Press Release

February 18, 2005

Contact: Coal River Mountain Watch, 304-854-2182; Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, 304-522-0246

Citizens decry Gov. Manchin efforts to promote coal as vital to homeland security; Beleaguered coalfield residents say mountaintop removal destroying their homeland

WHITESVILLE, W.VA. — Coalfield residents and other mountaintop removal opponents reacted with anger and disbelief upon hearing that the new West Virginia governor intends to promote coal as important for homeland security at the National Governors Association meeting, which runs Feb. 26 to March 1.

Speaking before the West Virginia Coal Association Thursday (Feb. 17), Governor Joe Manchin said he and several other governors from coal-producing states would present a resolution calling for more domestic coal mining in order to cut reliance on oil imported from the Middle East. Manchin, the association’s keynote speaker, called coal the energy of the future, said he wanted to streamline the permitting process and stated that coal was important for homeland security.

“We made a mistake by electing Manchin. His agenda is clear. His interest lies with the coal companies and not with the citizens of this state,” said Sarah Haltom, of Beaver, W. Va. “If we the people allow the Governor to get away with this, we will in effect enable him to hide the atrocities that have been and continue to be committed against American citizens living in the coalfields of Appalachia.”

Governor Manchin has at least partial ownership in Enersystems, which according to the Washington Post, has brokered coal and has conducted other business involving natural resources. In his bid to be the state’s CEO, as the governor refers to himself, Manchin received $212,420 in campaign contributions from mining interests, according to the Institute on Money in State Politics.

“What this country needs is a serious effort to increase energy efficiency and conservation, and develop renewable energy. Coal is NOT our future,” said Sarah’s husband, Vernon Haltom. “Our homeland will be less secure as Manchin grants more licenses to kill us and devastate our homes and communities.”

Since 2001, at least 15 people have died in floods in the southern coalfields, where mountaintop removal is the predominant form of coal mining. Several government studies indicate that mountaintop removal coal mining exacerbates flooding. In 2001 alone, flood clean-up and recovery costs totaled over $700 million.

”It is a sad day when the destruction of communities and homes can be justified by the term ‘homeland security.’ The mountains of Appalachia are our homeland. The Governor should prove he is not a lackey for the coal industry and make sure our homes are secure by abolishing mountaintop removal coal mining,” said Dorothy resident Bill Price, Sierra Club’s Environmental Justice Resource Coordinator for Central Appalachia.

“It’s at best absurd and at worst dangerous that Manchin would link increased use of coal with homeland security. Coal companies that practice mountaintop removal are terrorizing coalfield residents,” said Vivian Stockman, project coordinator for the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition.

“There is no homeland security in destroying ecosystems which support our lives and culture. There is no homeland security when millions of tons of explosives are unleashed upon the Appalachian Mountains each day. There is no homeland security when your home is destroyed by floods raging off denuded mountains, when your community is driven away by blasting, when your well water is blasted dry, when valley fills bury streams and sludge impoundments poison groundwater. In addition, our over-reliance on the use of coal is greatly affecting the climate. Even the Pentagon admits that global warming is a worse threat than terrorism,” Stockman said.

“As a coalfield resident, I don't feel very secure knowing that every mountaintop removal permit issued means another stream polluted with toxic chemicals, as well as our mountain heritage and culture being destroyed,” said Coal River Mountain Watch’s Patty Sebok.

“Mountaineers have always taken part of our living from these mountains. Destroying the mountains, as well as wildlife, means destroying us,” Sebok added. “And as the wife of an underground coalminer, I have to say that every mountaintop removal permit takes away jobs from underground miners. It is really sad that Manchin appears poised to join our two previous governors in turning a blind eye to the destruction caused by mountaintop removal.”

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