Mountaintop Removal and Job Creation

Exploring the Relationship Using Spatial Regression

Bibliographic Data

ID8375885
AuthorsBrad R Woods (Pennsylvania State University), Jason Gordon (0000-0002-9121-2871, Mississippi State University), Jason S Gordon
Year2011
Volume101
Issue4
Pages806-815
Publication date2011-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAnnals of the Association of American Geographers (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0004-5608 • E-ISSN: 1467-8306
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00045608.2011.567947
OpenAlexW2024781338
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited17

This project focused on a new and increasingly contested method of coal extraction, mountaintop removal (MTR), and its effects on central Appalachian residents' quality of life vis-à-vis increased employment. Attention is given to central Appalachia because its fossil fuel landscapes have undergone major changes as a result of two interrelated forces: (1) a national push for energy independence that led to the region's all-time high production of coal (supplying over half of the nation's coal); and (2) changes in mining technology that allowed for increased production. Such transitions have led to widespread use of MTR mining, a method that entails removal of extensive land area to expose coal seams. Although policymakers are aware of the negative environmental effects of MTR, its continued use is primarily rationalized using the argument that it contributes to local economies, especially job retention and development. MTR proponents argue that, without MTR, other regions and countries more competitively extract coal. Opponents counter that MTR fails to substantially contribute to employment due to efficiencies in mechanization. This study used socio-spatial analysis to understand MTR's impact on employment in southern West Virginia populated places. We integrated coal mining permit boundaries with employment indicators obtained from the U.S. Census. Contrary to pro-MTR arguments, we found no supporting evidence suggesting MTR contributed positively to nearby communities' employment. Implications for economic development are discussed. Este proyecto concentró su interés en un nuevo y cada vez más debatido método de extracción de carbón, la remoción de la cubierta montañosa (MTR, sigla en inglés), y sus efectos en la calidad de vida de los habitantes de los Apalaches centrales frente a un incremento del empleo. Se le dio atención a la parte central de los Apalaches porque sus paisajes de combustibles fósiles han experimentado cambios importantes como resultado de dos fuerzas interrelacionadas: (1) una presión nacional en pro de la independencia energética que llevó a la más alta producción de carbón de todos los tiempos en la región (suministrando más de la mitad del carbón de la nación); y (2) cambios en la tecnología minera que permitieron el aumento de la producción. Estas transiciones han conducido al amplio uso de la minería MTR, método que significa la remoción de vastas extensiones de tierra para exponer las vetas de carbón. Aunque los hacedores de políticas saben de los efectos ambientales negativos del MTR, continuar con su aplicación se racionaliza primariamente con el argumento de que así se contribuye a fortalecer las economías locales, especialmente en conservación del empleo y desarrollo. Los proponentes del MTR arguyen que sin el MTR, otras regiones y países extraen carbón más competitivamente. Los oponentes al método replican que el MTR falla en contribuir sustancialmente al empleo debido a las eficiencias en mecanización. Este estudio utilizó el análisis socio-espacial para evaluar el impacto del MTR sobre el empleo en los lugares poblados del sur de Virginia Occidental. Integramos los límites permitidos para minería del carbón con los indicadores de empleo obtenidos del Censo de los EE.UU. Contrario a lo argumentado en favor del MTR, no encontramos evidencia de apoyo que sugiera que el MTR contribuyó positivamente al empleo de las comunidades cercanas. Se discuten las implicaciones que esto tiene para el desarrollo económico. Keywords: Appalachiacoaleconomic developmentmountaintop removalspatial regression关键词: 阿巴拉契亚煤炭经济发展山顶搬迁空间回归Palabras clave: Apalachescarbóndesarrollo económicoremoción de la cubierta montañosaregresión espacial Acknowledgment The authors thank Dr. Wayne Myers for his contribution to this analysis and the useful comments of anonymous reviewers and editors on drafts of this article. Notes 1. On 13 January 2011, the EPA announced their veto of the Spruce Number 1 Surface Mine, the largest permitted mine in West Virginia history (see http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/cwa/dredgdis/upload/Spruce_No-_1_Mine_Final_Determination_011311_signed.pdf). 2. Flyrock "[is] the undesired propulsion of rock fragments through the air or along the ground beyond the blast zone, by the force of the explosion" (CitationLittle and Blair 2010, 641). 3. Impacts include introduction of toxins such as nickel, chromium, zinc, and other toxic compounds (CitationPaybins et al. 2000; CitationLemly 2007). 4. Income figures reflect pooled data, "in order to have enough cases to generate reliable estimates of income by quintile by state we pooled income data for three consecutive years" (i.e., 1980–1982, 1990–1992, and 2001–2003 (see Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute 2006). 5. USGS Populated Places are places or areas with clustered or scattered buildings and a permanent human population (city, settlement, town, village). 6. These data did not differentiate between commuters and noncommuters. 7. See Anselin (1996) for a discussion on spatial dependence

Appalachia · Appalachian Region · Archaeology · Argument (complex analysis) · Census · Coal · Coal mining · Economics · Energy independence · Geography · Natural resource economics · Physical geography · Political science · Production (economics) · Renewable energy · Sociology · Terroir · West virginia · Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics · Engineering · Environmental Justice and Health Disparities · Geology · Mining and Resource Management

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