The Ikomidi elincane le-US House on Energy and Mineral Resources, usihlalo we-Tea Party Republican Rep. u-Paul Gosar wase-Arizona, ubambe a kokuzwa kuleli sonto enesihloko esithi โUkuhlola Ukusetshenziswa Okusha Nokunye Okuhlukile Kwamalahle.โ Ibonise ubufakazi obuvela kosomabhizinisi abathathu: UMichael Klein, isekela likamongameli we-Lighthouse Resources, inkampani ese-Utah emba amalahle e-Montana nase-Wyoming futhi iwathengise e-Asia; UJulian McIntyre, umsunguli kanye no-CEO we-Arq ezinze e-UK, eshintsha amalahle emfucuza abe uphethiloli owuketshezi futhi manje ukwakha isitshalo sayo sokuqala eKentucky nozakwethu iPeabody Energy yaseMissouri kanye nomhwebi kawoyela waseSwitzerland uVitol; futhi URandall Atkins, i-CEO yeRamaco Carbon yase-Wyoming, ephendula amalahle abe imikhiqizo yezimboni yobuchwepheshe obuphezulu.
I-boosterism yabo yamalahle yaphikisana nobufakazi bukaVernon Haltom, umqondisi omkhulu we I-Coal River Mountain Watch, inhlangano engenzi nzuzo ezinze eWest Virginia esebenzela ukuqeda izimayini zokususa esiqongweni sezintaba. Eyethulwe ngo-1998, le nhlangano ibe ngumholi engxoxweni yenqubomgomo mayelana nesu lezimayini elicekela phansi, esebenzisa iziqhumane ukuqhuma eziqongweni zezintaba ukuze kufinyelele amalahle angezansi. Ngo-2003, uJulia "Judy" Bonds - umxhumanisi weqembu, owaziwa ngokuthi "unkulunkulukazi wenhlangano yokususa intaba - wayeyilungu leqembu. Owine uMklomelo weGoldman waseNyakatho Melika. Ngo-2011, eneminyaka engu-58, amaBonds wabulawa umdlavuza, okuyinto kuthinta ngokungafanele imiphakathi eseduze nezindawo zezimayini. UHaltom wamlandela njengomqondisi omkhulu.
Umthelela wokususwa kwezimayini eziqongweni zezintaba ube mkhulu kakhulu. A cwaningo okuvele kuleli sonto ephephabhukwini i-PLOS ONE ithole ukuthi minyaka yonke phakathi kuka-1985 no-2015 lo mkhuba ususa cishe amahektha angama-21,000 enkabeni ye-Appalachia. - isamba esingamahektha ayizigidi eziyi-1.5 kusukela ngeminyaka yawo-1970. Ucwaningo lubandakanya abacwaningi abavela e-Duke University, West Virginia University, Google, kanye nezinhlangano ezingenzi-nzuzo i-Appalachian Voices ne-SkyTruth. A ithuluzi lokwenza imephu ethuthukiswe abacwaningi babheke ukususwa kwesiqongo sentaba ngaphezu kwamashumi amathathu eminyaka ukukhombisa ngokunemba okungakaze kubonwe lapho imayini enjalo yenzeke khona. Abacwaningi baphinde bakhombise ukuthi izimayini zokususa esiqongweni sezintaba namuhla zidla umhlaba ophindwe kathathu ukuze kukhiqizwe inani lamalahle njengoba lenza ngeminyaka yawo-1980 nawo-1990.
Ubufakazi bomlomo buka-Haltom, obuhlelwe isikhathi, babufushane kunenguqulo ebhaliwe. (Ividiyo yokulalelwa okuphelele iku-inthanethi lapha.) Kodwa yayihlanganisa eminye imininingwane eyayingekho ebufakazini obubhaliwe, njengokuthi amacala amaphaphu amnyama e-Appalachia emazingeni abo aphezulu eminyakeni engu-25.
"Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi amalahle e-Asia, imfucumfucu yamalahle ku-oyela, amalahle kuya kupulasitiki, noma amalahle kothingo lwenkosazana nama-unicorns, lawo malahle ambiwa emathanjeni nasemaphashini abantu abangasoze banxeshezelwa ngokufanelekile ngokulimala kwabo noma izimpilo zabo," uHaltom. watshela ikomiti elincane.
Nabu ubufakazi bakhe obulotshiwe ngokugcwele. - USue Sturgis, umqondisi wokuhlela obhekene neNingizimu
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Umgomo we-Coal River Mountain Watch uwukumisa ukucekelwa phansi kwemiphakathi yethu kanye nemvelo ngokusebenzisa izimayini zokususa izintaba (MTR), ukuthuthukisa izinga lempilo endaweni yethu, kanye nokusiza ukwakha kabusha imiphakathi esimeme. Umqondisi wethu wangaphambilini, u-Judy Bonds, wawina uMklomelo Wezemvelo we-Goldman ka-2003 eNyakatho Melika. Ngo-2011, wabulawa umdlavuza ohlobene nokususwa esiqongweni sezintaba okhungethe imiphakathi yethu. Ngo-2015, sanikezela isakhiwo sethu samahhovisi njenge-Judy Bonds Center for Appalachian Preservation. Kulo nyaka, sifake amandla elanga anele ukuhlangabezana nezidingo zethu zikagesi, futhi satshala ihempetha yezimboni eyihhafu ukuze sibonise ukusebenza kwalezi zinketho zomnotho ezikhula ngokushesha nezihlanzekile.
I-Judy Bonds Centre iseyimizuzu eyi-10 kuphela ukusuka endaweni okwaqhuma kuyo imayini ye-Upper Big Branch, eyabulala abasebenzi basezimayini abangama-29 emphakathini wethu ngo-2010. Njengenhlalayenza, le nhlekelele ibangelwe yinkampani yamalahle yokunqamula amakhona ukuze ibeke inzuzo ngaphezu kwabantu, kanjalo ukuxegiswa kwemithetho ngabalawuli. I-CEO ye-Massey Energy isanda kuchitha unyaka ejele ngenxa yesenzo sakhe esingalungile sokwakha itulo lokwephula imithetho yezokuphepha yenhlangano enhlekeleleni embi kakhulu yasemayini e-US eminyakeni engu-40.
Ukube abafundi baseMarsh Fork Elementary School babesekilasini ngosuku lwenhlekelele, babeyokuzwa futhi bakuzwe lokho kuqhuma. Njengoba kwakunjalo, lezi zingane zichitha usuku ngalunye lwesikole phakathi kwamamitha angu-300 embonini yokulungisa amalahle kanye namayadi angu-400 nje ezansi nomfula ukusuka edamini lemfucumfucu yamalahle elinobuthi elingu-2.8-billion-gallon, elicishe lizungezwe indawo yokususa esiqongweni sezintaba esingamahektha angu-2,000. Ngemva komkhankaso weminyaka eyisithupha, iCoal River Mountain Watch yathola izibopho zesikole esisha ngemva kwamasonto ambalwa kuqhume. Abafundi baqale amakilasi endaweni entsha ngoJanuwari 2013. Manje, i-Alpha Natural Resources, eyathenga i-Massey Energy ngo-2011, isiqalile ukusebenza endaweni yokususa esiqongweni sentaba okuzohlanganisa nokuqhunyiswa kwamamayela amabili ukusuka esikoleni esisha, kuphinde kubeke izingane engozini. ngothuli lwe-silica oluphefumulayo.
