Thread: For All the Carbon Talk....When $$$ is on the Line Europe Burns Coal at 6 Year High

"...must include environmental and health costs, even if those costs are estimated."

Taxcutter asks: Who makes that estimate, and what downside do they have if they are wrong?

Originally Posted by Taxcutter

"...must include environmental and health costs, even if those costs are estimated."

Taxcutter asks: Who makes that estimate, and what downside do they have if they are wrong?

Good question. Depends on the industry.
From my examples, the coal company that destroyed the mountain would have to "fix" it so they are responsible for determining the cost.
The employer of the miner with black lung disease would be responsible for the cost of treatment, so they would have to determine the cost.

Originally Posted by MannieD

Good question. Depends on the industry.
From my examples, the coal company that destroyed the mountain would have to "fix" it so they are responsible for determining the cost.
The employer of the miner with black lung disease would be responsible for the cost of treatment, so they would have to determine the cost.

the coal company that destroyed the mountain would have to "fix" it

Manny ol bud...you need to come to West Virginia and see what it is you are talking about. Our job is to get the coal and LEAVE the mountain with a flat top.....essentially to create a mesa. This has a huge economic benefit in that the people earn very high wages removing the top and the coal, and then, Walmart comes in and builds a shopping center (usually with a Lowes) where the mountain top was so the people can spend their money !!

AND there is an environmental benefit. If you have been to WVa you will know that 99% of the terrain is on at least a 30 degree incline. As a result evolution is crippling the deer, and other wildlife as they are evolving legs in one side shorter than the other (to maintain a level stance you see). As a result the whitetail population is splitting into two subspecies: clockwise deer and counterclockwise deer. These poor deer have a severe survival handicap as they can only walk around the mountains in one direction or the other. The thousand acres of flat land we leave after mining (properly reclaimed and seeded of course) is helping to get these poor creatures back on a level footing---so to speak----

Originally Posted by Elmer Fudd

the coal company that destroyed the mountain would have to "fix" it

Manny ol bud...you need to come to West Virginia and see what it is you are talking about. Our job is to get the coal and LEAVE the mountain with a flat top.....essentially to create a mesa. This has a huge economic benefit in that the people earn very high wages removing the top and the coal, and then, Walmart comes in and builds a shopping center (usually with a Lowes) where the mountain top was so the people can spend their money !!

AND there is an environmental benefit. If you have been to WVa you will know that 99% of the terrain is on at least a 30 degree incline. As a result evolution is crippling the deer, and other wildlife as they are evolving legs in one side shorter than the other (to maintain a level stance you see). As a result the whitetail population is splitting into two subspecies: clockwise deer and counterclockwise deer. These poor deer have a severe survival handicap as they can only walk around the mountains in one direction or the other. The thousand acres of flat land we leave after mining (properly reclaimed and seeded of course) is helping to get these poor creatures back on a level footing---so to speak----

Very commendable. But I never stated otherwise. TC asked who should be responsible for determining cost (environmental in this case) and I stated the coal company.

Actually the real estate market would adjudicate the value of the new flat property. Since the flat land is of higher value than the old mountain peak, the cost is negative - that is the "cost" actually adds wealth.

All the airports in that region are located on flattened-off mountain tops.

Originally Posted by Elmer Fudd

the coal company that destroyed the mountain would have to "fix" it

Manny ol bud...you need to come to West Virginia and see what it is you are talking about. Our job is to get the coal and LEAVE the mountain with a flat top.....essentially to create a mesa. This has a huge economic benefit in that the people earn very high wages removing the top and the coal, and then, Walmart comes in and builds a shopping center (usually with a Lowes) where the mountain top was so the people can spend their money !!

AND there is an environmental benefit. If you have been to WVa you will know that 99% of the terrain is on at least a 30 degree incline. As a result evolution is crippling the deer, and other wildlife as they are evolving legs in one side shorter than the other (to maintain a level stance you see). As a result the whitetail population is splitting into two subspecies: clockwise deer and counterclockwise deer. These poor deer have a severe survival handicap as they can only walk around the mountains in one direction or the other. The thousand acres of flat land we leave after mining (properly reclaimed and seeded of course) is helping to get these poor creatures back on a level footing---so to speak----

So this is an "environmental improvement"



Nice legacy for the kids......................

Originally Posted by Bowerbird

So this is an "environmental improvement"



Nice legacy for the kids......................

Ok, so you are showing us a picture of an ACTIVE mining operation. Show us pictures a few years after they shut down and we'll see the overall impact. If they are anything like the other closed mining operations, it will be just as lush, green and healthy as it was before the operation began.

Originally Posted by Elmer Fudd

the coal company that destroyed the mountain would have to "fix" it

Manny ol bud...you need to come to West Virginia and see what it is you are talking about. Our job is to get the coal and LEAVE the mountain with a flat top.....essentially to create a mesa. This has a huge economic benefit in that the people earn very high wages removing the top and the coal, and then, Walmart comes in and builds a shopping center (usually with a Lowes) where the mountain top was so the people can spend their money !!

AND there is an environmental benefit. If you have been to WVa you will know that 99% of the terrain is on at least a 30 degree incline. As a result evolution is crippling the deer, and other wildlife as they are evolving legs in one side shorter than the other (to maintain a level stance you see). As a result the whitetail population is splitting into two subspecies: clockwise deer and counterclockwise deer. These poor deer have a severe survival handicap as they can only walk around the mountains in one direction or the other. The thousand acres of flat land we leave after mining (properly reclaimed and seeded of course) is helping to get these poor creatures back on a level footing---so to speak----

Okay, let me get this straight. You take the top off a mountain destroying the natural habitat, sell the land to Wal Mart and claim you are helping the poor deer walk erect on four legs.

Funny...deer have been walking on the land for at least thousands of years and surviving quite well in the mountains and woodlands.

Tell me another one...this stuff is funny!

Clearly, Bowerbird does not know an active mining site from the picture.

Originally Posted by Taxcutter

Clearly, Bowerbird does not know an active mining site from the picture.

So instead of just complaining about bowerbird's image, why do you not show us an image of a recovered mining site? Why make her do all the work?