Scientists for years have warned about the irreversible damage to Appalachian ecosystems caused by mountaintop removal coal mining (which makes sense, considering that the nation’s oldest mountains can’t grow back once they’ve been topped). But don’t tell that to the coal industry.
At a West Virginia More…
Following last month’s deadly underground mine explosion in West Virginia, the recent controversy surrounding surface mining has been largely (if temporarily) forgotten — at least in Washington. But today, two House Republicans from Appalachia’s coal fields revisited the issue, ripping the Environmental Protection Agency for installing strict new More…
Two young activists arrested this morning for protesting mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia will have to come up with $100,000 in bail if they want to leave jail any time soon, a West Virginia court ruled today. The Associated Press reports:
Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Chad Barker says
Environmentalists might be applauding the Obama administration’s new restrictions on mountaintop coal mining as the most significant step the government has ever taken to rein in the practice. But don’t tell that to Sen. Lamar Alexander. The Tennessee Republican is calling for a full ban (not More…
It’s worth noting: Despite the new EPA scrutiny (and potential repeal) of the Bush-era permit approving the largest mountaintop coal mine in West Virginia’s history, a part of that project will continue its operations during the public comment and review process.
The Spruce No. More…
In a show that the Obama administration is serious about putting the teeth back into the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency today jump-started a process that could kill one of the largest mountaintop coal mining operations ever allowed in Appalachia. The decision — which is already being attacked More…
This morning, environmental activists erected two 20-foot teepees (for lack of a better term) in front of EPA headquarters in Washington to protest mountaintop coal mining. Ten hours later, they’re still there, and at least six of them have locked themselves to the teepees with a More…
Here’s Bill Johnson, the longshot Republican vying to replace retiring Sen. Jim Bunning (R) in Kentucky, arguing for the elimination of the EPA:
The Federal Government is standing between the American people and their use of their natural resources. It is time to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency [and] return
Most of us take it for granted that when we flip the switch, the lights will go on. Sure, we write the electric company a monthly check, but otherwise lend no thought to the source of the power — like urban kids clueless that chicken originates someplace other than the More…
By all accounts, it was quite a show last night in Charleston, W.Va., where Don Blankenship, president of Virginia-based Massey Energy, squared off against environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the hot-button (and increasingly high-profile) topic of mountaintop coal mining. But the money quote, via More…
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