U.S. And China

The Warrior Coal Basin lies underneath the majority of the Black Warrior River watershed. This basin has been the largest, southernmost coal-producing area in North America according to the Geological Survey of Alabama. Coal mines from the past have left a dirty legacy for our generation and future generations to clean up. These old coal mines were not properly reclaimed, resulting in hundreds of acid mine drainage (AMD) sites. AMD sites pollute streams with heavy metals, sediment, and acids. These sites can be spotted easily due to the prevalence of iron which causes the stream to appear neon orange. This coloration comes from ferrous oxide, an iron bacteria. AMD sites are very costly to clean up.

Currently there are around 101 active coal mines in Alabama -- 94 of these active mines are located in the Black Warrior River watershed. Strip mining (a.k.a. surface mining) and longwall mining (a.k.a. underground mining) are the methods of choice for coal extraction in Alabama. As a result, many Black Warrior streams are impaired by sediment laden with heavy metals. Coal mines transform the landscape and alter streams forever. In some instances streams are rendered biologically dead, unable to support life of any kind. http://blackwarriorriver.org/coal-mining.html

U.S. AND CHINA

Today, America burns 1.1 billion tons of coal annually, while China burns 1.5 billion tons. By 2025, the United States will consume 1.5 billion tons, but China will be burning 3.2 billion tons.

A look at China's history over the past 50 years, when global environmental concerns have increased, show that nation has done little or nothing protect its own environment from poisonous emissions into air and water that eventually flows around the earth.

Elizabeth C. Economy details China's catastrophic environmental policies since the 1949 communist takeover in her book, The River Runs Black. Economy, a senior fellow for the Council on Foreign Relations, writes:

* Sixteen of the world's 20 cities having the worst air pollution are in China.

* The number of cars, trucks and buses in China grew from 1.4 million to 25.7 million between 1978 and 2001. By 2050, China will have between 600 million and 800 million vehicles.

* Chinese-made vehicles spew out between 10 and 20 times more carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons than cars made in Japan or America.

* Multinational companies relocate their most polluting factories to China to take advantage of weak environmental laws and enforcement.

* For centuries, the Huai River has flowed through fertile valleys into the Pacific Ocean near Shanghai. Today, the Huai is so polluted that people cannot drink its water or eat its fish. http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/436314/coal_boom__chinas_pollution_vile/index.html?source=r_science

BY-PRODUCTS

Burning coal is a leading cause of smog, acid rain, global warming, and air toxics. In an average year, a typical coal plant generates:

• 3,700,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary human cause of global warming--as much carbon dioxide as cutting down 161 million trees.
• 10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), which causes acid rain that damages forests, lakes, and buildings, and forms small airborne particles that can penetrate deep into lungs.
• 500 tons of small airborne particles, which can cause chronic bronchitis, aggravated asthma, and premature death, as well as haze obstructing visibility.
• 10,200 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx), as much as would be emitted by half a million late-model cars. NOx leads to formation of ozone (smog) which inflames the lungs, burning through lung tissue making people more susceptible to respiratory illness.
• 720 tons of carbon monoxide (CO), which causes headaches and place additional stress on people with heart disease.
• 220 tons of hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOC), which form ozone.
• 170 pounds of mercury, where just 1/70th of a teaspoon deposited on a 25-acre lake can make the fish unsafe to eat.
• 225 pounds of arsenic, which will cause cancer in one out of 100 people who drink water containing 50 parts per billion.
• 114 pounds of lead, 4 pounds of cadmium, other toxic heavy metals, and trace amounts of uranium.