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Protect Gauley Mountain or Reissue W.Va. State Quarter?

by: Clem Guttata

Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 12:33:30 PM EST

West Virginians have an important decision to make. What values do we hold most dear?

A few years back, when we picked an image to represent our state, what did we put on the state quarter? None other than Gauley Mountain behind New River Gorge and the New River Bridge.

This is a beautiful image of enduring beauty, symbolizing the natural wonders of our state, wild, wonderful West Virginia.

What do you value?

Do we relegate that view to the dustbin of history--thankful it was captured on countless quarters, post cards, and Kodak moments for posterity. Will we sacrifice yet another mountain top, yet another stream bed, yet another watershed to the Gods of commerce. Will we be listening from New River Bridge for the echoes of dynamite blasts, content in knowing the ever diminishing ridge line increases coal company profits.

If nothing changes, that's the path we are headed down.

Or, we can stand together, take action, and insist the coal under Gauley Mountain be mined the old-fashioned way, leaving the mountain intact, and digging underground to get it.

Take Action

If you're like most people, you think unfettered greed is bad for society. If you're like most people you think there society should place some bounds on corporate actions. If you are ready to to say this is one step too far, here's what you can do.

First, join over 2,500 others and sign this petition: Save Gauley Mountain.

Second, if you are a member of Facebook, join this group to keep informed: Save Gauley Mountain.

Third, get informed. You can read even more about what's happening at Gauley Mountain in this article in Smithsonian Magazine and this diary, Mountain Monday: Gauley Mountain, WV.

Fourth, spread the word. Send your friends these links (or, a link to this diary).

Finally, below the fold, the latest news from the Save Gauley Mountain FB group.

Clem Guttata :: Protect Gauley Mountain or Reissue W.Va. State Quarter?

Save Gauley Mountain Update

Ben Curnett is one of the organizers of the Facebook Save Gauley Mountain group.

A self-described independent, Ben asked me in posting this update to stress he is "for coal, but against mountain top removal mining." He's a "believer there's a more responsible, less abhorrent way to mine as we move toward sustainable energy policy." (He also pointed out that underground mining employs more miners than MTR does).

Here's some key updates from Ben Curnett from a recent meeting with Plateau Action Network in Fayette County.

The discussion about Gauley Mtn is briefly summed up as follows:
- The Gauley mtn site can be viewed as a battleground on which Mountaintop Removal coal vs. tourism is being fought in Fayette Co. If coal takes Gauley mtn, what will tourism have left to fight for?
- The permit for gauley mtn S300301 will either be granted or denied in the next 45 days or so. Either way (it will almost certainly be granted), there will be an appeal.
- The next group action will be to address that appeal at hearings, and with letters to the governor and others, as well as creating awareness with the 1,000,000+ people that have been to the area.
- (We) are also trying to start the conversation about MTR coal mining in Fayette Co via land use planning, as has been done in other places.

A big thank you to Ben Curnett, PAN, and everyone else who is out there working on this issue. This is a defining moment for West Virginia.

Flickr image by: rockfarmer

Tags: New River Gorge, Fayette County, Gauley Mountain, tourism, energy, Mountain Top Removal, coal mining, West Virginia, coal, (All Tags)

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Protect Gauley Mountain or Reissue W.Va. State Quarter? | 17 comments

Done. Thank you for putting this up there, Clem. (4.00 / 1)

Here's what I said:

Mountains such as these are our heritage, and they are the symbol of my home state, West Virginia. I do not oppose the wise use of these mountains for profit so that working people might have jobs, but the reckless, wanton practice of mountaintop removal on the scale that it's being conducted in West Virginia must stop.

by: benjaminwalter @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 17:46:53 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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the gods (0.00 / 0)

of commerce feed families

by: stevewvu @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 18:28:01 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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stevewvu (4.00 / 1)

i thought you wanted their yards buried in the fill created by moonscape mining because they did not live up to your garden club standard.

What the F? Farmers Feed Families. Having 40% of corporate profit be in the Financial sector does not.

god is love to me. the love of money is the sin. the type of commerce you support is greedom. no general Welfare, which i keep reminding you is in that pesky Constitution. take a breath and read Article I Section 8. Taxes are for the general Welfare. Commerce is to be regulated. The Progress of Science is to be promoted.

