The Week in Coal - 2/9/10

by: heath_harrison

Tue Feb 09, 2010 at 07:16:14 AM EST

- Massey Energy has been cited for safety violations at the Brushy Fork impoundment. But don't worry, Randy Huffman's DEP, fresh off handing out environmental awards at The West Virginia Coal Association Symposium, says everything is fine.

- Heavy sediment was seen spilling into the CoalRiver.

- Charleston Gazette Editor James Haught gives us a history lesson and makes an excellent case for preserving Blair Mountain.

- A former mine industry employee comes clean on pollution.

- The EPA reveals a high hazard potential at many coal ash ponds.

- As expected, following his coming out ceremony, longtime closet Republican and Blankenship vacation buddy Spike Maynard has announced he will run against Rep. Nick Rahall.

Maynard offered that tired Dixiecrat line:

"I didn't leave the Democratic Party - the Democratic Party left me," Maynard said.

Well, if by "left me" he means they were turned off by scandal to the point that a sitting chief justice suffered a landslide defeat in a primary and practically tied for last on the ballot, then, yeah, I guess the Democratic Party did leave him.

But what's a little corruption to West Virginia Republicans, who used the occasion to announce a bold new era of ethical bankruptcy for their party?

"I think he's been in the wrong party all of his life," Chairman Doug McKinney said. "We would welcome someone of his character and integrity in the Republican Party."

The usual media suspects sprang into action, touting Maynard's chances in objective, thoughtful "analysis" pieces that praised Brent Benjamin's campaign and railed against something called the "Democrat Party."  

"West Virginians deserve a congressman who will fight to end this war on coal instead of standing by idly as thousands of local jobs are threatened."

- Sadly, Rahall thinks the best way to defend himself against a potential ad blitz of coal company negativity is to go talk to a coal industry attack rag and praise the current batch of nastiness Massey has on the air as "beautifully done."
Note to Nick: Try to make nice all you want, but you're not winning Blankenship's operatives over.

- There are plenty of ways for Rahall to take on Maynard and truly champion miners without pandering to coal barons. Ken Ward shows us what Spike's position of "Standing up for Coal (owners)" means when you look at his horrid views on mine safety.

- CONSOL Energy has been involved in lot of terrible things as of lately, but even they have their limits. Bankrolling Spike may be the type of crookedness they don't want to get involved in (at least not publicly):

On the industry side, at least one major energy player is supporting Rahall. [...] "In this particular case our support would be behind Nick Rahall," said Joseph Cerenzia, a company spokesman.

- CONSOL, by the way, is back to dumping in Dunkard Creek.

- And activists claim Massey inflated damage claims to get a temporary restraining order.