Kusukela emlandweni omude wezinhlekelele zasemayini, kuya ekucindezelweni ngesihluku kwamalungelo abavukuzi ezimpini zamalahle, kuya ekubhuntsheni kwedamu lodaka iBuffalo Creek elabulala izakhamuzi eziyi-125 ngo-1972, kuya enkingeni yezempilo yomphakathi eqhubekayo yokususwa esiqongweni sezintaba, iKing Coal isibuse eNtshonalanga. IVirginia kanye ne-Appalachia emaphakathi ngesandla esinonya. Awukho โumjikelezo wokuphilaโ wamalahle, imashi yokufa nje enosizi kuzo zonke izinyathelo ukusuka ekukhishweni kuya ekulahlweni. Azikho izinhlelo noma iziphakamiso ezivela kwabanye ofakazi namuhla ezenza noma yini ukunciphisa lolo sizi; esikhundleni salokho, zengeza izinyathelo ezengeziwe ohambweni lokufa.
Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi amalahle aya e-Asia, imfucumfucu yamalahle kuwoyela, amalahle kuya kumapulasitiki, noma amalahle kothingo lwenkosazana nama-unicorns, lawo malahle ambiwa emathanjeni nasemaphashini abantu abangasoze banxeshezelwa ngokufanelekile ngokulimala kwabo noma izimpilo zabo. Ozakwethu ofakazi abanazo iziphakamiso zokuthuthukisa inhlalakahle yemiphakathi ekhahlanyezwe amalahle. Kunalokho, bafuna ukwakha ingcebo yabambalwa ngezindleko zabaningi: abaningi abazokhokhela uxhaso ngamadola abo entela futhi bakhokhele imithetho eshisiwe ngokuphila kwabo. Bathathu abantu abazofa namuhla ngenxa yezifo ezihambisana nokususwa kwesiqongo sentaba, bathathu bashone izolo, kusasa bathathu, kanti bangaphezulu kuka-1,200 XNUMX kulo nyaka.
Umthelela wezempilo awumangazi kunoma ngubani ohlala phansi ngenxa yokuqhuma kwansuku zonke esifundazweni lapho izinkampani zamalahle ziqhumisa ukuqhuma okulingana nemicibisholo ye-Tomahawk engu-744 nsuku zonke ngaphandle kwangeSonto. Kweminye imiphakathi, okulingana โnoMama Wawo Wonke Amabhomuโ kuqhunyiswa ngaphezu kwamakhaya abo nsuku zonke, kodwa lokhu kuthathwa ngokuthi โukuqhuma okuncaneโ nguMnyango Wezokuvikela Emvelweni waseWest Virginia. Amafu angumphumela wothuli lwe-silica amboza imiphakathi kanye namaphaphu abantu, futhi lokhu kuqubuka kuwusongo lwezempilo olwaziwayo.
Izinsongo zezempilo zomphakathi ze-MTR manje sezibhalwe ezifundweni ezingaphezu kuka-30 ezibuyekezwe ontanga (https://ohvec.org/mountaintop-removal-articles/health/). Lezi zinsongo zihlanganisa umdlavuza, isifo senhliziyo, ukukhubazeka kokuzalwa, nezinye izifo ezibulalayo ngamazinga aphezulu kakhulu ngemva kokubalwa kwezinye izici. Kepha izikhulu zombuso kanye nezombuso zenqabile ukuvuma isayensi.
Ngo-2013, i-Center for Health, Environment, and Justice (CHEJ) yakhipha umbiko onesihloko esithi "Imithelela Yezempilo Yokususwa Kwezintaba (MTR) Mining," lapho i-CHEJ yathuma ochwepheshe bezokwelapha nezesayensi ukuthi babuyekeze ucwaningo olukhona ngaleso sikhathi (Isitatimende kanye Isifinyezo Esiphezulu Esithasiselweni A). Lo mbiko ubufuna โukumiswa ngokushesha kwezimayini ze-MTR kuze kube kwenziwa izifundo zezempilo ezinikeza ukuqonda okucacile kokuhlangana phakathi kwemithelela emibi yezempilo, ikakhulukazi imiphumela emibi yokuzala, kanye nezimayini ze-MTR.โ Izincomo zihambisana eduze noMthetho Wezimo Eziphuthumayo Ze-Appalachian Communities Health Emergency (ACHE), owethulwe okokuqala eNdlu yabaMeli ngo-2012 futhi okwamanje kule Nkongolo njengo-HR 786.
