The EPA recently tightened regulations regarding water quality in streams that are impacted by mountain top coal-mining operations in Appalachia. The Agency is setting limits on the electrical conductivity of streams impacted by mining operations. This action is a significant step to limiting the practice of mountaintop removal mining operations, which is common in West Virginia, Kentucky, and parts of Virginia.

Mountaintop mining involves the blasting off of the top of mountains, removing the coal, and dumping the residual rock and dirt into valleys. As water seeps through the porous fill, it picks up metals and minerals increasing the conductivity of the water in streams which has been shown to adversely impact fish and plant life. Approximately 11% of total U.S. coal production comes from surface mining operations in the region.

The coal mining association has estimated as many as 27,000 employees jobs may be at risk from the new regulations. Environmentalist have long sought to halt mountaintop mining, and some think the new EPA rules would eventually shift more mining to higher-cost underground operations that are more labor intensive.

"We are thrilled, this will definitely impact new mines and mine renewals and improve water quality," said Jody Bond, co-director of Coal River Mountain Watch, which opposes mountaintop mining. Approximately 50% of the electricity we use in Northern Virginia comes from coal-fired plants burning coal mined in some instances from mountaintop removal operations often just several hours drive from us in West Virginia and Southwestern Virginia. There was an award winning documentary made a couple years ago titled, "Burning the Future - Coal in America". Bruce Nilles, Director, National Coal Campaign, of the Sierra Club said, "…burns through the 'clean coal' rhetoric of industry front groups, showing the harsh truth of the coal story…" You can rent the DVD from Netflix. I would be glad to lend any one interested my copy.

About the Author: Dale Schulz is the President of Schulz Homes, www.schulzhomes.com. He has been building and renovating custom homes in the area for nearly a quarter century. He is also the President and Founder of Virginia Renewable Energy, which retrofits new and existing homes with renewable energy systems, such as solar PV panel and wind turbines. You contact him as well as send your questions for future columns to dale@schulzhomes.com. His phone number is 540.687.3367. Schulz Homes office is located on North Hamilton St.