Robert Redford, HuffPo: Utah Approves a Mine Next to Bryce Canyon for Coal America Doesn't Need

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Utah Approves a Mine Next to Bryce Canyon for Coal America Doesn't Need

Robert Redford

Actor, Director, and Environmental Activist
Posted: December 13, 2010 01:28 PM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-redford/utah-approves-a-mine-next_b_795955.html

Imagine: A massive open-pit coal mine next to a wilderness jewel. A scenario like that might have been routine in the past, but this is the 21st century, when many cleaner, more sustainable ways to power our economy abound. We no longer have to sacrifice an iconic landscape in order to burn some dirty rocks.

And yet a mining company got approval last month to open Utah's first-ever strip mine for coal in the small community of Alton. Few new coal mines have opened in the West in the past decade since most developers focus on expanding existing mines, not reaching into untouched wilderness. And that's what makes this mine so troubling: it will be located 10 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park.



Inspiration and Sunset Points in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, are seen from a horse trail in this August 2005 photo. (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz)

The truth is we don't need this coal. The developers claim they have a contract with a Utah utility, but they won't disclose which one. It's questionable whether local utilities even have the need for such sizeable quantities of coal. Instead, rumors indicate that a lot of the coal will be hauled to a West Coast port for shipping, possibly overseas. If the company is so confident there is a market for its product, it should name its buyers.

[coffeenap]

1. One of the most beautiful places in the US--

how stupid can we be? Maybe someone could suggest a solar array or a wind farm? When will we ever learn, when will we ever learn....

[HillbillyBob]

2. Greed knows no bounds.

nt

[msongs]

3. hey its just a bunch of dumb rocks, who needs em .... :-) nt

[Skink]

4. China

[Citizen Worker]

5. Coal, one of the few things we export. Coal and raw logs sent for milling overseas.

[Jefferson23]

6. Redford is a very serious advocate for the environment, I 'm glad he tries

as hard as he does.