On Tuesday, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency approved a rule change that allows mining activities within 100 feet of streams. Environmental groups fear that could make it harder for the incoming Obama Administration to rein in mountaintop removal mining.
The group Coal River Mountain Watch in West Virginia saw the rule change as a big setback. But they believe they have the public on their side. A recent survey shows 70% of Americans are opposed to mountaintop removal mining. Coal River Mountain Watch is trying to change more minds by inviting outside groups to see the effects of mining up-close.
Almost an hour from the busy streets of Beckley, you’ll find the small town of Whitesville. The Boone County coal mining town has less than 600 people. The downtown is sleepy and there are no malls and no tourist attractions for miles, but still, the town is greeting more tourists every month.
Call them environmental tourists, of a sort. They’re here to see, firsthand, the effects of mountaintop removal.
They’re coming to the headquarters of Coal River Mountain Watch, a grassroots environmental group. Their building, perched in the middle of town, boldly displays their logo that resembles an eye with mountain reflections. Inside, a meeting starts with an introduction of the leaders.
Judy Bonds is the public coordinator for Coal River Mountain Watch. She’s become well-known in the environmental community, winning the North American Goldman Prize in 2003.
"I just feel compelled to tell you guys, this is the truth," she explained. "We’ve been poisoning you. As adults we have to accept that fact and we need to help you guys change."
Bonds and Coal River Mountain Watch have been trying to stop mountaintop removal for more than 10 years.
The group is known for its thunderous protests. But they also use a quiet and somewhat undetected tactic.
Bonds continues with her speech by saying, "I’m so glad that you all are here and I hope to make each and every one of you activists cause that’s what we need."
They host about 3 groups a month. The idea is to get the attention of the nation by letting them see the evidence of mountaintop removal up close. This time, it was several groups of Christians from across the nation to take what you might call an environmental cultural tour.
Peter Illyn is the executive director of Restoring Eden: Christians for Environmental Stewardship. His group traveled from Oregon.
"We wanted the younger Christians to understand the effects of electricity," he said. "What’s the real cost of electricity? Not only in their own communities...when coal is burned but also what’s the real cost where coal is extracted."
Katy Slininger is from New Jersey. She says her time in the mountains made her realize that it’s not just the environment at risk. People are being harmed, too.
"There are human beings suffering from this," she said. "We need to take responsibility we use the energy that comes from here so we’re responsible in some manner."
Rebekah Epling grew up in Ripley WV. She’s a member of a group called Christians for the Mountains. Her dad was a Boone County coal miner. She says she's concerned about the health of her fellow mountaineers.
"Everybody talks about this Appalachian genocide," she said. "People don’t want to talk about it which it is very important that just the culture is disappearing."
But in an area where Wal-Mart is the largest employer, coal miners are afraid of losing their good-paying jobs. They admit there are no easy answers. Epling said, "Very complex issue. A lot of people think it’s black and white."
Members of Coal River Mountain Watch are working on a project that they believe could be the solution. They are hoping to stop Massey Energy from surface mining more than 6,000 acres of Coal River Mountain. They have proposed a wind farm instead.
Their research indicates the farm would create close to 50 sustainable jobs while preserving the mountain. They blame coal mining for the boom and bust economy where after the mines are gone, so are the jobs.
But the group continues to encounter challenges, like the recent go-ahead given by the state Department of Environmental Protection to approve the mining permit.
That’s why Coal River Mountain Watch hosts these outside groups. They want them to take the message back to their hometown, and create pressure to ban mountaintop removal.
"We want to educate people on our campus," Katy Slininger said. "Because most people on our campus have never heard of mountaintop removal or know anything about Appalachian culture."
Peter Illyn plans to tell about his experience back in Oregon. "I think the country as a whole needs to help West Virginia transition into sustainable to renewable economies," he said. "If that means subsiding the shift I don’t think the economic get s to trump all the other arguments."
He also hopes the folks back in Oregon will understand what environmentalists call the true cost of electricity and try to use less.
Judy Bonds believes, "It’s about human rights. It’s about doing the right thing and if you want energy and a future it’s time to switch and the time to switch is now. So let’s go get them guys," she says.
Coal River Mountain Watch has asked Gov. Joe Manchin to support their wind project – with no results so far.