7:48:10 AM PDT by RightWhale (It's Brecht's donkey, not mine)
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To: RightWhale
Draglines are probably the cheapest way to remove overburden from coal seams but they sure can do damage unless top soil and the upper clay is stripped and stockpiled to be used in reclamation.
This has been the law of the land since 1978. I happen to know this law backwards and forwards.
33 posted on 08/18/2007 7:57:31 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (BTUs are my Beat.)
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