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Photo by Danny
Allgeier: Wyoming County, WV after first snow of the season.
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Issue 7
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December 10, 2009
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Message
ECRR
would like to encourage all of our subscribers to submit stories or
information about their watershed organizations to be shared with our
readers. As active members of the same cause, effective networking
can lead to more opportunities and shared information that will benefit
everyone involved in serving, preserving, protecting, and restoring
watersheds around the region. PLEASE share your group's stories and
successes with us so that we may share them with our readership.
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Environmentalists
and Coal River Mountain residents gathered in front of the WV
Dept. of Environmental Protection's headquarters in Charleston to
protest the blasting that has begun on Coal River Mountain.
Featured
Headline:
Reporting on
Coal River Mountain Rally
Written
by Cynthia Wildfire; Photos by Danny Allgeier
Protesters
on both sides of the Coal River Mountain issue turned out in front of
the WV Department of Environmental Protection offices in Charleston
Dec. 7. The protest, organized by state environmental groups, coincided
with the start of Copenhagen talks on climate change. Around 300
community members turned out to protest blasting on Coal River
Mountain, with about 200 counter-protesters showing up, most in
reflective mining stripes. As we arrived, the police, who occupied the
middle of the parking lot, bisecting the two groups, quickly ushered
people to their respective sides. The pro-coal counter-protesters held
signs with slogans expressing anger at "treehuggers" and Rep.
Nick J. Rahall, who made a statement supportive of the EPA several weeks
ago. In addition to the pro-coal advocates shouting slogans such as
"Go back home" and "Coal! Coal!" several coal
trucks circled the block with horns blaring in an effort to drown out
the environmental speakers.
A long list of community members and activists spoke out against the
blasting taking place on Coal River Mountain, with the event headlined
by final speaker Robert Kennedy, Jr. Some speakers were very focused on
Coal River Mountain, while others veered into general opposition to
mountaintop removal mining. Within the crowd, there was some excitement
about the recent statements Senator Byrd made regarding the future of
coal in West Virginia, available here. A couple of
speakers directed comments to the WV DEP, asking them to "do their
jobs" and enforce the Clean Water Act regulations more
stringently, which could result in permits being revoked for the
Coal River Mountain mine site. About half of the speakers expressed
disappointment regarding WV DEP's management of permits and instead
advocated for the US EPA to take over in West Virginia.
Many rally speakers expressed concern that the blasting on Coal River
Mountain is taking place less than 200 feet away from the
nearly-9-billion-gallon Brushy Fork slurry impoundment. Rally
participants and local residents worry that blasting could cause
instability in the impoundment, which has been cited for structural
problems. Anger from the rally participants was largely directed at
Massey Coal, rather than at the industry as a whole, with several
retired miners speaking out about the jobs lost through de-unionization
and mechanization. Chuck Nelson, a retired miner now working with the
Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, responded to signs condemning
President Obama and the EPA: "It's not Obama giving instructions
to the EPA - it's us. They are listening to us!" Coalfield
resident and Goldman Environmental Prize winner Maria Gunnoe referenced
the pro-coal chant "Go Home" by expressing her belief that
"Anybody that's here to destroy our mountains is an
outsider." She also pointed out the dangers of water quality
destruction, both from valley fills and from a potential leak or
failure in the coal slurry impoundment, stating, "A paycheck's not
important when you don't have water for your children."
Many attendees had signs with the slogan "Save Coal River
Mountain" written across an image of a windmill, referencing
research that showed the mountain would be an excellent location for a
wind farm. Speakers suggested that a wind farm would offer sustainable
jobs and energy, in contrast to coal, which they claimed could be mined
out within the next generation. Jobs were a key phrase from both sides,
with rally speakers asking for sustainable, green jobs,
and economic diversification, and coal
advocates carrying signs noting their dependence on coal jobs.
left: Coal miners attend the rally to voice their concerns
regarding employment in West Virginia without Mountain Top Removal
mining. State troopers are on the scene to prevent a tense
situation from getting out of hand. Right: Robert Kennedy, Jr.
speaks on behalf of preserving Coal River Mountain for healthy
communities, sustainable jobs, environmental stewardship, and as a
moral imperitive.
