Just What Does DEP Stand For? It Sure Doesn't Protect Anything

	Who does she work for, anyway? Scott Straight’s poster includes a picture of DEP chief Timmermeyer speaking at a Friends of Coal meeting. This photo was featured on the DEP website’s home page. Photos by Abe Mwaura

March 9, 2005, was DEP day at the state capitol. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection set up booths under the capitol’s golden dome to showcase its work to state delegates and senators.

We knew that the DEP would not present the whole story, so we decided to come up to the state capitol and present the truth about the destruction DEP is permitting to our communities, mountains, forests, streams – and our future.

DEP Secretary Stephanie Timmermeyer, notorious for speaking at “Friends of Coal” meetings about the need to speed up coal companies’ permit applications, apparently got wind of what we were up to, so she gathered her employees and told them not to answer questions about mountaintop removal.

She was also supposed to be interviewed on Hoppy Kercheval’s radio program, which broadcasts from under the golden dome during the legislative session. She didn’t appear for her interview! Given our last run-in with her, we reckon she just didn’t want to see us. Apparently, she does not want to be held accountable for her actions.

OVEC board member Winnie Fox and West Virginia Highlands Conservancy’s Julian Martin wandered around the DEP displays at the State Capitol, offering the other side of the story.

Please note that there are many fine people working at the DEP – people who want to help protect West Virginia’s people and environment. OVEC staff and volunteers had some great conversations with DEP staff about our shared concerns. Hats off to these fine folks who have to work in a badly politicized agency!

And then there are apparently some who are concerned only with advancing and safeguarding their careers. Those are the ones who run when the people they are supposed to be working for show up.