Longwall Underground Mining

Most coal today is mined underground, and much of that comes from longwall mining operations where huge (1,500 feet or wider) toothed machines tear into the ground, chewing out all the coal in one to two mile underground swaths, called panels. The cut coal falls onto a conveyor for removal to the surface.

In traditional deep mining, pillars of coal were left to support the earth, leaving the surface relatively unaffected. Longwall mines, in contrast, remove virtually all the coal in the seam. Armadillo-like steel plates support the earth while machine operators shear away the coal. The machine excavates all the coal and moves forward through the seam, allowing the earth to drop into the void left behind. Removing six feet of coal leaves the surface unsupported. The ground sinks, leaving in its wake broken homes and poisoned wells, sucking water out of springs and farm ponds, drying up streams. Industry calls this “planned subsidence.” Affected communities know it as total destruction.

The mining companies excuse the devastation by arguing that it’s best to get the subsidence over quickly, rather than wait for the mines to cave slowly over the next 50 years or so. People living with the aftermath will tell you the shifting, cracking and settling permanently impacts homes, waterways and the lives of those who live over these operations. Although precautions are taken to protect homes, i.e. by boarding up walls, taping windows, digging wide moats around the foundations to lessen the impact of the shifting and heaving earth as it settles into its new repose, foundations crack and windows break. Homeowners have no control as coal companies control the rights to coal under their property.

As the underground riches are stripped away, property values plummet and residents are left to pick up the pieces.