This just in from our friends at Coal River Mountain Watch:
DEP Denies Public Hearing For Edwight Show Cause
Contact: Judy Bonds 304-854-2182, Vernon Halton 304-913-4113
WHITESVILLE, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has denied local citizens a public hearing regarding a show cause order on the Edwight Surface Mine. According to state law, show cause orders, intended to be the last step before the DEP shuts down a mine site, are supposed to be settled in public hearings. Despite the law, the DEP has decided not to hold a public hearing, and is instead privately negotiating a consent order with the mine operator, Alex Energy, a subsidiary company of Massey Energy.
After repeated requests, the DEP has granted CRMW the right to submit comments on the drafted consent order but is still refusing to hold a public hearing. CRMW is asking community members to submit comments to them, as well as suggesting they file for their own right to comment.
Due to the DEP’s continual failure to follow the law, CRMW is now looking to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE).
“Massey Energy’s Edwight permit is one of the most flagrant examples of the DEP failing to regulate this outlaw company. The OSMRE needs to act now to takeover the duties that this failed agency refuses to perform,” said Vernon Haltom, co-director of Coal River Mountain Watch.
Other community members are also expressing frustration with the violations on Edwight. Last April, local citizen Bo Webb took his case all the way to Washington, D.C. after he observed violations going unnoticed by the West Virginia DEP. As a result, OSMRE shut down that area of Edwight until the violations were issued.
Currently, there have been 33 cited violations on the Edwight Surface Mine. Besides the violations mentioned in the show cause, there are nine others that exhibit a negative pattern, a label given by the DEP when at least three violations of the same type occur within 12 months of each other. The current show cause order was issued in November for six repeated violations.
As these violations continue and the DEP refuses to enforce the law, community members are left to deal with the consequences. As local resident Tom Beckner said in reference to Edwight, “We used to have some of the best drinking water. Now it’s nothing but a slush pond.”
I just get more angry with every passing minute. I feel as though I might explode if someone doesn’t listen to us that we might as well be living in Nazi Germany.
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It’s a funny thing to me that I was just over to Whitesville about a week or maybe two weeks ago on my way to Charleston and I sure did not see any creeks that were “sludge” nor did I see anyone carrying in water into their homes due to the nasty, sludge water, matter of fact I saw a man and woman outside running water out of their waterhose and it sure did not look like it was far from drinking from or washing their vechicles or anything else that they use their water for over there.
These people make me so sick to claim that their Gallbladder disease is due to the water or their lung problems is due to the polluted air that comes from these mines. I mean come on, I had my gallbladder taken out and it wasn’t due to the water here in my house, so who are they trying to fool.
Yeah I could claim that my lung problem or my gallbladder disease is from this gas well here behind myself but I am not that low nor do I have anything to gain from it.
In the Whitesville area most of the MTR mines are tucked so far back in a holler that my husband had to slow down and basically point me in the direction they were locked because I sure couldn’t see them, and that is not something made up either for those of you that will try to say so.
Raychel I agree, some of the most vocal among the “actvists” , unfortunately poision the air we have to breathe every time they exhale their cigarette smoke. They should clean up their own act.
Raychel honey you need to take those rose colored glasses off that you have on and start seeing the mess around you. You know my friends and I wonder why they don’t blow up the mountains near the interstates…you think they do that for a reason. How do you know your gallbladder being removed didn’t have anything to do with the water you drink? You don’t know that for sure. We have scientific documentation that the rates of cancer in our area is higher than on a national average. Raychel you can’t honestly say that even if there is a chance we might be right that one job is worth one child’s life. If you can then you my dear are someone that I would not want to know. Why don’t you just take some time and start reading some of the studies that are being done. Watch the 60 minutes piece about the cover up of the sludge spill that happened in KY a few years ago…just read it and tell me something fishy isn’t going on. People like Don Blankenship are using the Appalalchian people to do their dirty work and making fools of us all. Here is the link to read that piece…http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/01/60minutes/main609889.shtml
eM I would say that documentation you mention might also show the connection of high tobacco use to the rate of cancer in the area. Speaking of rose colored glasses and human life , bet you also have a pair. You can wear them or look the other way but you’r connected,like it or not.
Em, I could care less if you want to know me, your opinion in this matter is not one that interest me at all. You get on here and give us your “self righteous” attitude and run you mouth to make CGZ look like they are innocent and they are not MY DEAR! I don’t care what you think of me nor do I care what you think in this whole matter I am just stating my opinion and my points on here and that is all, whether you care or not does not make me lose any sleep at night.
