Proposal

2/25/11    ** __ Graduation Project Proposal __ ** ** __ Project __ ** // Briefly describe your intended project:  // For the hands-on portion of my graduation project, I will volunteer with the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association (WVWA), a local nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the Wissahickon Creek and Wissahickon Watershed. I will work mainly with Carol Lichmira, the Director of Special Events at WVWA. I will mainly work at events and education programs sponsored by the WVWA, though I might also create displays, plant native species, or clean up the creek. // Project Outcome or Goal:  // I hope that my work will help me better understand local efforts to ensure water quality and prevent environmental degradation, and that I will be able to play a part in creating a healthier stream and surrounding watershed. This work ties in with my research topic because mountaintop removal directly affects the quality of streams in surrounding areas. Though we obviously do not have any surface mining in Springfield, there are several other factors that may cause similar (though not quite as severe) pollution to the Wissahickon Creek. // Project Completion Strategies/Project Resources and Materials:  // I plan to volunteer for WVWA mainly on weekends, especially at weekend special events. However, I may also work before or after school. I am working on Saturday, February 26 at a Maple Sugaring Event, and I am discussing the possibility of teaching elementary school students at the Nature Center with staff members at WVWA. In order to ensure the success of the project, I will need to stay in contact with Ms. Lichmira and with other members of WVWA to determine the times and locations that I can volunteer. I will also need my parents to drive me to and from volunteering activities. ** __ Research __ ** // Research Topic:   // My topic of research is mountaintop removal, also known as MTR, of coal in Appalachia. MTR is a type of surface mining, and has huge environmental consequences. I chose this topic because, when I visited West Virginia a few years ago, I witnessed the effects of MTR firsthand. I was surprised that coal companies were allowed to seemingly level off the tops of mountains, and I wanted to learn more about such operations. Additionally, I wanted to research a specific current environmental issue for my project. Mountaintop removal has been a topic of debate in Appalachia for the several years, and is still a major concern for residents of regions affected by mining. // Essential Question:  // How does mountaintop removal (MTR) affect the environment and the people of Appalachia, and what is being done to prevent MTR or lessen its harmful effects? // Prior Experience:  // I have not had any prior experience directly related to this topic. I am currently taking AP Environmental Science, and we are learning about similar topics. Additionally, as I previously mentioned, I have witnessed the effects of MTR firsthand. However, I have never done extended research on it, nor have I done any volunteer work related to MTR. // Research Benefits:  // Though mountaintop removal is a hot topic in the Appalachian region of the U.S., most citizens outside the region do not know much about it. My research investigation could help people outside of Appalachia to become interested in the topic, and possibly lead to their involvement in preventing MTR or furthering reclamation efforts. Additionally, my research investigation might help to consolidate accounts about the effects of mountaintop removal from across the Appalachian region, instead of just focusing on one state. This broader perspective will demonstrate the widespread, serious environmental problems associated with MTR. // Potential Sources:  // I have already found several sources of information on my topic (see my sources page). Many databases provide recent magazine and journal articles related to MTR that could be very useful to my research. There are also several organizations whose websites provide valuable information about mountaintop removal. These organizations include the Rainforest Action Network, iLoveMountains.org, Mountain Justice, and Appalachian Voices. If I need more information, I can use the contacts on the websites to email the various organizations. Seeing as my topic is a controversial one, I might also use information on the websites of coal companies to gain another perspective on mountaintop removal.