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U.S. Geological Survey
Fact Sheet 073-02
Online Version 1.0

Coal Extraction -- Environmental Prediction

By C. Blaine Cecil and Susan J. Tewalt

Distribution of coal-bearing strata in the Appalachian region study area     Coal from the Appalachian region has supplied energy to the Nation for more than 200 years. Appalachian coal fueled America through a civil war and helped win two world wars. Appalachian coal has also provided fuel for keeping America warm in the winter and cool in the summer and has served as the basis for the steel, automobile, organic chemicals, chlorine, and aluminum industries. These benefits have not come without environmental costs, however. Coal extraction and utilization have had significant environmental impacts.

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U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs073-02/index.html
For more information, contact C. Blaine Cecil or Susan J. Tewalt
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Last modified: 20:15:00 Wed 14 Dec 2005
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