WorldWide Drilling Resource

Mining’s Environmental Accomplishments are Largely Unknown to the Public Adapted from a Press Release by the National Mining Association According to a new poll by Morning Consultant, conducted for the National Mining Association (NMA), the majority of American voters are unaware of the environmental and technological ad- vancements of today’s mining industry, suggesting mining’s legacy skews perceptions. Less than 10% of voters could assess the scale of emissions reductions achieved in coal-powered plants, the acreage re- claimed and restored from mined lands, and other benchmarks of mining’s progress. Just one in five voters correctly identified clean coal technologies which have played a huge roll in reducing power plant emissions since the first Earth Day in 1970. “This poll appears to underscore the stubborn impressions that remain from turn-of-the-century mining before the advent of the environmental era,” said Hal Quinn, NMA president and CEO. “The message here is that we need to do a better job of educating the public about the accomplishments of our industry - which like all basic industries, is vastly different today than it was before the first Earth Day.” According to Quinn, media coverage of recent regulatory reforms also suggests perceptions are not aligned with realities. “If the public fails to appreciate the advances we have made in reclaiming mined land, in producing minerals with less natural disturbance, and in deploy- ing ever cleaner and safer technologies, then the benefits of more reg- ulation will be simply assumed and their costs more easily dismissed or belittled,” he said. “An honest debate about regulation must start with a broader understanding of how today’s mining industry differs from min- ing in the past.” Even though coal is widely discussed in the news today, particularly in relation to the environment, the majority of voters are uninformed or misinformed about the numerous advancements made in coal technolo- gies and the technologies which will make the use of coal increasingly cleaner in the future. Coal-fueled power plants have reduced emissions by more than 90% since the 1970s, while electricity generation from coal has more than doubled, a fact only 9% of voters are aware of. There are a variety of advanced coal technologies available today and in development for the future, making the use of coal more efficient and cleaner. Advanced coal technologies include flue gas desulfurization; fluidized-bed combustion; and carbon capture use and storage. Despite this wide range of technologies, just 22% of voters knew these technologies are contributing to making the use of coal cleaner and more efficient. Today’s mining projects begin with extensive environmental studies and end with land reclamation for recreation, wildlife habitat, and community needs. The U.S. mining industry has paid more than $10 billion to restore mines which were abandoned prior to laws requiring their restoration, a fact only 7% of Americans knew. The industry has worked hard to return previous mining sites to their pre- mining state, an improved condition for wildlife habitat, or transforming them for community use, such as hospitals or schools. Incredibly, 75% of voters had no idea U.S. mining companies have restored more than 2.9 million acres of mined land. How can the industry change the public’s perception? Educating the public on the vital role the mining industry plays in our lives, economy, and future will be a challenge. Photos of the 2015 Active Mine Reclamation Award Winner Hawk’s Nest Mine in Buchanan, Virginia. This former coal mine’s reforestation efforts have attracted newly released elk to roam on the site. The company also restored over 4500 feet of streams. Photos courtesy of osmre.gov. Well, we already have! 40 JULY 2017 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Should we mine for coal here?