Ngisho nombiko we-CHEJ wawunganele ukusheshisa isenzo sikahulumeni esibambekayo. Ucwaningo lwaqhubeka, okuhlanganisa nokuhlola okwashicilelwa ngo-2014 ngososayensi beMary Babb Randolph Cancer Center yaseWest Virginia University, lapho izicubu zamaphaphu omuntu zachayeka othulini olukhishwa esiqongweni sentaba elebhu. Isihloko socwaningo sisodwa sikhombisa imbangela hhayi nje ukuhlobana: โI-Appalachian Mountaining Particulate Particulate Matter Idala I-Neoplastic Transformation yamangqamuzana e-Human Bronchial Epithelial futhi Ikhuthaza Ukwakheka Kwethumbaโ (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es504263u).
Ngemva kweminyaka yokusebenza kwe-Coal River Mountain Watch kanye nabalingani ukuze uhulumeni wethu avume ngokungathรญ sina isayensi futhi athathe isinyathelo, iHhovisi Lomnyango Wezangaphakathi Lezezimayini Zomhlaba, Ukubuyiswa Nokuqiniswa Kokuphoqelela lihlanganyele Nezikhungo Zikazwelonke Zesayensi, Ubunjiniyela, Nezokwelapha ukuze zibuyekeze umzimba. yocwaningo olukhona. Ukubuyekezwa kwakuzothatha iminyaka emibili futhi kubize izigidi zamaRandi. Ukubuyekezwa kwaqala ngobuqotho, ukuqoqa ubufakazi nobufakazi kanye nokubamba izingxoxo zomphakathi. Kwathi ngemva kochungechunge lwemihlangano nabamele imboni yamalahle, i-DOI yamisa kungazelelwe ukubuyekezwa ngo-Agasti 2017. Ngomhla ziyisi-7 kuNhlangulana walo nyaka, iHhovisi Lomhloli Jikelele we-DOI lathola ukuthi i-DOI yayingenayo indlela eqondile yokunquma ukuqeda ucwaningo nokuthi cishe isigamu sesigidi samarandi samoshwa ngenxa yokuthi awukho umkhiqizo wokugcina owaba khona.
Indlela engcono kakhulu yokusebenzisa amalahle iwukuwagcina emhlabathini โkuze kube yilapho sithola ukuthi kwenzakalani.โ Okungenani, sidinga ukumisa isikhashana izimvume ezintsha zokususa esiqongweni sentaba ngaphandle kwalapho kuze kube yilapho le nqubo ingaboniswa ngokuphelele ukuthi iphephile emiphakathini engomakhelwane, njengoba kubizwa kuMthetho we-ACHE. Futhi ngaphambi kokuba sifune izindlela ezintsha nezihlakaniphile zokuxhasa imboni enciphayo, sidinga ukuphoqelela imithetho nemithethonqubo ehloselwe ukuvikela izakhamuzi zethu.
iSithasiselo A
Center for Health, Environment, and Justice report "A Call for Congressional Action: The Health Impacts of Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining" April 2013, Isitatimende Sekhomishana Kazwelonke Yemithelela Yezempilo Yezimayini Zokususwa Kwentaba kanye Nesifinyezo Esiphezulu. Umbhalo ogcwele uyatholakala ku https://ohvec.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/MTR_Mining_April_18_20โฆ.
isithasiselo B
Incwadi Yehhovisi Lomnyango Wezangaphakathi Lomhloli Jikelele mayelana nokubuyekezwa kokukhanselwa kwe-DOI kwezifundo ze-NAS. http://democrats-naturalresources.house.gov/imo/media/doc/DOI%20IG%20Letโฆ
U-Vernon Haltom ungumqondisi omkhulu we I-Coal River Mountain Watch, inhlangano engenzi nzuzo esebenza emiphakathini ethintwa imikhuba yokunganaki embonini yamalahle eningizimu yeNtshonalanga Virginia.
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