NFTT: Support My Team or I Will Dance

by: CA Berkeley WV @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 19:12:52 PM UTC

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a couple (0.00 / 0)

days ago i drove rt 44 between logan and rt 52 west of gilbert...the best thing that could happen there is the make that whole road a mtr site, bury it all and reclaim it...the trash was nonstop disgusting and it will be that way until the ends of time...

by: stevewvu @ Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 15:12:34 PM UTC

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steve (0.00 / 0)

"... bury it all and reclaim it...the trash was nonstop disgusting and it will be that way until the ends of time..."

I feel the same way about the GOP.

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.

by: Carnacki @ Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 15:53:02 PM UTC

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good for you (0.00 / 0)

by: stevewvu @ Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 15:56:25 PM UTC

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The Republican Party (0.00 / 0)

The great thing is the Republican Party is destroying and burying itself and I don't have to lift a finger to help.

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.

by: Carnacki @ Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 18:34:19 PM UTC

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are you sure we can't (0.00 / 0)

give my spouse a birthday present? Talk to you next Friday, another 13th?

NFTT: Support My Team or I Will Dance

by: CA Berkeley WV @ Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 15:57:12 PM UTC

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what? (0.00 / 0)

by: stevewvu @ Mon Mar 09, 2009 at 17:32:49 PM UTC

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steve (0.00 / 0)

this was a reply to another's post. Like it was very patiently explained to you, we use the outline system here.

NFTT: Support My Team or I Will Dance

by: CA Berkeley WV @ Mon Mar 09, 2009 at 17:37:11 PM UTC

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sorry (0.00 / 0)

as you can see i am not as savvy with respect to this blogging stuff as you....and before you respond i am not as savvy at anything as you i'll just note the remark

by: stevewvu @ Mon Mar 09, 2009 at 17:40:11 PM UTC

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from one west virginian to another (4.00 / 1)

West Virginia Law School Graduate Christy Hardin Smith random Friday thoughts, a quote from Daniel Webster on the 200th anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims:

The freest government, if it could exist, would not be long acceptable, if the tendency of the laws were to create a rapid accumulation of property in a few hands, and to render the great mass of the population dependent and penniless. In such case, the popular power would be likely to break upon the rights of property, or else the influence of property to limit and control the exercise of popular power....In the nature of things, those who have not property, and see their neighbors possess much more than they think them to need, cannot be favorable to laws made for protection of property. When this class becomes numerous, it grows clamorous. It looks on property as its prey and plunder, and is naturally ready, at all times, for violence and revolution.

Here's to hoping for a flat tire and the sound of banjos. I will have to go to confession tomorrow.

NFTT: Support My Team or I Will Dance

by: CA Berkeley WV @ Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 04:58:49 AM UTC

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Oops, didn't make it obvious enough. (4.00 / 1)

Which option will feed more families?

A) Tourism jobs + underground mining jobs
B) ~~Tourism~~ + mountain top removal jobs

I'm not going to include profits for out-of-state extraction company owners in either equation. Their families will be fed just fine either way.

by: Clem Guttata @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 20:18:00 PM UTC

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Man, I hate to be like this, but.... (0.00 / 0)

that's not Gauley Mountain in the background of the quarter. I'd hate for the idea that the mountain on the quarter is going to be MTR mined started only to have it corrected by the opposition.

by: Bobzim @ Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 11:53:18 AM UTC

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Thanks for the correction. (0.00 / 0)

So, what mountain is on the quarter? And, it is correct that Gauley Mountain is visible from the New River Gorge Bridge, right?

If so, any chance you can help me find a picture that has both New River Gorge Bridge and Gauley Mountain?

by: Clem Guttata @ Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 14:29:50 PM UTC

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I think it's about 10 miles away to the west (0.00 / 0)

NFTT: Support My Team or I Will Dance

by: CA Berkeley WV @ Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 15:52:12 PM UTC

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Nah, you can't really see Gauley Mtn. from the Big Bridge. (4.00 / 2)

The main issues with the conflict between that MTR and tourism is the coal trucks and the likelihood of contaminating Rich Creek which not only feeds into the Lower Gauley, but also has a main "take-out" road - owned by ACE Whitewater - that runs along side it.

My biggest question is WTF are they going to do with that coal!?!? I don't think they can get it on a train any closer than Gauley Bridge.

Jesus, Ansted is going to be pasted with a coal dirt icing like Chesapeake, Marmet, and Chelyan.

Is there a map of the proposed around? I'd like to see it if you can point me there.

by: Bobzim @ Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 21:36:23 PM UTC

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Protect Gauley Mountain or Reissue W.Va. State Quarter? | 17 comments

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