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Disparate impacts of coal mining and reclamation concerns for West Virginia and central Appalachia

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  • Surber, Sarah J.
  • Simonton, D. Scott

Abstract

The international coal mining industry has experienced serious recent downturns, particularly in the electricity generating market, with steady declines projected into the future. In the United States, increased production from the natural gas sector has made coal-fired power production less competitive, and natural gas power plants are replacing aging coal-fired plants. As such, many of the larger coal companies are in or have recently been in bankruptcy, leaving all coal mining states in the United States at risk for liabilities from abandoned unreclaimed coal mines. Because of the various laws and regulations surrounding the permitting of coal mines, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia employ some form of alternative bonding systems, and Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New Mexico, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming employ self-bonding, which allows a coal operator to reduce its secured bond. These alternative bonding systems do not contemplate the risk of a large-scale industry downturn, leaving states at risk for hundreds of millions of dollars of liabilities to reclaim abandoned coal mines and protect the environment and its residents.

Suggested Citation

  • Surber, Sarah J. & Simonton, D. Scott, 2017. "Disparate impacts of coal mining and reclamation concerns for West Virginia and central Appalachia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1-8.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:54:y:2017:i:c:p:1-8
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2017.08.004
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    1. repec:rri:wpaper:200801 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Sarah J. Surber, 2021. "A conceptual model for integrating community health in managing remediation of West Virginia and central Appalachia’s abandoned coal mines," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 1563-1578, February.
    2. Weber, Jeremy G. & Ercoli, Thomas & Fitzgerald, Will & Nied, Paige & Penderville, Molly & Raabe, Eric, 2021. "Identifying the end: Minimum production thresholds for natural gas wells," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    3. Mueller, Rose M., 2022. "Surface coal mining and public health disparities: Evidence from Appalachia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    4. Han, Shuai & Chen, Hong & Long, Ruyin & Jiskani, Izhar Mithal, 2022. "Can miners' social networks affect their safety commitment? A case study of Chinese coal mining enterprises," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).

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