Acid mine drainage occurs when the combined action of oxygen, water, and certain bacteria causes the sulfur in coal to from sulfuric acid. sulfuric acid can seep out of a vein of coal even before the coal is mined. However, the problem become worse when the coal is mined and the overburden is disturbed, allowing rains to wash the sulfuric acid into streams.
Carbon dioxide and climate change are other problems associated with the burning of coal. increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are responsible for warming of the planet and the changes in climate that occur as result. Since burning coal releases more carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels per unit of energy obtained, many industries have switched to other sources of energy.
surface mining (strip mining) disrupt the landscape, as the topsoil and overburden are moved to access the coal. one of the most controversial surface mining methods is mountaintop removal. In this method, the top of a mountain is removed to get at the coal vein, and the unwanted soil and rock is pushed into the adjacent valley. this causes problems in addition to the disturbance of the landscape.