http://watchdog.org/2011/document-dump-gao-releases-report-on-mountaintop-removal/ The Government Watchdog Sun, 19 Feb 2012 08:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 http://watchdog.org/2011/document-dump-gao-releases-report-on-mountaintop-removal/comment-page-1/#comment-284 Jon Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:58:54 +0000 http://watchdog.org/?p=2011#comment-284 having seen an MTR site in the reclamation process, I can definitely say that its impossible to reforest these areas, at least for the next several thousand years. Part of the reclamation process is returning the mountain to a state as close to its original grade as possible. This effectively means reverse backfilling, piling up the blasted rock and boulders and spraying said pile with grass seed every couple years so it still looks green from above. No trees will be able to grow there for thousands of years, as there is no top soil, no water for roots to acces, and nothing in the way of stable earth for trees to latch onto. Its all well and good for the permits to say MTR sites will be reforested after blasting, but it is simply impossible to do so. That is why environmentalists take issue with these permits. having seen an MTR site in the reclamation process, I can definitely say that its impossible to reforest these areas, at least for the next several thousand years. Part of the reclamation process is returning the mountain to a state as close to its original grade as possible. This effectively means reverse backfilling, piling up the blasted rock and boulders and spraying said pile with grass seed every couple years so it still looks green from above. No trees will be able to grow there for thousands of years, as there is no top soil, no water for roots to acces, and nothing in the way of stable earth for trees to latch onto. Its all well and good for the permits to say MTR sites will be reforested after blasting, but it is simply impossible to do so. That is why environmentalists take issue with these permits.

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