Source: Knewton

The removal of hillsides and mountaintops, necessary for mining companies to extract coal quickly from deeply-buried seams, destroys forests. Experts therefore recommend that coal be extracted using time-consuming deep bore techniques.

Because public opinion opposes coal mining, some states now allow mining companies to extract coal from any particular site for only a short period of time.

The statements above, if true, best support which of the following conclusions?

A: Mining companies will continue to be able to extract coal using deep bore techniques but not by removing hillsides or mountaintops.
B: The only way to preserve forests on hillsides and mountaintops is to stop coal mining.
C: New mining techniques will be developed to make it possible to extract coal quickly without removing hillsides or mountaintops.
D: Public opinion regarding coal mining works against forest preservation efforts.
E: Allowing mining companies to extract coal from any particular site for only a short period of time is unlikely to be a successful response to public opinion.

OA: D