The Coal Sludge Is About to Hit the Fan

By scott parkin

We have heard from coalfield residents that Massey Energy has
resumed operations on Coal River Mountain in West Virginia, and
that blasting is imminent. The blasting will take place only a
few hundred feet away from the Brushy Fork impoundment dam,
which holds over 9 billion gallons of toxic coal sludge above
Marsh Fork Elementary school Pettus, WV directly across the street from state police offices which house a Head Start facility. If the dam bursts, it is estimated that almost 1000 people who live, work and go to school in the Coal River Valley would lose their lives.

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We need you to take a stand with the residents of the Coal River
Valley. Please call Governor Manchin’s office and ask him to
repeal the permits on Coal River Mountain.

On Monday, seven youth, ages 18-22, were arrested in West
Virginia Governor Joe Manchin’s offices
after demanding that he
take action to save Coal River Mountain. The youth, affiliated
with anti-mountaintop removal groups Mountain Justice and
Climate Ground Zero, were supporting Coal River Valley residents
who also delivered a letter to Governor Manchin requesting that
he repeal the permits issued to Massey Energy for mining on Coal
River Mountain.

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Studies have shown that, if left intact, the ridges on Coal
River Mountain have the highest and most productive potential
for wind power generation. Research by the Coal River Wind
Project
has shown that a wind farm on top of the mountain could
generate approximately 1.2% of West Virginia’s total energy
needs and create at least 300 jobs in the area, while also
generating long-term tax revenues. Every day that blasting
occurs the clean energy potential of Coal River Mountain is
obliterated.

We need you to join us in standing with the residents of the
Coal River Valley, and to help ensure that our clean energy
future is not lost one mountain at a time.

Please call Governor Joe Manchin’s office and ask him to repeal the permits on Coal River Mountain.