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Who will be the first reporter to get one of our elected officials on record with an answer to this question?
"If West Virginia wants to maximize coal mining employment, doesn't more underground mining do that instead of more mountain top mining?"
Lots of reporters are writing lots of stories about coal mining right now, maybe one of them can ask the question...
Update: In stark contrast to other reporting thus far, Ken Ward Jr. deserve credit for acknowledging the question--he's probed this contradiction on his blog. Be sure to read this excellent post for a summary: Mountaintop removal or something completely different?
In an unprecedented act, the County Commission of Jefferson County in West Virginia passed an extraordinary resolution last week, calling for the abolition for mountaintop removal. Citing the devastating impact of mountaintop removal on the regional economies, environment and community health, the Commission became part of a growing movement across the country to end our constructive engagement with one of the most egregious crimes in America.
According to Danny Chiotos, of the Student Environmental Action Campaign: "Our County Commission has passed this resolution not our of any hollow goodwill or charity, but in the interest of protecting our mountains for the kind of economic benefits that will return the most sustainable returns to all of WV Counties. In the gusty move of standing up to the coal industry to protect our economy, land, and people, the County Commission of Jefferson County unanimously voted to stand with people all over the state who are demanding justice in our lives and accountability from our government."
For the link for the full resolution text. The last three lines are really interesting:
WHEREAS, Mountaintop Removal is a one-use system which destroys future uses on the affected areas and;
WHEREAS, Mountaintop Removal negatively affects the tax base of the entire state by depopulation and preventing the development of other uses of the mountains and;
WHEREAS, Mountaintop Removal negatively affects Jefferson County and state tax revenues especially in the long run and;
This is a dialogue worth having. Moutaintop removal may be a big money-maker for the coal mining companies, but does anyone else come out ahead?
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.
It's official: The first shot has been fired in the legislative battle to end the devastating practice of mountaintop removal mining in central Appalachia.
With the quickly growing and extraordinary nationwide support of over 115 co-sponsors, including 17 members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the United States House of Representatives, US Rep. John Yarmuth from Kentucky's embattled state of coal joined US Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Republican US Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) in reintroducing the Clean Water Protection Act today.
The Clean Water Protection Act was introduced originally to challenge the outrageous executive rule change by the Bush administration to redefine "fill material" in the Clean Water Act, which has since allowed coal companies to blast hundreds of mountains to bits, dump millions of tons of "excess spoil" into nearby valleys, and bury hundreds of miles of streams. An estimated 1,200 miles of waterways have been destroyed by this extreme mining process.
The end result: Toxic black waters and poisoned aquifers that have denied American citizens in the coalfields the basic right of a glass of clean water.
[snip]
"Congress meant for the Clean Water Act to protect our nation's water resources; the Administrative rule change endangers those resources," said Rep. Pallone, who is the heroic author of the legislation. "The dangerous precedent set by the Bush Administration's rule change undermines the Clean Water Act."
[snip]
As blasting continues to shatter peace and prosperity in the coalfields of West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee today, anti-mountaintop removal advocates also continue to make their appeal to President Barack Obama, who told a campaign rally in Lexington, Kentucky, on August 27th, 2007, "We're tearing up the Appalachian Mountains because of our dependence on fossil fuels."
So, the big question is: will the bill have enough support to finally make it to the floor and pass this year?
"Not One More Mile!" Over 1400 miles of streams have been destroyed because of mountaintop removal, and Kentuckians For The Commonwealth gathered hundreds in Frankfort, KY today to draw a line in the sand and say, "Not one more mile!"
A full count of the numbers attending isn't in yet, but the AP is buzzing with the news that Eastern Kentucky native and world famous actress came out vehemently against mountaintop removal today at the I Love Mountains Rally.
If you haven't done so already, head on over to I Love Mountains to take action against Mountain Top Removal.
(Noted in comments, worthy of its own diary! - promoted by Clem Guttata)
Director Rob Perks of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)'s Center for Advocacy Campaigns in Washington said they helped persuade bank executives to stop funding mountaintop removal by having them visit several mountaintop mine sites in Appalachia, including Kayford Mountain.
From a bank press release:
Bank of America is particularly concerned about surface mining conducted through mountain top removal in locations such as central Appalachia. We therefore will phase out financing of companies whose predominant method of extracting coal is through mountain top removal. While we acknowledge that surface mining is economically efficient and creates jobs, it can be conducted in a way that minimizes environmental impacts in certain geographies.
The NRDC is one of the nation's most powerful environmental groups, and Bank of America is one of the nation's leading financial institutions.
Devilstower, a coal mining veteran, offers advice to the coal industry on how to survive: How to Save the Coal Industry.