Robert Kennedy Jr. ended the rally with a detailed speech
that covered various areas of interest, focusing on mountaintop removal
in general. He spoke in detail about the externalities of coal, both
from mining and burning it, which he said explain why a state with such
rich natural resources remains so poor. West Virginia coal provides
cheap energy, but the costs of respiratory disease, heavy metal
contaminated water, neurological effects during fetal development, and
environmental destruction are left out of the sticker price. He
repeated a conversation he had had with his father about surface mining
in Appalachia in the 1960s, quoting "They're not just destroying
the environment. They are also permanently impoverishing these
communities," an idea that he linked to Massey's anti-union
stance. He suggested that the idea of a tradeoff between the
environment and the economy is shortsighted, saying "A good
environmental policy is identical to good economic policy" and
that environmentally destructive practices like mountaintop removal
give only the "illusion of a prosperous economy." Like many
previous speakers, Kennedy spoke out against the WV political
establishment and the state DEP. Kennedy's speech, as well as the
reading of a note from Kathy Mattea, a speech by Rev. Jim Lewis, and
Judy Bonds' speech, is available on The Head On Radio
Network. Other news articles on the rally are available at
the Huffington Post, WOWK TV, Commondreams.org,
and the Charleston Gazette.
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NEWS
Mercury Contamination
Found to Have Originated from Textile Plant
A
federal study says soil contaminated more than 50 years ago by a
textile plant is the source of 96 percent of the mercury in the South
River. Link here.
'Good Samaritan" Bill and Mining Reform Bill are Not
Necessarily at Odds
Two bills introduced in Congress by Western legislators
seeking to ease liability concerns for mine cleanups and reform mining
regulations are not necessarily at odds, advocates say. Full
article here.
Casselman Wind Power Project Built on Former Coal Mine
Where coal mining once flourished, the harnessing of wind
energy has transformed a good portion of Somerset County. Full
story and accompanying video here.
Senator Byrd Makes Clear His Vision for West Virginia's
Future
"West Virginians can choose to anticipate change and
adapt to it, or resist and be overrun by it. One thing is clear.
The time has arrived for the people of the Mountain State to think long
and hard about which course they want to choose." Full
speech here.
Natural Gas Drilling Contaminates Pennsylvania Community's
Drinking Water
A string of incidents in places like Wyoming and
Pennsylvania in recent years has pointed to a possible link between
hydraulic fracturing and pollution of groundwater supplies. Full
NY Times article here.
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GRANTS
2010 RBFF National
Youth Fishing & Boating Initiative
RBFF's
National Youth Fishing & Boating Initiative is offering boating and
fishing education grants for 2010. Youth-focused boating, fishing
and conservation organizations are encouraged to apply by the January
4, 2010 deadline. The Grant Guidelines & Application, Score Sheet and
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) are available for download in the box
at the right.
Key requirements of RBFF's grant application guidelines include
introducing boating and fishing to minorities and underserved
communities. Special consideration is given to programs that:
Offer
multiple on-the-water learning opportunities
Encourage
long-term involvement of participants
Provide
training for instructors
Support
existing RBFF partnerships
For more information, click here.
Surface Water Improvement Fund Grants
STATEWIDE SWIF GRANTS: Ohio EPA is pleased to announce a
new grants program designed to improve Ohio's rivers, streams and
communities in general. Please find a Request for Proposals for the
statewide 2010 Surface Water Improvement Fund (SWIF) Grants Program
below. This is a potential funding source for projects such as stream
restoration, nonpoint source pollution management and innovative storm
water management projects.
CUYAHOGA COUNTY SPECIFIC SWIF RFP: Please find a 2010 Request
for Proposals for CUYAHOGA COUNTY ONLY Surface Water Improvement Fund
Grants below. Conditions placed on a second contribution to the SWIF
fund restrict the use of those funds to Cuyahoga County. As a result,
this separate RFP has been issued to potentially interested parties within
Cuyahoga County.
For more information, click here.
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EVENTS
The National
Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) Three-Day Public Meeting
Time:
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 28, 2010 - 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday, January 29, 2010 - 8:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Topics:
During the meeting, NEJAC members will receive comments, discuss, and
provide recommendations regarding these primary topics:
· Addressing Disproportionate Impacts of Climate Adaptation
· EPA's Plans for Addressing Air Pollution Resulting from Goods
Movement Activities in Certain Communities
· EPA's National Enforcement Priorities
Meeting
Registration:
Registration (including EPA and other federal employees) is required.
Pre-registration is highly encouraged, and the pre-registration
deadline is January 11, 2010. Meeting materials will be prepared based
on the number of pre-registered participants. On-site registration will
be available; however, meeting materials will be distributed first to
those who are pre-registered. Any remaining materials will be distributed
on a first-come basis. Register online here.
2010 National River Rally!
May 21-24th, 2010. Snowbird, UT.
