Mountaintop removal mining protests going national

The Almighty Dollar rules all.

politics rules all --

News Release

http://www.coalleader.com/NEWS_RELEASE_DAN_BO...

Eastern Coal
Council
“Promoting Coal through Education & Public Awareness”
October 14, 2009

The Eastern Coal Council and its members traveled to Knoxville TN for the U. S.
Army Corps of Engineers public hearing to address the Corps officials regarding
proposed actions by to modify and suspend Nationwide Permit (NWP 21) for use in
authorizing surface coal mining activities within the Appalachian Coalfields.

Dan Bowling, member Virginia House of Delegates, attended the Knoxville hearing
and testified as a neighboring state elected official, about Virginia’s coal industry.
“Virginia’s coalfields are in the southwestern part of the Commonwealth where I live,
and where I represent the people in the 3rd District,” Bowling said. Virginia is the 11th
largest coal-producing state in the country producing 24.5 million tons in 2008.
Bowling stated,“There is much talk about surface mining and what it does to the land
and water.

Surface mining is a sophisticated mining technique that is the safest way and many
times the only want to mine coal near the surface while improving productivity and
protecting the environment. Surface mining operations alone provide enough energy to
power more than 25 million American homes. In Virginia surface mining techniques
yield almost a third of the state’s coal. Before mining begins, companies must submit –
and both the government and the landowner must approve a comprehensive land restoration and reclamation plan. Some are reforested, others commercially developed
to improve the quality of life for the area residents.

Bowling concluded,“when Congress passed the Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act in 1977, it was their clear intent to balance environmental protection
with the energy needs of the nation and do so in a way that embraces both
requirements. These unprecedented actions have challenged this Congressional
mandate; placing the clear intent of Congress in peril. Therefore, the Army Corps of
Engineers should keep the currently authorized NWP 21 in place or consider these
alternatives instead of the proposed actions. In the mean time, each District Engineer
should continue to use his or her authority whenever a proposed project requires an
extra measure of review.”

The Coal Council’s position is the Corps has provided no scientific or environmental
justification for eliminating the use of NWP 21. The Corps has not provided any
evidence of environmental damage or other public interest reason for letting the NWP
21 permits in KY-WV-KY-PA-OH-VA (these six states), be modified and suspended;
therefore, it appears the decision is driven by politics and not based on any tangible
concern with environmental protection. The proposal to end NWP 21 is just one more
roadblock or barrier the federal government is putting in the path of coal mining in
Appalachia.

link to document:

http://www.coalleader.com/NEWS_RELEASE_DAN_BO...