We finally get funding for a new Marsh Fork Elementary
We here at Coal River Mountain Watch want to thank everyone for the new Marsh Fork Elementary. If you haven't heard the news, funding was secured just last week to build a new school for Marsh Fork, which sits beside a coal processing plant and beneath a 2.8 billion gallon sludge dam. You can read more about the story here:
Charleston Gazette
Beckley Register-Herald
Charleston Daily-Mail
We would just like to congratulate and thank everyone for this tremendous victory. This is an example of a group of citizens standing up for what's right, even in the face of a billion dollar industry and a corrupt state government. This is a victory for the entire movement, and we'd like to thank everyone who called, wrote a letter, prayed, marched, protested, lobbied, and anything else we've forgotten.
Posted by staff on Monday May 1, 2010
Charleston Gazette
Beckley Register-Herald
Charleston Daily-Mail
We would just like to congratulate and thank everyone for this tremendous victory. This is an example of a group of citizens standing up for what's right, even in the face of a billion dollar industry and a corrupt state government. This is a victory for the entire movement, and we'd like to thank everyone who called, wrote a letter, prayed, marched, protested, lobbied, and anything else we've forgotten.
Donate to the Montcoal Mining Disaster Fund
The West Virginia Council of Churches has set up a fund to support people impacted by the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion. Go to their website www.wvcc.org and click on "Donate to the Montcoal Mining Disaster Fund" to make a donation.
Thank you.
Posted by staff on Thursday April 4, 2010
Thank you.
Tragedy on the Coal River
Tragedy has struck the Coal River Valley. 25 men are confirmed dead and 4 missing, after an explosion ripped through the Upper Big Branch underground mine at 3:00 PM Monday. In the wake of yesterday's events our thoughts and prayers go to the miners of Upper Big Branch and their families. Like everyone in Coal River, we are waiting to hear about the fate of family, friends, and neighbors.
The Upper Big Branch Mine is in the Coal River Valley, three miles south of Whitesville. It is operated by Performance Coal, a subsidiary of Massey Energy. The mine lies beneath a vast expanse of Massey-operated mountaintop removal surface mines. This is the worst mine disaster to strike the Coal River Valley and the worst mine disaster in the USA in 25 years.
The Upper Big Branch mine's history is riddled with safety violations. In 2009, the Upper Big Branch mine had 458 safety violations, incurring a total of $897,325 in fines. Since January 1, 2010, the Miner Safety and Health Administration has issued the Performance Coal 115 safety violations for the Upper Big Branch mine. For six of the past ten years, it has exceeded the national average in safety violations.
As yesterday's tragedy makes all too clear, coal mining is dangerous work. Its impacts shape every aspect of modern life; from the energy infrastructure that powers our homes, work, and gadgets, to the exploitation of miners and coalfield communities. The men and women who go underground deserve our respect and solidarity. At Coal River Mountain Watch, we are devoting growing energy to diversifying the local economy so that men and women no longer need to risk their lives for their livelihoods.
Posted by staff on Tuesday April 2, 2010
The Upper Big Branch Mine is in the Coal River Valley, three miles south of Whitesville. It is operated by Performance Coal, a subsidiary of Massey Energy. The mine lies beneath a vast expanse of Massey-operated mountaintop removal surface mines. This is the worst mine disaster to strike the Coal River Valley and the worst mine disaster in the USA in 25 years.
The Upper Big Branch mine's history is riddled with safety violations. In 2009, the Upper Big Branch mine had 458 safety violations, incurring a total of $897,325 in fines. Since January 1, 2010, the Miner Safety and Health Administration has issued the Performance Coal 115 safety violations for the Upper Big Branch mine. For six of the past ten years, it has exceeded the national average in safety violations.
As yesterday's tragedy makes all too clear, coal mining is dangerous work. Its impacts shape every aspect of modern life; from the energy infrastructure that powers our homes, work, and gadgets, to the exploitation of miners and coalfield communities. The men and women who go underground deserve our respect and solidarity. At Coal River Mountain Watch, we are devoting growing energy to diversifying the local economy so that men and women no longer need to risk their lives for their livelihoods.
DEP Denies Public Hearing For Edwight Show Cause
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 Coal River Mountain Watch (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.
Posted by staff on Thursday March 4, 2010
After repeated requests, the DEP has granted Coal River Mountain Watch (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.
From the Coal River Valley to Washington DC
My name is Junior Walk, and my family has lived in the coal fields of southern West Virginia for generations. It pains me to see my heritage destroyed and defamed, and to see my friends and family poisoned by unclean water. So, I decided to take a little trip to Washington D.C. to put a stop to it.
Today, I’m in our nations capitol to stop the heinous practice of mountaintop removal coal mining. I’m here with the Alliance for Appalachia, as an employee of Coal River Mountain Watch; I’m here as an environmental activist; I’m here as an affected coal field resident; but I’m mostly here as someone whom cares about people, and all other living things.
My meetings today were cordial, I met with the offices of three different congressmen. The first one was on the fence about the Clean Water Protection Act, the second one will probably co-sign, and the third was already a co-signer. I think we’re making serious progress here, we already have more than 160 co-signers, and we only need 40-50 more co-signers.
When this bill becomes a law, it will effectively end mountaintop removal by making valley fills illegal (which they were in the first place). This would greatly benefit the people of Appalachia, save lives, and open up mountains like Coal River Mountain for use as wind farms.
So, here I am, I’ve never been into any city, never really had any experience outside of my neck of the woods, and I’m walking up the stairs to the legislature to talk to our representatives about what’s going on in out back yards.
Posted by staff on Wednesday March 3, 2010
Today, I’m in our nations capitol to stop the heinous practice of mountaintop removal coal mining. I’m here with the Alliance for Appalachia, as an employee of Coal River Mountain Watch; I’m here as an environmental activist; I’m here as an affected coal field resident; but I’m mostly here as someone whom cares about people, and all other living things.
My meetings today were cordial, I met with the offices of three different congressmen. The first one was on the fence about the Clean Water Protection Act, the second one will probably co-sign, and the third was already a co-signer. I think we’re making serious progress here, we already have more than 160 co-signers, and we only need 40-50 more co-signers.
When this bill becomes a law, it will effectively end mountaintop removal by making valley fills illegal (which they were in the first place). This would greatly benefit the people of Appalachia, save lives, and open up mountains like Coal River Mountain for use as wind farms.
So, here I am, I’ve never been into any city, never really had any experience outside of my neck of the woods, and I’m walking up the stairs to the legislature to talk to our representatives about what’s going on in out back yards.
EPA Investigates Massey Operations on Coal River Mountain
Thank you, EPA, for beginning to enforce the law!
Youtube video of blasting operations under investigation here.
Part of the letter: "EPA is concerned that Marfork Coal Company may be committing signficant resources and conducting operations in reliance on a Section 404 permit that has not been issued. The Corps has not yet made a determination of jurisdictional waters and we have some concern that ongoing activities at the site could impact such waters if sufficient precautions are not exercised."
Read more from Charleston Gazette reporter Ken Ward here.
