Grievances and Demands to DEP

(Thanks in large part to Coal River Mountain Watch volunteer Bo Webb.)

Coalfield residents, members of Coal River Mountain Watch and the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition gather today, Feb. 10, as part of a multi-state, multi-group day of action against mountaintop removal coal mining.

We decry the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s increased permitting for mountaintop removal mines and we demand real input in the mountaintop removal permitting process. A list of citizen grievances and demands:

We are disenfranchised by DEP, left out of the permitting process.

We decry the DEP Secretary’s promise to legislators that she will increase and speed up the processing of mountaintop removal permits.

• We demand that DEP not just rubber stamp mountaintop removal permits.
• We demand that impacts on human health and human rights be considered before mountaintop removal permits are issued.
• We note that DEP is not promoting a healthy environment in the coalfields.
• We note that DEP has a duty to protect all citizens of West Virginia, including mountain people living in the coalfields.
• We note that TMDLs target reduction at inactive or abandoned mine sites and do not significantly reduce discharges from active mine sites. Why?
• We question whether DEP’s Notices of Violations to mining operations are being followed through on and collected without negotiated deductions.
• We deplore the fact coalfield communities cannot rely on the so-called Department of Environmental Protection to protect our environment. We do not have the same protection as other Americans. We are forced to defend our homes ourselves.