Those Rose COlored glasses well I don’t need them HONEY, I see what is going on, I see some of THE MOST BEAUTIFUL RECLAIMED AREAS AROUND HERE!
And as far as my gallbladder being removed well it was due to my placenta dissovling after I had my son causing gallstones to set up, and that came from two well know doctors in the Huntington area, one being from the doctor that delievered my son and the other from the doctor that took it out so there you go EM, but oh you’ll try to say I was lying on that, but I can give you my doctor’s number and you can call her and ask her for yourself if you want….Just let me know.
And EM honey I don’t have time to sit and watch 60 minutes, I spend my time praying for the lost and those that try to take what I have worked hard for down through the years and that is THESE GREENIAC’s, as good ole DON says!
Why do I even bother? My Grandmother had only a 3rd grade education and yet her level of intelligence far exceeds that of some of the people making comments on here. I have to chuckle or else I would cry.
Em are you saying something here? If so then shame on you. Or could it be that I just proved your “education” level wrong? Get over honey your not even worth my time either, so have a good life and get some help. You think your better than everyone else on here, well get this my grandfather couldn’t read or write but yet he knew enough to get his soul to Heaven…which is far better than me wasting my time with you! If your above comment was meant towards me!
Just because someone doesn’t agree with your “way of life” doesn’t mean you have the right to get on here and bash people. I really feel sorry for you that you think you have the right to get on here and talk to people the way you do.
GOD BLESS YOU!
Better yet EM…GOD BE WITH YOU!
eM, losed the 30 minute segments and this documentation you are talking about, put your trust in God and he will relieve your fears. eM, seriously I grew up in a “holler” that MTR was present, my Dad who has been on city water for over 12 years, quit smoking for just as long, is now having his gall bladder taken out. So was it a delayed reaction or your facts not present? We live in a “poor” county yet I see smokers in abundance, alcoholics rampant, pill poppers, and so on, and you want to blame it on MTR? You really want to seek something try Tranceformation of America, just google it and then you decide if you ever believe what the government and the “research and development” companies who give you the “bad” news all the time that are in the governments pockets spill out. Comparing your grandmother’s intelligence is as childish as it can get, btw.
Raychel , Where do you live? A cave? What do you think they reclaim? We live in the oldest mountains in the world. They are destroying them. Look on Google Earth and see for yourself. You tell me why we have one of the highest illness rates in the US if people aren’t getting sick? We live in what is supposed to be the most bio-diverse region in the world outside the rain forest.
chuckle, chuckle, snort, snort….oh lordy, my sides are splitting.
Good, one less stupid ass we’ll have to worry about wanting to save us from whatever it is they want to save us from… Which I still haven’t really figured out??? Em, contrary to what Judy Bonds and others tell ya, WE DO NOT NEED PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES HELPING US!!!! Leave us the hell alone!!! We don’t have any problems that need fixed!!! Why don’t you go and help the president decide what else he can spend our tax dollars on, I think he is running out of stupid ideas. BRING BUSH BACK!!!!!
Actually, after second thought, I think that SUPERHIPPIESLAYER from youtube.com would make an excellent president…. SUPERHIPPIESLAYER IN 2012!!!!!
You’ll never leave brushy alive: Who do you think you are? These mountains are more then your home too! So the greedy coal companies are the only ones that have a say over what happens to us? I sure as hell think we need saving. Anybody that wants to come from out of state to SAVE our asses from the destruction is welcome!!! I don’t want my kids drinking dirty water! I want to preserve my heritage! If these coal companies gave a rats ass about the citizens of WV then they would be doing things responsibly!!! They wouldn’t be cited with violation after violation. They wouldn’t be employing machines instead of men to do the job. They would be lining these slurry impoundments so it wouldn’t seap into the water systems. They would have more than dirt holding them together. They wouldn’t be burying our rivers and streams. They wouldn’t be blowing up our mountains!!! It’s the cheapest,easy and the most crooked way out. If they wanted to be responsible and cared they would put the miners back under ground where they belong. Yay out of state tree huggers!!!! We need your help! Bring as many as you can!!!!!
laughing so hard now, i think i might pee my pants…..oh, lordy this is better than the improv.
What she has nothing better to say now than what she is writing…… Lord, just watch over them that is all I can say.
