Climate Ground Zero activists are participating in today’s rally at the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. Multimedia updates will be available here throughout the day. Below is the full press advisory.
Hundreds to Converge at WV Department of Environmental Protection against Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining
Robert Kennedy, Jr. to speak at rally, calls for stop to MTR blasting of Coal River Mountain and protection of nation’s clean energy resources
WHEN: Monday, December 7th at 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: WV Department of Environmental Protection Headquarters, 601 57th Street SE, Charleston, WV.
WHAT: Hundreds are set to rally at the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Monday, December 7th to call for the end to the mountaintop removal coal mining on Coal River Mountain in the Coal River Valley. The site of a proposed wind farm and less than 200 yards from the largest coal sludge dam in the country, Coal River Mountain, is a line in the sand for residents, environmentalists, and prominent figures, like Robert Kennedy, Jr. Coal River Mountain is the last intact mountain in the Coal River Valley watershed, and its protection is seen as crucial in renewing Appalachia and building clean energy jobs in the region. In the face of slow government action, Climate Ground Zero has organized two actions on the mountain, halting clear cuts and blasts.
WHO: Coal River Valley community members, concerned citizens from across the region as well as Coal River Mountain Watch, Climate Ground Zero, Mountain Justice, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC), Christians for the Mountains, the Alliance for Appalachia and Rainforest Action Network who have been advocated to abolish the mountaintop removal coal mining practice.
WHY: Despite regulatory violations, Massey Energy last month began clear-cutting the lush hardwood forests and setting off blasts for a massive 6,600-acre mountaintop removal operation on Coal River Mountain.
Just last week, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent a letter to Marfork Coal Company, the Massey Energy subsidiary that is blasting on Coal River Mountain. The letter follows up on an EPA site visit to Coal River Mountain earlier this month, and notes with concern that the company appears to be operating without the required permit under the Clean Water Act.
The EPA is taking a tough look at the mining site, using its legal and regulatory authority to intervene in the operation of the Bee Tree mine on Coal River Mountain. Residents and environmentalists will be demanding that the West Virginia DEP do the same. Residents are asking the DEP to inspect the coal sludge dam nearest to the mine site, and to stop the blasting if Marfork/Massey cannot demonstrate that blasting so close to the largest coal sludge dam in the country is safe.
From what I saw of the rally, Mr Kennedy met up with a orange wall of solidarity in front of the D E P building.
I was pleased to see all the great coal miners and their famalies come out to this rally….This needs to happen everytime they (tree huggers) go somewhere to protest. Keep up the good work WV COAL MINERS!!!! You make most in this state proud and the ones that you don’t make proud well they can kiss our A$$!
I love that no pictures or videos are put on when things they plan, well don’t go there way. Hey NC tobacco farmer, seen your back in town. I wonder how Kennedy arrived in Charleston? I would say he flew right in Yeager Airport and never had an inkling that he was on a mountain. Not like that uncle of his that walked the railroads, knowing back then how coal was important. Keep jetting in your Jetson air ride and living in your energy guzzling mansion. Just as most that have not a clue.
Progress, just another example of their hipocrisy. Take a look at Copenhagen, plenty of mass transit and still 1,200 gas guzzling limos. You know the “do as I say not as I do” arrogancy.
Attention: Consol gives 500 w a r n notices of pending layoff due to a challenge to their permit allready granted under the federal Clean Water Act. Courtesy= O V E C
They just don’t get it. More employees on the unemployment line = the need for more tax dollars. Put Massey out and the freeloaders will have no one to file a lawsuit against.
WOW! West Virginian’s are supplying Maryland wind energy. Makes me wonder…..if you people say WV wants it so bad why are we selling it to other states???? It sure is NOT that we have left over energy to allow someone in Maryland to purchase it. There ya go your agenda is failing fast in your attempt to solidify that people want jobs and a more sustainable energy in WV alone. NOW WHAT??? Source AP.
What Massey did the other day with the blasting for a “Mountaintop Removal” minesite that was not a MouOntaintop Removal minesite it’s a CONTOUR MINE, can’t you “SMARTIES” tell the difference or do you not know the difference?