Now here is another perfect example of politicians having butt sex with big industry and using the people as their lube and the environment as their condom. Mountaintop removal. Basically blowing the tops off of the Appalachians to get at the coal veins. The air and water would be poisoned, the trees and animals would be killed. The people in the area would suffer. But who gives a fuck right? $$$$$$$$$ Well, it's about time that the environment start counting for something. http://www.kftc.org/our-work/canary-project/campaigns/mtr/mtr
here is some more information on it, along with bills and laws against it, and here is some more info on it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_top_removal 
And not only that, but this isn't just deforestation, this damage can't ever be repaired. The mountain is gone. Trees could be replanted, not that I advocate deforestation, but at least some parts of that are reversable. This can NEVER be fixed.
As for the damage done, here is a before,

And here is an after

So as you can see, this can't be allowed to happen. Not even once. No matter how much more coal can be found, or how much money can be made. It doesn't help the people in the areas. They say that it does, but consider that the people lose their homes, drinking water, clean air, and scenery, and then tell me again that $4 an hour working in a coal mine will compensate for all of that. It doesn't help one bit when you put it into perspective.
NO HUGS FOR MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL. PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!