Blessed Be MountainWitch….where the heck have you been. Glad someone else with some fire in the pit of their stomach is a mad as I am. We’ll save these mountains by god and those that dared to destroy them will pay.
eM, my debt has been payed by a Man that had nothing to owe! So there that’s nothing to chuckle about.
Glad the Lord paid my debt on Calvary and it’s been sealed till the day of redemption and Praise HIS HOLY NAME I am on my way…Progress miner I’ll be waiting at the river for you….
MountainWitch, I live in a two story LOG Cabin home in Lincoln county if you want to know…..
How many men has died underground versus MTR? GO MOUNTAINEERS!
Raychel: If you believed in those Christian ideals that you keep choking on then you really should educate yourself in the teachings of your “good” book. God made the earth and he saw it was GOOD. He said that over and over in the book of Genesis. He also told his people to care for it. Then in the book of Revelation he lets you know what a ass whipping you will get if you don’t. It also teaches you to love your neighbor.
You want to know something else? There have been men to die on MTR removal sites too. But, guess what? They choose to be miners and put themselves in unsafe conditions. The people that are affected by MTR don’t have a choice. They pollute their children, destroy their homes, and rape them of their heritage. Is it not only wrong it’s unconstitutional.
If your Christian God is supports the kind of hatred you display here, thank Goddess I am not part of that!
PS Raychel: I don’t care what kind of home you have. What does that have to do with anything except you enjoy the blood money that paid for it and all that you care about is yourself. Another thing that is against the laws of your “good” book. If you receive all your rewards on earth, there will be no reward in heaven. It also talks about not envying your neighbor. If you flaunt your shit around then you are failing in may ways. If you weren’t such a hypocrite then you might get somebody to take you seriously.
Did Raychel really just brag about her “two story LOG cabin” in an attempt to persuade people on an open forum that MTR removal is good for our environment and in the same breath talk about what a good “christian” she is? OMG that is the funniest statement yet. All those “good Christians” gonna destroy the EArth, pollute the water while poisoning our children then sit back and say they are going to “Heaven”? Okay, that makes sense. These people are exactly why the likes of Don Blankenship can get away with what he is doing. People that don’t have the intelligence of a box of hair and let him continue to use them in his crusade to destroy everything the people of Appalachia have. May the Gods be with us all.
At least your not to scared to have faith Raychel, there desperately trying to have the disrespect from us and as usual they try dire attempts to childishly attack by using there pre-grammar school idiocrisy in not getting that disrespectful and flagrant outburst from most of us. Keep it up, Raychel. Conviction is apparent.
Sir, I have plenty of faith. I have the utmost respect for anybody and their spiritual beliefs as well. I do not however have any respect at all for somebody that uses a God to spread hatred. My grandfather was a minister and I admired his passion for his spirituality. There are many that set a wonderful example of what a Christian steward should be. Raychel isn’t setting that sort of example. It makes me sick. Don’t come on here blaming God for your stupidity.
Ma’am I never pointed any fingers, you just put yourself out there as whom I was addressing. Stupidity? Me? Thank you! Yeah I was stupid for 29 years, you don’t have to tell me. To tell you the truth I am not even smart enough to say I can quote more Bible than someone else then a little while later inform people not to trust in what a “religious” book may tell me. I mean where I am smart is there is only one Book. Everything I have read tells me not to be a hurdle but to edify, so I say to you, what a blessing to have a grandfather called by God and to minister his word.
Progress Miner says:At least your not to scared to have faith Raychel, >there< desperately trying to have the disrespect from us and as usual they try dire attempts to childishly attack by using there pre-grammar school idiocrisy in not getting that disrespectful and flagrant outburst from most of us. Keep it up, Raychel. Conviction is apparent.
I think you meant "their" as in plural for more than one person. (When you typed "there.") But, either way that implies the other people talking here are more than one person. I responded since I was part of that plural.
Anyway, Thank you. I think my grandfather was a blessing too.
Yeah, been up too long today Mountainwitch, the hour forward wore me out, YVW!
I can relate. I felt like I slept in way too late today when I looked at the clock this morning. Then i realized I had lost an hour..LOL
When I put “Don’t come on here blaming God for your stupidity.” It was a generalized statement and I was talking about Raychel. It was also in response to what you said to her. To me it is stupidity to twist her faith around to win a argument on a public forum. I am not a Christian but I know what it has stood for in my family. I am well versed in the scriptures. (Thanks to my grandfather) Her behavior was nothing of what he stood for. Again, it makes me sick.
