Press Release

August 11, 2010

Contact: Janet Keating, 304-360-4201; Maria Gunnoe, 304-245-8481

WV Environmental Group Challenges US Senate Seat Contenders
to Over Flight of Mountaintop Removal Sites

HUNTINGTON, W.VA. The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC) is challenging all candidates vying for the U.S. Senate seat vacated at Senator Byrds death to take a fly-over of mountaintop removal in West Virginia before the August 28 primary.

We want to offer this birds eye view to all candidates as they mull over their stance on mountaintop removal strip mining. It is difficult for anyone to have clarity regarding the impacts that this brutal mining technique has on the land and the people unless one sees the massive scale and scope from above, said Janet Keating, OVECs executive director. Mountaintop removal is a national disgrace. Anyone who aspires to replace Senator Robert C. Byrd owes at least this much to the citizens who suffer on a day-to-day basis, Keating said.

U.S. Senate candidates interested in taking a free fly-over to see mountaintop removal impacts in West Virginia should contact OVEC, based in Huntington, W. Va. at 304-245-8481 or 304-522-0246 on or before August 16.

SouthWings, based in North Carolina, will provide flyovers for the candidates. Maria Gunnoe, OVECs community outreach organizer and winner of the 2009 Goldman Environmental Prize, serves on the board of directors of SouthWings (www.southwings.org), a conservation and public benefit aviation non-profit that provides skilled pilots and aerial education to enhance conservation.

Keating noted that for Senator Byrd understood the spiritual significance of mountains. In early March 2010, his weekly commentary extolled the kind and generous nature of the people of West Virginia as well as the beauty and serenity of our mountains.

The commentary made reference to numerous scriptures that referred to the significance of mountains in Christian teachings. Byrd said, Contemplating the use of mountains and hillsides as symbols in Holy Scripture underscores what a special gift our mountains are for the people of West Virginia. Majestic, inspiring, and, at times, intimidating, our mountains remind us of the glory of the view after the challenge of the climb. Perhaps that is why West Virginians retain a stalwart and independent character, always inspired by possibilities and undaunted by difficulties. (http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2010/03/05/sen-robert-c-byrd-majestic-mountains-are-gods-gift-to-west-virginia/)

In December 2009, Senator Byrd issued a statement reminding the coal industry that change has been a part of its history and that it needed to prepare for change again. He said, The increased use of mountaintop removal mining means that fewer miners are needed to meet company production goals. Meanwhile the Central Appalachian coal seams that remain to be mined are becoming thinner and more costly to mine. Mountaintop removal mining, a declining national demand for energy, rising mining costs and erratic spot market prices all add up to fewer jobs in the coal fields. These are real problems. They affect real people. And West Virginias elected officials are rightly concerned about jobs and the economic impact on local communities.  I share those concerns.  But the time has come to have an open and honest dialogue about coals future in West Virginia. (http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2009/12/03/sen-byrd-coal-must-embrace-the-future/)

We think a flyover will help the candidates understand the scope of mountaintop removal and will foster that honest dialogue Senator Byrd was calling for, Keating said.

Mountaintop removal mining entails removing all the trees and vegetation, blasting from 800 to 1,000 feet off the tops of mountains with explosives and disposing of millions of tons of rock and debris into adjacent headwater streams. At least 500 mountains and more than 2,000 miles of streams have been destroyed or impacted by mountaintop removal strip mining. To learn more: www.ohvec.org