Mountaintop removal began in 1967 and expanded in the 1980s with large machines. By the 1990s, it had become more common due to demand for cleaner coal, but it caused serious environmental damage and forced some people to leave their homes. Mountaintop removal became a major political issue, dividing support between coal jobs and environmental concerns.

A 1998 lawsuit ruled that dumping waste from surface mining in streams was illegal. A judge agreed, but the ruling was later reversed. In 2002, the Bush administration made valley fills legal, though later courts required stronger environmental reviews.

President Obama’s administration blocked some mining permits, while President Trump rolled back regulations on the practice. The Biden administration promised to study health impacts but never completed the study.