Hey MoutainWitch, My faith in the Lord is none of your business and YOu were the one that ask me where I lived or what I lived in I was just answering your question. I am just glad I don’t have to die and go to hell! If I want to voice my beliefs on here I can, it’s a PUBLIC FORUM! SO DEAL WITH IT! There have been more men die underground than there have been on MTR sites I know this for a fact! My side of this matter is different than yours and I could care less what you or anyone else think of me…My home is something that both my husband and I have worked hard for…When you ask a question I answer it…….Have a wonderful day.
And EM HOW DARE YOU tell me I am not going to HEAVEN! I am well on my way, I have beens saved, born again and on well on my way. DON’T YOU DARE tell me otherwise. And don’t anyone get on here and try to tell me that I am using my religion as a way to set an example, I was asked a question and I answered it, my only example is to set one for my son that when I leave this earth I will be in Heaven with all those that have went before me he can look at you or anyone else and say my mommy is home in Heaven.
MoutainWitch, Glad your grandfather was a minister so is my dad and he taught me well also but he never taught me to critize people for their beliefts in the Lord.
That is what you people try to make others believe that you are nonviolent and peaceful but what you both just stated on here is none of that.
wellllllll……..chuckle, chuckle…lmao….
eM, we laugh in a manner of showing fear of something fearful and of something funny. I don’t believe it is the latter. When can I buy that coffee?
Raychel : I know the statistics say there are less deaths to miners from MTR to the underground method. They have gotten quit savvy with technology. You can’t tell me they can’t put these men back underground in a safe, respectful manner.
Do you know they can set the entire city of Manhattan at the Coal River site? That is A LOT to reclaim with businesses. It’s not the only one. We are talking about miles and miles of devastation. Not just the size of a Walmart. They plant grass and landscape these areas with a few tree species. There is no way they can put back miles and miles of mountain. They can’t put the species of wild plants that it took billions of years to develop.
It’s not mining coal that people have a problem with. It’s the coals companies being irresponsible and it’s their way of doing it. MTR is a unnecessary practice. Back in the 70′s there was over 120,000 men in this state employed by underground mining. Now we have 20,000. Only 5,200 are employed doing MTR. It’s cheaper for them to employ machines than it is for a man to do it.
They are filling our valleys and streams with waste. It’s raining on this waste and poisoning the ground.They have slurry impondments with billions of gallons of waste. Held together with dirt and nothing to line them with.(blasting dynamite next to them) The toxins are seeping into our ground water. This stuff has seeped into people’s water systems and it has killed some of them.
They have been cited with violation after violation, they pay the fines and it’s business as usual. They are raping of us our heritage by blowing up these mountains. They are poisoning us and other species dependent on fresh clean water. All that just because it’s cheaper for them. You tell me why people are upset?
You tell me what is the value put on life here in WV? 1 life to 1000 jobs? 1 to 12 tons of coal? What?????
You can argue it isn’t happening but there have been tests and studies done by legitimate resources. People are living in the devastation day in and out. You claim God says it’s ok???? Again, your a hypocrite. Plain and simple. He said to care for this earth. Read above. The rest was explained to you. Read your bible. It appears to me that “greeniacs” are adhering more to your biblical law than YOU are. May God be with YOU!!!!
Here is your biblical lesson for the day Raychel:
A.GOD CREATED THE UNIVERSE
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:1, 31)
B.GOD OWNS CREATION
“Everything under heaven belongs to me.” (Job 41:11)
C. GOD LOVES HIS CREATION
“He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth.” (Psalm 33:5-6)
D. GOD VALUES HIS CREATION
“God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)
E. GOD’S CONCERN FOR ANIMALS
“And of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you.” (Genesis 6:19)
F.GOD’S COMMAND TO CARE FOR HIS CREATION
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Genesis 2:15)
“You must keep my decrees and my laws…. And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.” (Leviticus 18:26, 28)
“You shall not pollute the land in which you live…. You shall not defile the land in which you live, in which I also dwell; for I the LORD dwell among the Israelites.” (Numbers 35:33-34)
“If you besiege a town for a long time, making war against it in order to take it, you must not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them. Although you may take food from them, you must not cut them down. Are trees in the field human beings that they should come under siege from you?” (Deuteronomy 20:19)
G.HUMANS HAVE DEFILED THE LAND
“I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruits and its good things. But when you entered you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.” (Jeremiah 2:7)
“It will be made a wasteland, parched and desolate before me; the whole land will be laid waste because there is no one who cares.” (Jeremiah 12:11)
“Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?” (Ezekiel 34:17-1)
H. CONSEQUENCES OF DEFILING THE LAND
“He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into a saltwaste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there.” (Psalm 107:33-34
“The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the heavens languish together with the earth. The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse devours the earth; its inhabitants suffer for their guilt.” (Isaiah 24:4-6)… See More
“The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great-and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” (Revelation 11:18)
PS. If you didn’t want your faith being anybodies business then you shouldn’t come on here preaching it publicly.
