USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Coal mining, especially open-cast mining, involves large surface areas to be temporarily disturbed. This raises a number of environmental challenges including topsoil erosion, loss of vegetation, noise, dust, water pollution, change in landscape, and adverse impact on local biodiversity.

Detailed explanation-2: -There are significant environmental impacts associated with coal mining and use. It could require the removal of massive amounts of top soil, leading to erosion, loss of habitat and pollution. Coal mining causes acid mine drainage, which causes heavy metals to dissolve and seep into ground and surface water.

Detailed explanation-3: -The effects can result in erosion, sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, or the contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water by the chemicals emitted from mining processes. These processes also affect the atmosphere from the emissions of carbon which have an effect on the quality of human health and biodiversity.

Detailed explanation-4: -The massive amount of wood needed to build the railroad, including railroad ties, support beams for tunnels and bridges, and sheds, necessitated cutting down thousands of trees, which devastated western forests. Towns and cities that sprung up along the railroad further encroached upon what had been wild areas.

Detailed explanation-5: -Coal mining is usually associated with the degradation of natural resources and the destruction of habitat. This causes invasive species to occupy the area, thus posing a threat to biodiversity. Huge quantities of waste material are produced by several mining activities in the coal mining region.