Disparate impacts of coal mining and reclamation concerns for West Virginia and central Appalachia

We examined the reclamation bonds for all coal mines in West Virginia and found that West Virginia faces significant gaps between counties and watershed for the amount of the secured funding for site-specific reclamation. Significant disparities exist such that some residents are much more impacted by the amount of coal mining, as well as the amount of site-specific bonding. We also found that the areas most impacted by the amount of coal mining and reduced site-specific bonding are in the areas with the worst health outcomes. This is a concern for all regions with all types of extractive industries: how to maximize industry while protecting the environment and its residents. Moving forward, states should reconfigure bonding systems to alleviate these risks and burdens on its citizens to prepare for continued declines within the coal industry.