PS. again, so sorry:
When I asked if you lived in a cave it was a figure of speech. I didn’t even realize you took that literally. LOL!
Raychel:
I walked away from my computer and got even madder. I had to come back and say:
Back when I was a little girl and somebody in the community said they had a problem or they were suffering, the churches stepped in to help people. They offered any assistant they could. No matter what side of the fence they were on! They didn’t tell them they were liars and were going to burn in hell for their suffering. The didn’t criticize them because their suffering didn’t have a direct effect on them. They showed kindness and compassion towards their fellow human being. You are a prime example of what modern Christianity has become. (I am not saying all. There are still good people that are Christians. I know many) People like you are what gives GOOD Christians a bad reputation!
GOD BLESS YOU MOUNTAINWITCH, I WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU!
Progress Miner you are definitely right. I am afraid. I am afraid my Earth is being destroyed and people like you can’t see beyond the tip of your nose or refuse to see it because of greed. That scares the hell out of me. I am afraid of that my grandchildren will only have toxic air and poison water to drink. But please don’t ever think I fear for my soul as you infer with your comment. I am very sure of my place with “god”. I am very sure I am on the right side. EARTH FIRST!!! When do you want that coffee?
MountainWitch I fear you waste your time with the bible verses. I’ve done that before and “they” pick and choose what pertains to them to suit their needs at the moment. It wouldn’t matter if “god” himself came to them and told them “hey, stop tearing my creation apart” they would say, “but god I need my two story log cabin and my designer purses”. They preach their beliefs to be the “only way” then when those of us that don’t even follow their religion show them that their bible says we are suppose to protect this earth and not take more than we need they say we interpret it wrong. It is a losing battle. But so good of you to point that out to them.
I never pick and choose what I believe or what I want you to believe eM, I will be the first to admit I am a lousy scum of a sinner. A piece of dirt to be exact. The first and only thing God wants anyone to do is accept his Son and to try as hard as we can(which is unattainable) to keep our body(His temple) pure. Anyways I veered or tried from my belief in God and having dialogue with you. I only became upset when you discarded the truth that I read on a daily basis as being well hogwash practically. So yes I will tell you, I, you, and the rest of the human race will do nothing that can attain a profitable life without God, and I say that from my 3 BR 14×80 single wide I rent. You see that stereotype don’t foot the assumptions you make. Coffee, anytime between 4:20 and 4:30. eM, whether you know it or not I really do respect you, it would be great admiration if these better jobs your talking about were as visible as this so called indulgement of a high life we miners are supposed to be living.
eM Pick and choose what pertains to them ? If God himself came to them and told them stop killing my babies , they would say it’s “my choice”. Precious human life is also his creation.
Watcher you are absolutely right. Human life is precious and the waste being dumped in the valleys and the seepage from the slurry impoundments are poisoning our water. It has been proved. Yes, there are probably more things that are poisoning our water but right now this is happening in my state, to my people and I’m going to do what I can to stop it. Once that is stopped I will perhaps fight another cause. At least I’m doing something. At least I’m not ignoring what is happening.
eM You’r ignoring it every day you go to work,just as you say I am. Do something, become pro-life, not “pro-choice” after all life is not “our choice”
EM, the home that you live in, how did you build it? With the money you worked out right? Well that is how I built mine, I built if from the money I worked for as well as my husband, that has nothing to do with what you are referring to. If I wanted to built a single story home, it’s my decision and if I just wanted to live in a single wide trailor that is perfectly fine too. There is nothing wrong with wanting to have a nice home! You and whomever took what I said completly out of text. If God himself came to earth today he would be very ashamed I know that. There is killing, drugs and violence what about all of that? That is more dangerous than anything, mothers killing daughters, sons against fathers and killing someone just to get a few pills. But I don’t guess that matters does it.
