Background Environmental justice and coal mining in Appalachia

coal production

appalachia 1 of 3 coal-mining regions in united states; others interior coal region, , western coal region, includes powder river basin. 8 states lie in appalachian coal region: alabama, eastern kentucky, maryland, ohio, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, , west virginia. west virginia largest coal-producing state in appalachia, , second-largest coal-producing state in united states, accounting 11% of nation s total coal production in 2014 (the largest coal-producing state wyoming, lies in western coal region , accounts 40% of u.s. coal production). 2 other states in appalachian coal region, kentucky , pennsylvania, account 8% , 6% of u.s. coal production, respectively.

the coal industry in appalachia has changed on time. according u.s. department of energy s energy information administration data, central appalachia—consisting of southern west virginia, eastern kentucky, western virginia, , eastern tennessee—made 29% of u.s. coal production in u.s. in 1990, 13% 2013. contrast, coal production in northern appalachian has remained relatively stable, going 16% in 1990 12.5% in 2013. result, both regions account same share of u.s. coal production of 2014.

in appalachian coal region, 72% of coal produced came underground mines. higher percentage in western coal region, 90% of coal produced comes surface mines.

history

historically, building of coal towns began in 1880s, peaked in 1920s, , virtually ended coming of great depression when availability of other forms of energy—namely, oil, gas, , hydroelectricity—reduced demand coal. company town particularly dominant in southern appalachia; in 1925, 80% of west virginia coal miners lived in company towns, while average of 64.4% of coal miners in maryland, virginia, kentucky, , tennessee lived in company towns.