If you are curious why Gov. Manchin--the Gov. of a coal state--is starting to touting biofuels, read the section on "Biofuel Mix." It provides one potential reason.
This is a piece of news I almost hate to report for fear of jinxing it. Just how huge would it be to have someone already well-informed about Mountaintop Removal appointed as head of the Environmental Protection Agency?
President-elect Barack Obama is looking at possibly appointing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Environmental Protection Agency, according to sources familiar with the process, though he is eying several other prominent environmentalists as well.
Kennedy founded and now chairs the Waterkeeper Alliance, which promotes water quality in the U.S. and abroad, while simultaneously serving as an attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council and a professor at Pace University School of Law.
An important message from our friends at Stop Mountaintop Removal. While the country is distracted with an election, the Bush administration is trying to lock in their misguided policies.
If you've been following the news for the last few days, you know that the Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining (OSM) is poised to finalize a rule that would allow hundreds of miles of streams and valleys in Appalachia to be permanently buried by waste from mountaintop removal coal mining. OSM's plan directly conflicts with the decades-old Stream Buffer Zone Rule, a Reagan-era rule that prohibits surface coal mining activities from disturbing areas within 100 feet of permanent and seasonal streams.
Just last week, the New York Times published an editorial opposing the move, calling it "one more sad chapter in the long, tortured history of Appalachia's coal-rich hills."
The Bush administration must know from us that this is simply unacceptable.
Please take action now. When it passed the surface mining laws years ago, Congress gave EPA the responsibility to ensure that coal mining regulations do not harm water quality – and this one definitely does! Call EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson and tell him to protect these valuable resources by keeping the Stream Buffer Zone Rule in place.
EPA Main Headquarters: (202) 564-4700
You can also download our new Advocate's Toolkit. This kit will help you organize house parties and other events in your community. With step-by-step instructions and useful printable handouts, this kit includes everything you need to educate your friends and family about the danger of mountaintop removal mining – and what you and they can do to help stop it.
Please plan an event at your apartment or house. If you are a student, consider an event on campus. Download the toolkit today and get started in your community today.
Help us get out the message that we will not stand for coal companies polluting our water any longer!
Fascinating. After a feeble statement against mountain top removal (not even as strong as the one Obama made years ago), McCain comes out strongly in favor of nuclear and the non-existent clean coal technology.
I'm also confused... are coal companies doing much better today than the used to? Perhaps in making profits they are. When it comes to protecting the environment... not so much.
John McCain still doesn't say where he's going to store all that new nuclear power plan waste he wants to create. Tell him its not welcome in West Virginia.
Today, thanks to an extraordinary West Virginia grass-roots campaign that has reached millions of people across the country, the nation's eyes will be focused on the Bee Tree Branch area in the Coal River Mountain range.
Gov. Manchin, the nation will also be watching you. Unless you or the courts intervene, the world will not only witness the destruction of another beautiful mountain stream and community in West Virginia, but the tragically missed opportunity for your state to become a leader in bringing renewable energy independence to our nation.
Massey Energy has announced its intent to begin blasting the first 200 acres of the proposed 1,100-acre Bee Tree surface mine in the Coal River community, even though they lack a 404 Clean Water Act permit from the Army Corps of Engineers or an approved plan for the ramifications of valley fills and in-stream sediment ponds.
As you know, the Coal River Valley has been inhabited for over 10,000 years. Since 1783, many of its first residents settled on land grants for Revolutionary War veterans who bled and fought for the cause of freedom and independence, and built the West Virginia foundations of our great country.
Today, the descendants of those American heroes want to continue the spirit of the American way for independence and freedom.
Drawing on the ingenuity of their coal mining community and national energy experts, they have proposed the Coal River Wind Project to create jobs, generate energy and preserve the mountains and mountaineer heritage. Through a combination of a wind farm and underground mining, the Coal River Wind Project would place West Virginia in the forefront of the clean energy movement in the United States, and like your colleague Gov. Brian Schweitzer in Montana, allow you as governor to take the national stage and lead West Virginia in the same direction.
Come on, Governor! Save West Virginia for West Virginians.
Ken Ward Jr. of the Charleston Gazette reports Massey doesn't have the proper permits:
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Massey Energy does not yet have several key approvals needed before it can begin blasting apart a mountain where environmental groups had hoped to instead encourage construction of a large wind-power operation, officials confirmed Tuesday.
"If they blast, they do so illegally in our opinion," said Randy Huffman, secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Gov. Manchin is saying he's going to make his next State of the State address all about alternative energy. See here and here for more details.
I'll have a lot more to say about this soon. Meanwhile, I'm interested in your comments. What do you think? What would you like to see in a comprehensive energy bill for West Virginia?
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