As I mentioned before, God Bless You Em and I will be praying for you. Have a wonderful day! May God Richly bless your grandchildren and may he supply all their needs. Again God Bless You.
Raychel,
Of course those things are wrong??? Are we on a website about those things? No?!?! Or, is that your way to justify it?
Thank you for praying for me. I will chant and light a special candle for you too. ;O)
eM, do your drink city water or bottles water? By what means do you provide energy to your home? Mountain Witch you are correct we are on a website ANTI-MTR, but here is your Bible lesson for the day, and one I strive to live by also, Set no other gods before me… you see the verses you quoted happen to be Old Testament and God referring to Israel, and his plan to lead them to the Promise land. Now I am an a New Testament Christian, but seek the word and instruction of the Old Testament as well. You see He is a jealous God, and that is why he punished the people of Israel, they set other gods before them. Anyways thank you for the quoting of the infallible word of God, I love seing it! I am not trying to use God’s word to disguise anything, just to stand for something. We all do things to harm, whether you like it or not, you may just do something different from myself.
Progress Miner:
It’s wonderful you have your Christian beliefs. I respect your point of view. I really don’t see using your belief in a way that I personally believe to be offensive. You wrote about what you believe from the book that you believe in. If you were trying to persuade em in hopes to get her to believe in yours, I am can’t speak for her, but I am sure she is content with her spirituality the same as you are yours. We live vast and diverse world with many cultures and beliefs systems. Spirituality is a very personal thing. Everybody has to find their own path. It’s my humble opinion,it’s wrong to think that only one group can be right and everybody else is wrong. It also tends to bother me when people try to use it to harm another person. Especially when it’s not of what they claim to be.
As far harming others. We all do. Nobody is perfect. We all leave a carbon foot print on this earth. We are the only species that thinks they are superior to every living thing. That is why we have things like murder, rape, etc. (MTR) I have to remind myself some days that there are people out there that are good and have compassion for things other than themselves. Otherwise, I think I could loose all faith in humanity.
Progress Miner:
My apologies. I see now you were talking to me as well. LOL I think I am still adapting to the time change. It’s a good thing I wasn’t putting my nose where it didn’t belong as much as I thought I was ..he he
don’t you think we are getting a little bit off topic here
Thanks MountainWitch. I appreciate someone praying for me, I am not proud to admit that I am above prayer. Thanks so much again.
Here’s the thing. When I was a little girl my parents couldn’t get me out of the woods. From sun up til sun down I played in the woods. Catching crawl dads, making playhouses on the mossy banks near a creek or just going on adventures. When I was going through my divorce I ran the logging roads summer and winter. I ran for my sanity and those mountains were my peace. I used to walk in those mountains with my Grandmother and pick ramps, poke greens, berries, molly moochers, etc. I’ve even made love in those woods and my heart absolutely breaks to see what is happening to them. It’s like if someone came into your town and started blowing up your churches. That is what those mountains are to me. A place to be close to my god. That is where I feel connected to heaven and earth. Then when you throw in the factor that the fill being dumped into the valleys is truly poisoning our waters perhaps beyond repair, I can’t see how we all can’t agree there either has to be a better way or no way. Is there nothing more important than money is this world. Is the value of what those mountains are not more important than a dollar?
Mountainwitch, I guess you would also include Al Gore and his minions in this group you mention. I mean after all, we all know he’s right and everyone’s wrong.
Mountainwitch, I guess you would also include Al Gore and his minions in this group you mention. I mean after all, we all know he’s right and everyone’s else is wrong. Pardon the mistake.
eM are you talking about the mountains in Seng Creek? If so I have yet to see any of those mined by MTR methods. Oh and by the way, I have climbed those mountains there also. I walked the tracks from the old tipple near the Washingtons home to the car wash in Whitesville. Underground mineshafts were still open, tracks still layed, and coal cars sitting along the way. It was kinda like they up and left, no cleanup, no reclamation. I just hoped no one ever got hurt up there.Wasn’t the tunnel built for the miners? To travel from Seng Creek to Cabin Creek? I always seen the locals of both hollows partying hard up there. They never had anything against coal then. They sure did throw a hooping fit when it was filled in. See ya at 4:30 in the morning!
