Appalachia Rising is a mass mobilization in Washington, DC, September 25-27, 2010, calling for an end to the devastating practice of mountaintop removal mining. Mountaintop removal has already destroyed over 500 of the world’s oldest mountains and more than 2,000 miles of streams, and has contaminated our nation’s waters. Together, we will bring Appalachia’s cry to our nation’s capital: We must end mountaintop removal and transform the economies of Appalachia away from destructive mining practices and toward clean-energy jobs and a sustainable and healthy future.

Visit Appalachia Rising for all the details.

Photo credit Endmtr.com. Click for larger image.

First of all I’m just gonna say this and get it off my chest… for man to be so arrogant as to say he can blow up a mountain and put it back to better than what nature and time intended… I’d have to tell him a variation of something my mom always told me, “your actions are writing checks to big for your soul to cash.” There is absolutely know way to restore a mountaintop removal site to better than it was before the mining.

Reclamation as it relates to mountaintop removal is not so much about reclamation as it is justification. We need flat land in the Mountain State.

Let me see if I can put the whole flat land/future economic development thing into perspective for you – the coal industry and all of the politicians who justify mountaintop removal with the flat land/future economic development excuse… they are the house and you are in a loaded craps game. They never have to pay you. All they have to do is convince you to keep playing along by saying maybe someday you’ll win while at the same time trying to gloss over the fact that until then you’ll lose (future economic development). Personally, I think we should just quit playing and kick the houses ass for perpetrating such a scam.

Roughly 1.2 million acres, including 500 mountains, have been flattened by mountaintop removal coal mining in the central Appalachian region. Only a fraction of that land has been reclaimed for so-called beneficial economic uses.

These are the conclusions of two new studies from Appalachian Voices and the Natural Resources Defense Council that combine to debunk one of Big Coal’s biggest lies.

Visit Ilovemountains.org for photos, maps… two new studies, lots of info on Reclamation FAIL!

Victory: New School For Marsh Fork Elementary

I’ve read some articles referring to the new school as the Ed Wiley Elementary School. I don’t think they could come up with a more fitting name. Ed should be remembered for his persistence, determination and dedication in the pursuit of a safer learning environment for the kids.

My hat’s off to everyone involved in the campaign for not giving up and for a job well done.

Since the mine explosion last week I have had to re-evaluate my position on underground coal mining versus mountaintop removal coal mining. It is hard to say stop MTR and go back to underground mining after those 29 men lost their lives underground.

In my opinion underground mining is as safe as we allow it to be. When shortcuts are taken in a quest for higher production, lives are put at risk.

In the past week folks have been asking themselves and others how we can prevent a tragedy such as this one from ever happening again. I’ve heard “new regulations” mentioned in response. Personally I think strictly enforcing current regulations would go a long way towards preventing another disaster. It doesn’t matter how many regulations are put in place or how many laws are passed if they are not being enforced.

I’ve also heard this week about how coal companies use the legal system to avoid a pattern of violations – a condition that could shut a mine down. The indicator for this pattern needs to change in a way that would not allow the coal companies to hide it with litigation. It’s not about money, it’s about saving lives.

The Miner Act of 2006… a complete failure in this case. These 29 miners had no use for reactive actions only proactive actions could have saved their lives.

There should be a new Miner Act and in it there should be a pledge to enforce the very laws and regulations designed to keep the coal miners safe by holding those accountable that break the laws and ignore the regulations.

The laws and regulations need better oversight. I think it defeats the purpose when you put a company employee/official in charge of making sure regulations are followed to the letter when doing so may interfere with production. In my opinion the miners need something similar to the Federal Air Marshalls. They need someone in the mine not connected to or influenced by the company with the authority to immediately shut that operation down if any condition exists that puts lives at risk… a federal safety official.

I wonder how much more devastation we have to endure before we come to the realization we need to find a better way to generate electricity? We see our friends, neighbors, and family members die in the mines. We watch as communities slowly die and we watch our mountains being leveled all with no end in sight.

Coal accounts for approx. 50 percent of the electricity generated in this country. Mining coal is obviously something that is not going away overnight. However, at some point we are going to have to start a transition away from coal to renewable/alternative energy sources. We have to do this because coal is a finite resource. With every new coal-fired power plant we build or with every new coal-to-liquids plant we approve we commit ourselves to not starting a transition away from coal and the bottom line is coal, a non-renewable resource, kills from its cradle to its grave.

Do I still think we should stop mountaintop removal coal mining? Damn right I do. There is no justification for that much wanton destruction.

We have to want to put safety over production underground. We can’t get by with conditions good enough to run coal we also have to have conditions good enough to prevent a tragedy.

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Update -

MSHA’s Joe Main urged to scrap ‘pattern of violations’ rule; mine safety lawyers say operators escaping tougher enforcement Congress intended

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Other Massey mines cited for ventilation problems

I have a lot I want to say about this disaster and Massey Energy in an upcoming post but for now I just have one question – how cheap of a resource do you think coal is now?

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No Survivors Found After West Virginia Mine Disaster

Birchton is about 2 miles west of Montcoal and 2 to 3 miles east of Whitesville on rt3 and that is where emergency crews were gathering. I counted, give or take one, 25 ambulances on the scene with emergency and mine rescue teams arriving from all over the area constantly.

I’ll update this post with links as the news gets to the point where it isn’t so much a guessing game. I think the best thing we can do right now is pray for the miners that may still be trapped in the mine and for all of the miners families.

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http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/05/explosion-in-west-virginia-mine/ – updated often

Fatalities Reported in Raleigh County Mine Explosion – updated often

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The EPA clarified the permitting process for mountaintop removal coal mining as it relates to the CWA (Clean Water Protection Act). I think this is a great first step in dealing with MTR. It tells me the EPA is actually making a move to enforce the CWA.

What does this mean for mountaintop removal?

EPA unveils new pollution limits that could curtail ‘mountaintop’ mining

I’m still somewhat skeptical about today’s announcement by the EPA. I think it is great they are finally addressing the impacts associated with MTR. In this case I believe it is actions that will speak louder than words. Hey EPA!!! You’ve talked the talk now can you walk the walk? I guess for that we will just have to wait and see.

Mountaintop removal in my eyes is a form of cancer. It destroys everything it comes in contact with whether that be water, wildlife habitat, communities… whatever. Take Lindytown for example – Lindytown died because it was touched by mountaintop removal. There is nothing sacred and no place safe when King Coal comes to town.

Although the EPA has taken a good first step we need to stop mountaintop removal coal mining taking all of the adverse impacts into consideration. Are we ready to make that leap for mankind? I think yes we are. Some of those fighting mountaintop removal coal mining or dealing with the impacts of MTR have been ready for a long time.

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EPA Sets Scientific Standards to Safeguard Appalachian Streams from Mountaintop Removal

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Just a thought – I read quite a few articles about this move by the EPA and a few of them we’re accompanied by the statement “this is not an April Fools joke.” I kept thinking it would be one hell of a cruel joke if it were one.

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Post Update -

Corps to broaden reviews of valley fill applications

Are we nearing the end of this battle? It feels like it to me and if that is the case there are still some things that need to be done in order to help guarantee that blatantly raping Appalachia for her resources will stop and never happen again…

Support the Clean Water Protection Act HR 1310 and/or the Appalachia Restoration Act S 696.

Please call your Representative today and ask them to become a cosponsor of H.R. 1310, The Clean Water Protection Act.