The 2010 National River Rally will provide:
A series of intensive, 4-hour workshops on Friday
afternoon;
Over 70 additional workshops covering topics of interest
to staff, volunteers and board members of river conservation
organizations;
Office hours, mentoring sessions and real life, in-person
conversations with funders and exhibitors;
The River Heroes Banquet: a memorable and inspirational
night of celebrating our own leaders
Unsurpassed networking opportunities;
Field trips, music jams...and perhaps the return of the
Dutch oven Cook-off;
And many other
things we'll list once we figure out what they are.
For full description, click here.
North Central Ohio Wildlife Management Conference
The 4th Annual North Central Ohio Wildlife Management
Conference will take place on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at the
Firelands BGSU, Cedar Point Center. Hosted by the Erie and Ottawa
Soil and Water Conservation District's and the OSU Extension, this
conference will feature some of the top professionals in their
fields. If you enjoy nature and wildlife, you won't want to miss
this opportunity to see, hear, and learn about wildlife management and
conservation.
Among this year's featured presenters is freelance writer,
photographer, speaker, and editor, Chip Gross. Chip worked for
the ODNR Division of Wildlife for 27 years, first as a State Wildlife
Officer, then moving on to the position of Wildlife Education
Officer. Chip became the Editor for the ever popular Wild Ohio
and Wild Ohio for Kids magazines, garnering the prestigious James P.
Barry Award for Editorial Excellence in 2001.
West Virginia University Environmental Research
Center Forum
People are invited to West Virginia
University's Environmental Research Center (ERC) on Tuesday,
December 15, from 3:00-5:00 pm. A short formal presentation about ERC
goals and how you can become involved will start at 3:30 pm.
This event is designed to stimulate formal and informal discussion
concerning interdisciplinary research, teaching, and outreach
opportunities in all aspects of environmental studies. Anyone
interested in these topics is encouraged to attend.
Location:
Room 101AB of the NRCCE at West Virginia University, 385 Evansdale
Drive, Morgantown, WV
Please RSVP by December 11 to Amanda White at amanda.white@mail.wvu.edu.
For questions about the ERC please contact Jim Anderson, the director
of the ERC, at jim.anderson@mail.wvu.edu,
or call (304) 293-3825.
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RESOURCES
Does your organization need a more effective board? There are only a
few slots left in next week's Board JumpStart session. Register now!
Map out a path to a stronger board in this 2 hour web conference. Give
your board team proven tools and one-on-one consulting to develop a
shared picture of your board's future, solve problems, and create a
plan to raise your board's productivity. Best of all, participate right
from your office via conference call and a web connection.
December
15, 2009
1pm Eastern / 12pm Central / 11am Mountain/ 10am Pacific
Click
here for full
description.
REGISTRATION EXTENDED FOR THE EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL
WEBCAST
The Center for Watershed Protection is pleased to announce the fifth
and final offering in our 2009 webcast series. Attendees can save time,
travel expenses and, perhaps most importantly, carbon emissions, by
attending our training workshops over the Web. This webcast will focus
on Erosion and Sediment Control.
CWP'S EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL WEBCAST SERIES:
Webcast: Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Two-Hour Live Webcast
Eastern: 12:00 pm - 2:00
pm
Central: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Mountain: 10:00 am - 12:00
pm
Pacific: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Cost: $99
Registration closes 12/11/09
For full description, click here.
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Sidelines...
Atayne
Athletic Apparel Made from Recycled Trash
Atayne takes
people's trash - old garments, footwear, race numbers and plastic
bottles - and recycles them into high performance athletic and outdoor
gear. Full article here.
David Roberts of the Daily Grist Shares some Positive News
on Copenhagen
"Just for a little serotonin boost as the chaotic,
exhausting two-week process gets underway, here are a few nuggets of
positivity." Full article here.
Nanofarming: The Newest Breakthrough in Biofuel from Algae
One barrier to cost-competitive biofuel from algae is
about to fall, and we may have nanofarming to thank for that. The new
technology uses tiny nanoparticles to absorb free fatty acids from
living microalgae. Full article here.
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Watershed of the Month
ECRR would like to start a segment of Creek Clips entitled
"Watershed of the Month" where we showcase a watershed group in
the region and all the hard work they have done. Please submit to
use some information about your watershed group: projects (past, present,
and future), water issues, plans, stories, news. Please submit
information to info@easterncoal.org.
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Contact Info
Outreach Coordinator
Danny Allgeier
304-591-7005
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