I also have climbed that mountain and the view from the top is shameful. Yes part of that mountain has been stripped. Technically is it the exact same mountain…?? I’m not sure but they are connected. Kind of hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. You know why you guys try to pick everything apart because you know it’s wrong and you won’t admit it.
I wasn’t picking anything apart. I was just asking and stating. If anyone is insecure it’s boldly visible by you assuming anything otherwise.
Progress Miner I had to call my dad to be sure but he says both mountains on each side of Seng Creek has had MTR operations. The one you spoke about where the Washington family lived was stripped but it was more up the hollow and back towards clear fork maybe not the exact same mountain and the one on the other side was too. The big dragline was almost hanging over the Frieson familiy’s house. It was the operation that blasted my house off of it’s foundation and then they refused to pay because my husband and I were active duty at the time and could not give them a specific date of the occurence. How convenient. Anyway, I’m not versed on the names of all the specific mountain ranges….where they end and begin but it happened all around my home.
eM , If the ‘fill’ being dumped into the valleys is truly poisioning our waters, then by that same reasoning should’nt all highway construction and development in southern W V that involve ‘fills’ come to a halt ? Oh that’s right , the poision you mention is absent in the other ‘fills’ as they don’t contain the word ‘mine ‘ or ‘mining’. Believe me that’s the only difference.
Wait you first state you in fact have climbed those mountains, and now you say you had to call your dad to make sure? Now if the mountain has been stripped where George lived it has happened very recently. I honestly can tell you I haven’t made it up past the Frieson’s home since the late 90′s. Good friends of mine, anyways since I have many friends there and coworkers in Seng Creek, I think I will plan a ride there tomorrow.
Progress Miner, like you it has been a while. I know the mountain behind where the Frieson family lived was stripped and it was happening in 04/05. The one across up closer to where the tunnel used to be was done in the 90′s. I called my dad because he has a mind of an elephant and remembers more. I have climbed the mountains but I don’t know all the names of each individual one. To me they were the one on the clearfork side and the one on the sylvester side. :O Sorry, I know it’s not very technical but I can guarantee you I’ve walked them and I’ve ridden the four wheeler all over them.
eM, what about the ‘fills’,simple question? If the ‘fills’ from mtr mining is poisioning our waters,so should the ‘fills’ that form I64 ,I 77,corridor G, Southridge mall , Dudly Farms mall, Fountainplace mall, route 10 and virtually any development in the steep topography of southern W V. Should we stop any further development?
Yes, Watcher I believe if those “fills” were the same then they should not be allowed either. Destruction in the name of progress is still destruction.
No question about it those fills ARE the same. Would you rather we revert back in time to avoid all the “distruction” as you call it that’s gotten us to where we are today? Just about where would satisfy you 1960 1950 1910 or maybe the 1800s ?
actually watcher i would…it should go back to the native americans…people who lived as one with the earth and did not see themselves as above nature or other creatures. i would love to live that way.
Yeah eM, I would love to hop in my personal spacecraft and fly to Venus, but we both know that wer’e only dreaming. Good luck.
Geez Watcher, you ask me a question so I answer you and then you act like a smart ass. See, you are the kind of people we are dealing with. Damn if we do and damned if we don’t. ???? By the way why in the world would you want to fly to Venus….we all know it does not support life. Just stay here a few more years if that is what you’re looking for and you’ll have it right here in WV.
Hey, I figure one good smart ass comment deserves another.
eM not meant to a smart %&* comment, I’m just not a dreamer I guess.
Oh, by the way, Don pledged one million dollars toward a new Marsh Fork school, CRMW ten thousand. How bout it C G Z , how much can we put you down for?
How bout it Mikey, Tree Spiker making any money yet? This is a good cause, wanna step up like CRMW and match their donation?
Watcher,,,,,,,you’re not a dreamer….gonna fly to Venus…???? Okay…whatever…
No ma’am, I’m sure not a dreamer and I’m sure you know they can’t dream a new school for Marsh Fork, so your donation would be most welcome.
I made about a $30,000 donation this year Watcher. Thank you very much.
Wow, that’s a sizeable chunk of cash. Could’ve gone a long way on your solar system you mentioned. You could have been close to getting of the grid and it’s coal fired power, but thank’s anyway, the kids will enjoy the new school.
Well, that is about what I paid in fed taxes this year so I’m sure some of it went for schools….well, at least I hope. And I am glad that Massey stepped up and is helping with the new school even though I still don’t like MTR and think it’s a “token” to keep people quiet.