Lost Mountain Pt.1

Upon reading Lost Mountain the author Eric Reese brought to my attention facts that I was unfamiliar to. Reese strongly opposes the methods used by the coal mining industry in the United States and takes a year out of his life to document in detail the changes that occur to the environment and the community in Kentucky surrounding and living around Lost Mountain. Back in the early to mid-1900s coal mining was done in a much more Eco-friendly way. Miners would carefully dig into mountains and retrieve the coal leaving some environmental damage. Now with the onset of newer regulations and the use of heavy machinery the mining companies can just remove the top of the mountains as long as the environment is left in the same condition that it was found in (which is never the case). The modern method of mining is causing devastating affects on the small towns that are located around the mining spots. Not only is it contaminating water supplies and releasing toxins into the air but it is also destroying ecosystems causing some species to become extinct, therefore messing up the natural groove of the environment. I liked how Reese says the Appalachian mountains is the rain-forest of North America. Its sad how much of this mountain range is being deforested and left in ruin. Even the trees that are cut down are left to rot. Reese does a great job of creating a picture in your mind of how the mountain tops look after the companies leave, he goes on to say that it looks as though it is like a western desert. Nothing is living there. entire streams are buried, entire ecosystems ruined.
These companies try and justify there actions by stressing the importance they play on providing quality jobs for the communities and by adding certain infrastructure to the communities. Yes they do offer some positives but most of there are lies.