Appalachian Voices and Skytruth recently teamed up with Google Earth to show how the search engine’s storehouse of satellite images can help the environment. In this new video, viewers see how scientists and advocates use the powerful data platform to track mountaintop removal coal mining in Central Appalachia, and guide them in monitoring pollution and reclamation efforts.

Appalachian Voices has been monitoring, measuring, and working to stop the impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining for more than 20 years ago. Today, that work is as important as ever.

As demand for coal declines steeply, more mines could be abandoned. Although the coal industry is now legally required to complete mine reclamation, companies are increasingly declaring bankruptcy, jeopardizing the systems currently in place to ensure reclamation.

Our coal impacts team is focused on monitoring bankruptcy cases, mine reclamation progress, and the ongoing impacts of mountaintop removal on nearby communities and the environment. In the coming weeks, we will be releasing several new studies on reclamation progress and outstanding reclamation costs across the Central Appalachia region.