Judy Bonds, undated/Jo Syz Photography, “Coal River Mountain Portraits,” josyz.com
The EPA announced last week that it’s revoking a permit the Bush Administration gave Arch Coal to start yet another mountaintop-removal (MTR) mining operation in West Virginia on grounds that the operation, called Spruce Mine, would cause too much destruction to the region’s water, air, environment, wildlife — you name it.
Arch Coal MTR operation in progress at left; Pigeonroost Hollow, long green crease at right, will be spared by EPA decision, Logan County WVa, April, 28, 2010/Vivian Stockman, flyover courtesy of SouthWings, OHVEC, ohvec.org
The coal industry and its supporters aren’t happy with the EPA’s decision.
Jim Bunn, chair of WVa Coal Association, addresses pro-coal audience before EPA hearing on Spruce Mine permit, Charleston Civic Center, Charleston, WVa, May 18, 2010/Chip Ellis, The Charleston Gazette, wvgazette,com
FACES of Coal rally, before EPA hearing on Spruce Mine permit, Charleston, WVa, May 18, 2010/Chip Ellis, The Charleston Gazette, wvgazette.com
Pro-coal audience applauds speaker during EPA hearing on Spruce Mine permit, Charleston Civic Center, Charleston, WVa, May 18, 2010/Chip Ellis, The Charleston Gazette, wvgazette.com
Coal miners & friends rally to support Spruce Mine permit, Washington, DC, Sept 15, 2010/AP, The Charleston Gazette, wvgazette.com
But environmentalists and anti-MTR mining activists are pleased.
March & rally against MTR mining, Washington DC, Sept 27, 2010/ Break-A-Leg Photography, “Appalachia Rising,” flickr.com
March & rally against MTR mining, Washington DC, Sept 27, 2010/Friends of the Earth, appalachiarising.org
NASA climate scientist & activist James Hansen addresses crowd at anti-MTR mining rally, Washington DC, Sept 27, 2010/ Break-A-Leg Photography, “Appalachia Rising,” flickr.com
March & demonstration against MTR mining, Washington DC, Sept 27, 2010/Rana Xavier, “Appalachia Rising 9.27.10,” flickr.com
Activists dump coal waste at EPA headquarters, Washington, DC, Sept 13, 2010/Yassine El Mansouri, Rainforest Action Network, flickr.com
“We breathe a huge sigh of relief today,” Janet Keating, president of the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OHVEC) told The New York Times. “The science completely validates what we have been saying for more than a decade….”
Gini's Nature News 