Dear Ecologgers: The practice of mountain-top removal for stripmining and coal production is about to be made much simpler for coal companies. This is because the Bush Administration, through the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) is seeking a revision to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 -- this rule would repeal a regulation which protects streams from coal mining activities by weakening the mandate that a 100-foot buffer zone be built around them.
Should this ruling go through, it will both ease environmental protections and expand mountaintop removal coal mining specifically in areas rich in headwaters; the OSM itself states that it "continues to believe prohibiting all surface activities in the stream buffer zone would not be a viable alternative because it would significantly affect coal recovery in areas with extensive water resources in a way not required by the SMCRA." The effects of mountain-top removal on aquatic life through the dumping of mountain 'overfill' or 'spoil' into streams cannot be understated, nor can the effects of complete removal of entire forest ecosystems along with topsoil and bedrock. As ecologists, we understand, or are attempting to elucidate, ecosystem dynamics, plant and animal community assemblies, population biology, etc, and as such can provide an informed opinion on the effects of the *complete removal* of mountaintops. Please do so. Currently, there is a public comment period open until NOVEMBER 24th through the OSM (http://www.osmre.gov/) on this ruling. You can also send a letter to your congressperson about this issue, and in support of the Clean Water Protection Act, HR 2169 through the following website: http://www.ilovemountains.org/action/sbz Sincerely, Regina S Baucom -- Regina S. Baucom Postdoctoral Research Fellow Bennetzen Lab Dept of Genetics Davison Life Sciences University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602 http://gbaucom.myweb.uga.edu [EMAIL PROTECTED]
