This news story originally provided by WV Metro News

August 25, 2005

Buffer Zone Rule Change Opposed

Staff
Charleston

Members of the environmental group Friends of the Mountain say the federal government has been much too friendly with the Coal industry.

It’s because of that close relationship, they claim, that the US Office of Surface Mining has proposed easing the federal buffer zone around streams where strip mining is conducted.

The rule currently in place says that mining cannot disturb land within 100 feet of a stream. The only exception to that is if the coal company can show its mining will not affect water quality and quantity.

Under the proposed change, there would be no minimum distance. Coal operators would be required, to the extent possible, to minimize damage to fish, streams and wildlife using the best available technology.

On Wednesday night, the OSM held a scoping meeting on the environmental impact study of the proposed rule change. Several members from Friends of the Mountain, including some who live near Mountaintop Removal sites, attended the meeting.

Maria Gunoe resides in Bob White, Boone County. "The rule change is more than about industry. It’s about the people that live in the mining communities. It’s just insane that their getting by with what they've gotten by with so far. If they would just enforce the existing laws, than we wouldn’t have the [environmental] problems that we're having."

Chris Hamilton, the Executive Vice President of the WV Coal Association, says his group favors the change. "We think what it really does is clarify a longstanding interpretation and enforcement policy on this issue."

The OSM still has a ways to go until any rule change would take effect. Officials say this is still an early stage in a long process.