Manchin calls for dialogue in the coalfields

In a meeting Monday with representatives from West Virginia’s congressional delegation and coalfields residents concerned about mountaintop removal, Manchin called for an open dialogue between the coal industry and those who oppose mountaintop removal.

“We will not, in any way, shape, or form, in this state of West Virginia, tolerate any type of violence, towards any party on either side of any issue,” he said. “It cannot be tolerated. Our law enforcement won’t do it, our agencies won’t do it, we’re just not. So the first and foremost thing, if you’re going to have good dialogue, is to have respect for each other.”

The meeting was called for by environmental groups, after Manchin hosted a meeting with public officials and representatives from the coal industry in November.

At that meeting participants stressed the need to bring one united message to Washington: that they wanted answers about the coal permits being held for more review by the Environmental Protection Agency.

But those concerned about the environmental and health effects of mining and mountaintop removal weren’t represented in November’s meeting. They asked Manchin for a meeting as well, and he agreed.

Goldman Environmental Prize winner Maria Gunnoe was at the meeting. She, too, called for dialogue between regulators, the coal industry and the environmental community.

“The people in the coalfields are reaching out to you,” she said. “Don’t be a brick wall. Because we will go right back into doing what we were doing before. We’ll reach out to other people to help us if you don’t. We have to have the continued support of our government and our regulatory agencies and the coal companies in order to remain safe in our ancestral homes.”

Representatives Shelley Moore Capito and Nick Rahall were also at the meeting; Congressman Alan Mollohan and Senators Byrd and Rockefeller sent representatives.