Saturday, February 25, 2012
Coal Companies and the External Costs of Coal
Coal companies must necessarily mine coal where they find it. This often results in people living near surface mines suffering a loss in their quality of life, and sometimes outright damage to property and health. Among these losses are sleep loss, higher cancer rates, contamination of drinking water, pervasive coal dust, structural damage to buildings, and even threats from coal miners. These damages or costs are not reflected in the price of coal and are called external costs by economists. These costs to people and society are not paid by the coal companies or their customers, but are paid by the victims. Respond to the question, " Should coal companies be required to compensate people who live near surface mines and suffer suffer property and health damage as a result?" Please post your one paragraph response with your name and class period.
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The people affected by coal mines should get compensated because they are paying to keep their eectric on but they are getting health problems from the waste and dust that originates from the coal mines. The damage caused by coal dust and coal mixed water cost a lot to peoples homes and health so they should get compensated for that.
ReplyDeletethe people affected by coal mines should get compensated well because they are getting health problems and their houses are getting damaged by the dust and the dust is polluting the air they breath- DEREK CARSON 2ND MOD!
ReplyDeleteThe people who inhabit areas where there is coal being mined suffer from the coal to such an extent that their human rights are being infringed upon. Because this is the case, it is not a matter of fairness that these people be compensated for the damage that the surface mining causes to not only their possessions but also their health, it is a moral obligation. To take away the normal lives of the surrounding people just to mine a natural resource is blasphemous enough. These people should be compensated in more ways than one. The mining company should offer to pay for any damages (a type of property insurance, perhaps established with an insurance company) and definitely provide health insurance and cover the cost of any hospital trips involving illness or disease inflicted by the coal dust or other harmful substances that result from mining.
ReplyDelete-Emily Murray, 2nd mod.
The coal mines don't think about what the mines to do the common persons. I believe they should be compensated big time. The mining companies are making a ton of money it wouldn't hurt them to spend a little bit to restore what they tore down. The coal company shouldn't be allowed to mine near towns or cities just for the fact it is killing our fellow people and destroying homes, and polluting the water we NEED to survive. Some might not be able to go to the store and buy gallons of fresh water for drinking and cleaning.
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