Winds of Change Newsletter, February 2006     See sidebar for table of contents

Living With Sludge, Living With Fear

Walter’s Comments

Living near a coal waste impoundment not only depreciates the value of the property for the home owner, or puts ground water supply into question, or anxiety during heavy rain periods, thinking this may break, but it devaluates life itself. To anyone not living in the coal fields… we are giving up our environment so you may light yours. Please think of us hillbillies, when flipping your light switch.

Walter Young, Delbarton

Carol’s Comments

Having a coal waste impoundment within a quarter mile upstream is a very anxious situation, not to mention the dust and coal truck traffic every day which is a very unhealthy environment to any one. Just wonder what it is doing to our underground water supply, just to put in words, its like living in exile, it has destroyed our way of life.

Carol Young, Delbarton

Leroy’s Comments

First you wonder what the coal companies are releasing into the water. If it will make you sick or cause death before your time. If it don’t kill you, the next thing you worry about is if this thing bursts will you be alive or if everything you work for will be destroyed. You live in a “panic” from one minute to the next and if it rains for two or three days you get very anxious. I don’t think this is any way to live! Next you wonder what these coal companies are hiding.

Leroy Runyon, Delbarton

Geneva’s Comments

Fear, anxious, panicky, afraid – these are a few words I use to say how I feel about coal waste impoundments. When the TV or radio gives a flash flood warning you wonder if you are going to be alive the next minute or not. If it is going to be another Buffalo Creek or Martin County. You wonder what the coal companies are releasing from the coal impoundment in the water tables that you are drinking and why are they so secret about these coal impoundments.

Geneva Runyon, Delbarton