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Stopping Mountaintop Removal and Other Destructive Mining

Mountaintop removal (MTR) coal mining lays waste to one of the oldest and most biologically diverse mountain ranges on the planet. Stopping MTR has been a top priority of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign for several years. Partnering with local communities and organizations throughout Appalachia, the Sierra Club Environmental Law Program, staff and volunteers have fought to end this destructive practice.

The Environmental Law Program has also ramped up its efforts to curtail coal mining in the Powder River Basin, and stop the exploitation of Alaskan coal.

Ongoing Actions

• Groups Threaten Legal Action against Environmental Protection Agency for Failure to Protect West Virginia Waterways from Coal Mining Pollution (2013)
• Coal Mine Expansion Blocked in Colorado Roadless Area (2013)
• Residents of Appalachia, VA Applaud Denial of Ison Rock Ridge Surface Mine (2013)
• Groups Act to Protect Endangered Species from Destructive Coal Mining in Tennessee (2013)
• Groups Take Action to Protect West Virginia Waterways in Multiple Coal Mining Pollution Cases (2013)
• Blair Mountain Removed from National Register of Historic Places; Sierra Club Takes Action (2012)
• Sierra Club Acts to Defend EPA’s Veto of Massive Mountaintop Removal Mine (2012)
• Groups Secure Another Key Victory in Fight to Stop Pollution from Coal Mines (2012)
• Utah Supreme Court Issues Decision on Large-Scale Coal Strip Mine with Devastating Effects on Southern Utah (2012)
• Sierra Club and Coalfield Allies Sue Mining Companies for Endangering West Virginian Waterways (2012)
• Patriot Coal Commits to End Its Mountaintop Removal in Appalachia (2012)
• Sierra Club and Allies Challenge Army Corps for Failing to Consider Human Health Impacts of New MTR Mines (2012)
• Victory for West Virginia Residents Will Protect Streams and Aquatic Life from Coal Mine Pollution (2012)
• Groups take action to hold corporate landowner responsible for coal mining pollution in Virginia (2012)
• Coalition Acts to Protect Waterways from Pollution at 9 Alpha Natural Resources Facilities (2012)
• West Virginia "Reclaimed" Mountaintop Removal Mine Still Polluting Local Rivers (2012)
• Two Alpha Natural Resources Owned Facilities Violate Clean Water Safeguards in West Virginia
• Lawsuit Challenges A&G Coal's Unpermitted Discharges of Toxic Selenium From MTR Coal Mine in Virginia (2012)
• Lawsuit Challenges Unpermitted Mining by Usibelli Coal Mine Inc. in Alaska (2012)
• Suit Filed Over Powder River Basin Coal Leases Approved by U.S. Interior Department (2012)
• Sierra Club Reaches Legal Settlement Requiring San Juan Coal Company to Clean Up Water Pollution (2012)
• Two PSC Commissioners Present Conflict of Interest in South Heart Coal Mine Permit Review (2012)
• Navajo & Environmental Organizations Appeal Peabody’s Kayenta Coal Mine Permit (2012)
• Sierra Club, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards Petition Virginia Air Board for Stricter Coal Dust Regulations (2011)
• Groups Secure Agreement from Arch Coal to Treat Selenium Pollution from Coal Mines (2011)
• Sierra Club Acts to Stop Selenium Pollution in Kentucky (2011)
• Sierra Club Raises Concerns over Massive Open Pit Mine in Superior National Forest (2011)
• Federal Judge Rules Coal Mine Operators Violating Clean Water and Mining Laws (2011)
• Environmental Groups Challenge Interior’s Sham Leasing Program in Nation’s Largest Coal Producing Region (2011)
• Groups Put Kentucky Coal Company on Notice for Polluting Local Waterways with Toxic Selenium (2011)
• Montana District Court Rules Lawsuit Against Otter Creek Coal Mine May Proceed -- Mining Implicates Constitutional Right to a Clean and Healthful Environment (2011)
• Groups Take Action to Hold Coal Mines Accountable for Toxic Selenium Pollution (2011)
• West Virginia Environmental Quality Board Rules Clean Water Act Permit for Massive Coal Mine is Inadequate (2011)
• Groups file Suit to Block Reylas Mountaintop Removal Mine (2011)

Archived Actions Show/Hide

• Massey Ordered to Clean Up Their Act in Appalachia
• Sierra Club Takes Action Against Illegal Coal Mining in Tennessee
• Sierra Club and Kentuckians For The Commonwealth Expose Illegal Mountaintop Removal Mining in Eastern Kentucky
• Kentucky “Thunder Ridge” Mountaintop Removal Coal Mine Suspended
• Victory in Important Lawsuit Challenging Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining in Appalachia
• Sierra Club Joins United States Gov't, Appalachian Groups to Hold Massey Energy Accountable for Water Pollution Caused by Mountaintop Removal
• Health of Tennesse Waterways Protected: Coal Mining Corp ordered to Stop Destructive Practices
• Massey Energy Faces Legal Challenge for Clean Water Act Violations
• Stream Pollution from Coal Mine Prompts Groups to Act
• BLM Coal Leases Fail to Account for Global Warming Impacts
• Corps Suspends Expedited Surface Coal Mine Permitting Process in Appalachia
• Federal Court Orders Coal Company to Pay $45 Million to Treat Toxic Selenium from West Virginia Coal Mines
• Widespread Stream Contamination from Coal Mining Prompts Groups to Act
• Groups Intervene to Defend EPA Against Industry Challenge to the Agency’s Review of Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining
• Sierra Club and Kentuckians For The Commonwealth Take Action to Protect Kentucky Waterways from Unlawful, Destructive Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining
• Federal Court Rules Army Corps Prevented Meaningful Public Participation in Mountaintop Removal Mining Permit Decisions
• Department of Interior Administrative Law Judge Vacates Mining Permit for Black Mesa Coal Mine
• Sierra Club Declares Victory in Fight to Stop Pollution from Mountaintop Removal Mine
• EPA Vows to Scrutinize Applications for New Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining Permits Citing Concerns Over Environmental Impacts
• Petition Seeks Greater Attention to Environmental Justice Considerations in Review of Mining Permits in Appalachia
• Environmental Groups Urge Federal Government to Protect West Virginia’s Waterways and Environment from Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining
• Coal Mining Companies to Pay for Illegal Mountaintop Removal Mining
• New Report: Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining Too Costly to Appalachia's Economies
• Dirty Nationwide Dredge-and-Fill Permits Rejected