The third-largest coal reserves and plant sites are in Virginia, and the health impact caused by coal mining and associated operations is debilitating, ruining peoples lives. For years the landscapes of Virginia and the Appalachian Mountains have been the victim of excessive coal mining operations, including mountaintop removal. While the environmental implications of mountaintop coal mining have been a grave concern for the environmentalists, the silent enemy is the severe health and safety hazards that have been ignored.
With coal mining there is a trail of destruction that authorities, including the government, assembly, and energy stakeholders continue to disregard. Mining starts with polluting the air and water that Virginians breathe and drink, resulting in a hoard of deadly diseases, including lung cancer, asthma, pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular diseases, kidney, and birth-defects. This begs the question; are the mining operations in Virginia more valuable than the lives of its citizens?
In the barrage of questionable choices and policy making, the federal government has turned a blind eye towards health and environmental consequences in favor of energy-fueled capitalism and industrial profiteering. During Trump's administration, an example of this biased approach shows how there was a plug pulled on government-funded research on the health impact of MTR.
The former Trump administration was vocal that coal mining is pertinent to the American economy and Appalachian development. However, the administration remained tight-lipped on the consequences of mass coal mining operations and the lack of health and safety measures. Dangerous toxins and byproducts such as coal ash, dust, smog, and soot are released by the coal-powered plant sites. Those living near these sites and working in the facilities are the true victims of coal exploitation.
The coal-based energy is claiming lives, and it's about times the afflicted stand up for themselves and claim the damages. There have been well-documented horror stories of coal miners suffering from deadly diseases as a result of years of coal-related operations. However, the plight of the residents who live near these toxins infested areas are dealing with cancer, breathing issues, and developmental defects go largely unnoticed. Reports of kids suffering from thyroid cancer to adults dealing with a myriad of diseases are common in Virginia.
EPA regulation was scrapped during the Trump administration as there was blatant disregard for the health safety of Virginia residents. I and many others Virginians believe that the state of Virginia as well as partnering energy enterprises should pay damages to impacted residents.
The lack of real solution towards coal-associated health hazards is strong grounds for the citizens to demand reparations for their suffering. Since health care for cancer and other diseases is very expensive, the state is responsible for the health hazards from their incompetent policies.
Be it financial funding programs, or resettlement of suffering residents to other housing localities, the state of Virginia government must take responsibility for its horrible decision making.
