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Bernstein added that the short-term satisfaction over jobs that the mining project will provide will lead to serious consequences in years to come.
“Long-term you cannot say that blowing up Appalachia’s mountains is going to be in the economic interest of the region,” he said.
Badly Needed Jobs
Some residents in dire need of well-paid jobs with benefits might disagree when it comes to consequences. According to the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), the Hobet 45 mine will provide 450 long-term union jobs to local residents, thereby meeting the economic needs of union members and their families for years to come.
“This particular mine, if they mined all the coal available, has about 10 to 12 years left,” said Phil Smith, Director of Communications for the UMWA. “Is that long-term? No. But does that mean that [these] families can live in decent terms for 8, 10, 12 years? Yes. In terms of the long-term impact, for folks who are depending on these jobs—these are by far the best jobs in the community.”
According to the EPA, Appalachian coal mining has buried an estimated 2,000 miles of streams in the United States, including some in West Virginia. The agency also said that data from coalfield communities indicates that coal mining leads to killing and contamination of fish and other wildlife.
EPA reported that original plans for the Hobet 45 mine would have buried nearly six miles of headwater streams and contaminated downstream waters that now support healthy stream life and are used by local residents for fishing and swimming. Changes made during the lengthy review period dealt with bringing Hobet Mining’s work plans in-line with the current environmental standards.
According to the UMWA, despite the outstanding job prospects from working at the mine, which include health care and retirement benefits, the potential impact on the environment is not lost on the union workers who will fill the positions.
“Our members who work in these mines live there, too—they understand whatever environmental impacts come from that,” Smith said. “They are concerned about the quality of the drinking water, and they want to make sure the companies and agencies involved are doing all they can.”
