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Winds of Change Newsletter, September 2007 See sidebar for table of contents
Every Action Counts! Residents Letters Result in Mining Site Inspection
OVEC, alerted by Coal River Mountain Watch, sent a
written request to the WV Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) for
a citizens inspection of Wind River Resources "reclamation" at their
mining site, in response to a bond release application by the company.
Additionally, Maria Gunnoe, OVECs community outreach
organizer in Boone County, encouraged other citizens in her area to
write letters, too.
This simple action paid off. OVEC received a letter
from DEP informing us that before the final bond release could occur,
Wind River Resources had to check with the landowner (Penn Virginia) to
see whether or not Penn Virginia approved of leaving in place ponds and
sediment ditches.
Penn Virginia did, in fact, want these structures
removed. DEP said that the earliest anticipated date for achieving Phase
III release will now be in the last half of 2009.
At that time, OVEC, Coal River Mountain Watch and
other interested parties can again request an inspection of the site to
make sure that the "reclamation" is not deficient in any way.
Never doubt the power of taking even what seems like
a small action.
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