OVEC Action Alert - August 25, 2003

Action Tomorrow Morning in Charleston!-Tuesday Aug. 26, 2003 at 10 a.m.

BRING BACK MATT!

Please, if you can, meet members of Coal River Mountain Watch, OVEC, Sierra Club and other groups at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday) at the DEP office at 1356 Hansford St. Charleston, WV.

We'll ask DEP chief Stephanie Timmermeyer to reinstate DEP's Mining and Reclamation Director Matt Crum. Crum actually listened to coalfield residents and had made some changes that were beginning to help rein in some of coal's abuses. Timmermeyer fired Crum on Thursday, while saying she had no specific complaints about him or the way he did his work. We'll demand to know the truth about why Crum was fired.

Crum had 3 key policy changes he was working on--regulations to improve reclaimed mining sites' ability to grow hardwood forests, developing a better policy for handling mine permits at sites that are likely to develop acid mine drainage and finding ways to minimize valley fill sizes.

Prenter residents Patty Sebok says: We feel we had NO INPUT, NO EXPLANATION and this affects our lives directly. Timmermeyer has said, "I'm actually going to be involved in managing the division myself with the assistance of Joe Parker."

Directions: From Washington St. (headed towards downtown), turn right onto Ruffner Ave. Go over the railroad tracks, turn left onto Hansford St. Look for Kyle Furniture store. The DEP office is next to that and there's a parking lot across the street.

Info on Matt's firing: www.wvgazette.com/section/News/2003082222 

www.dailymail.com/news/News/2003082323/

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