Selenium, a byproduct of Coal mining, is being found in alarming levels in the Mud River…. thus poisoning the native fish population.
From the Associated Press:
“Selenium pollution from a Boone County mining operation is poisoning fish in the Mud River, leading to serious deformities, according to a biologist’s report.
A. Dennis Lemly prepared his report on behalf of lawyers working for environmental groups suing Hobet Mining Inc. over the discharge of selenium into the Mud River and its tributaries.
Lemly’s report, filed April 18 in U.S. District Court in Huntington, found fish specimens with two eyes on one side of the head and others with curved spines.
“The Mud River ecosystem is on the brink of a major toxic event,” Lemly wrote in the report. “If waterborne selenium concentrations are not reduced, reproductive toxicity will spiral out of control and fish populations will collapse.”
The trouble is not only with the fish population. Selenium, as well as a frightening array of other heavy metals, is showing up in well water across the coalfields. And again, our state’s DEP is taking the low road and being non-commital. From the same article:
“The state Department of Environmental Protection, which is not a party to the federal lawsuit, believes something is wrong with the fish, but is not sure of the cause.”
So, let’s see….. official reports from water biologists say there is too much selenium from the Coal operations leaking into the water. And these same experts say that this selenium is poisoning the fish. If the WVDEP doesn’t accept that, then they better get on the ball and do their own testing and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! The residents of rural Appalachia do not have access to public water. It is a crime when an industry can come in and pollute their water with no repercussions. If the fish are being affected, our bodies are being affected, too. Clean Water should be a basic American right….. but it is not so in the Coalfields. People are literally being poisoned. To read some of their stories, go here.
Again, we all need to continue to hound our representatives to support The Clean Water Protection Act, H.R. 2169. There is not a single WV Representative co-sponsoring the Act. Imagine that! Continue to call and you can also arrange a meeting with them or an office aide. Remember…. WE elected them and they are OUR paid employees. They are obligated to hear us and vote according to the people they represent, not vote according to who is funding their campaign. Don’t be intimidated or let them brush you off.
And also remember that it is EVERYONE”S water. Our planet shares water. And many of these creeks and rivers that are being polluted with mining waste are the headwaters to much of the East Coast’s drinking water supplies. It affects everyone.
