This news story originally provided by The Daily Mail

August 23, 2005

Environmentalists criticize meeting on mine proposal

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Some environmental activists are concerned that their opposition to changes in a federal mining regulation are not being seriously considered by the U.S. Department of the Interior as it seeks input in a series of public meetings.

An existing federal rule that requires a 100-foot buffer zone around streams in areas where strip mining is conducted should remain in place or be expanded, several attendees said Monday in Knoxville during the first of four meetings planned this week in Eastern coal-mining areas.

The U.S. Office of Surface Mining proposed easing the federal buffer zone rule in January 2004, saying current policy is impossible to comply with during mountaintop removal mining.

The current rule says mining cannot disturb land within 100 feet of a stream unless a company can prove it will not affect the water's quality and quantity. The proposed change would require coal operators to minimize only "to the extent possible'' any damage to streams, fish and wildlife by "using the best technology currently available.''

The meetings seek comment on how officials should conduct the environmental impact statement for the proposed change, according to OSM officials.

But about 50 people who attended the meeting complained about its format, saying that holding informal group discussions was a way of suppressing their opposition to the rule change.

"We understand that there will be no official transcript from this meeting and instead of people having the chance to give public comments, people will be divided into small groups to talk to each other about the stream buffer zone,'' Ann League, a board member of Save Our Cumberland Mountains, said in a written statement. "We want to be able to stand up and make comments to (officials), not sit around and chit-chat with each other.''

Federal officials said Monday's session was not technically a public hearing.

"This is a meeting, it's not a hearing,'' said David Hartos, a physical scientist for the OSM. "We invited folks to come in and tell us what their issues are. ... We want to interact. We're here to improve. We're not trying to suppress any speech or anything like that.''

But activists weren't convinced.

Chris Irwin, a University of Tennessee law student and one of the organizers of Mountain Justice Summer, criticized the format as "hopelessly complex, designed to make it harder for people.'' Axel Ringe called the meeting format another example of the Bush administration's dismissal of environmental concerns.

Hartos told attendees that their concerns would be seriously considered. "I can assure you it does not go into a black hole,'' he said.

The next three meetings are scheduled for Tuesday in Hazard, Ky., Wednesday in Charleston, W.Va., and Thursday in Pittsburgh.