Social and political implications

The social implications of surface mining are vast, including disruption of schools and their programs, break-up of community ties, and a waning sense of national pride (8). If a mine were to shut down, like the fate threatened by Arch Coal for the Dal-Tex mine, the surrounding community at the county level suffers immediately and directly (8). With a loss of tax revenue from the operating mine, services like education and crime prevention are immediately cut, resulting in unsafe areas with few or no operating schools (8). Communities are often split in their support of either the coal companies or the reform and enforcement of laws restricting mining operations; thus leading to fights, rallies, and general public unrest (8). With a disappearing landscape, comes a disappearing natural beauty of the land, and thus a waning pride for residents' homeland where they may or may not have spent their entire lives.

Political voices serve to protect both the people as well as special interest groups. Judicial systems serve to award or, more rarely, deny permits requested by coal companies to mine certain areas. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act was passed in 1977 stating that the land succumbed to surface mining must be restored to its original or better condition than before mining (8). Residents have claimed that the Department of Environmental Protection does not enforce this act and some have gone as far as to file suit against the mining companies for not following regulations (8). Politicians have been known to accept as much as $500,000 in campaign donations and other fringe benefits from the coal companies, with the expectation that said politician will respond appropriately in terms of deregulation (8). Such is the case, for example, between former Governor Cecil Underwood and King Coal (8). The biggest paradox for surface mining exists at the political level, because while the residents are speaking out against injustice to the people and the environment made by coal companies; those coal companies speak out in dollars and cents. Image (10).