Media Advisory

May 30, 2005

Contacts: Bo Webb (304) 854-2182; Vernon Haltom (304) 854-2182; Vivian Stockman (304) 360-1979

WHEN:  Assemble at 12:30 for Rally at 1:00, Tuesday May 31, 2005 

WHO / WHAT: Once again, parents and other concerned citizens of Coal River Valley, West Virginia, with support from Mountain Justice Summer participants from throughout Appalachia, will rally to oppose Massey Energy’s coal operations adjacent to Marsh Fork Elementary School. 

WHERE: Outside Marsh Fork Elementary School, Sundial, WV (Coming from Charleston, it’s about 10 miles past Whitesville on Rt. 3, about a one hour drive from Charleston.) Coming from Beckley, it’s about 20 minutes past Glen Daniel on Rt. 3.

WHY:  Massey owns Goals Coal Company, which operates a coal preparation plant, loading silo, and coal sludge impoundment—essentially a toxic waste storage facility—pointed directly at the K-5th grade school. There is also a 1,849-acre strip and mountaintop removal site directly above the sludge dam. The residents will gather at the school at 1:00 p.m. and then march to the plant entrance.  The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is considering Massey’s application to construct a second loading silo next to the first, which sits 150 feet from the school grounds. 

 At a rally at the same site on Tuesday, May 24, two Coal River Valley residents were arrested when they refused to leave Massey premises.  They had a list of demands to present to the plant superintendent, but were refused admittance. 

The DEP held a public hearing Thursday, May 26, at 6:00 p.m. at the school in Sundial.  At the hearing, the DEP allowed the residents, many of whom were elderly and in poor health, only two minutes each to voice their concerns over the silo and also over the renewal of Massey’s permit to operate the waste facility, a 2.8 billion-gallon earthen dam whose base is 400 yards from school grounds.  Several Mountain Justice Summer participants also spoke at the hearing.  Despite residents’ earlier protests, in 2004 the DEP approved Massey’s permit to operate a 1,849-acre mountaintop removal site around the waste facility above the school.

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