Action On Mountaintop Removal

Here's a couple of quick updates and actions on the continuing fight to stop the destruction and havoc wreaked by mountaintop removal mining.

Nationwide Permit 21 (NWP-21) has been used for years as a way for coal companies to streamline the MTR permitting process, to get quick go-aheads on their projects by bypassing public comment or environmental impact reviews. The Army Corps of Engineers is planning to put a halt to NWP-21 to modify it and make it tougher to get quick ok's. The Corps has held hearings recently, but King Coal has done his best to disrupt and stifle comment at these hearings by those opposed to MTR. You can still make your voice heard -- Public comment is being taken until Monday October 26. That's three days from now.

The Clean Water Protection Act (HR1310) is moving through the House as we speak. This act would protect countless miles of mountain streams from being choked by mining waste. Members of Congress and the administration need to know you support this bill and want it on the President's desk to be signed by next summer. You can find out how to take action on HR1310 and NWP-21, and much more, at iLoveMountains.org.

Last, but not least, President Obama nominated Joseph Pizarchik, a state regulator from Pennsylvania, to head up the federal Office of Surface Mining. Pizarchik is known to be great friends with King Coal, and has an ugly environmental record in his home state. Horrible choice. But, from a Friends of the Earth email:

"Fortunately, while it initially looked like Pizarchik's nomination might sail through the Senate, grassroots groups' opposition is being heard. Some senators, including Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), submitted statements of opposition when the nomination was considered by a Senate committee. And late last week we received word that an anonymous senator has placed a procedural "hold" on his nomination, allowing us more time to make our case. Please support community activists in Appalachia and add to this momentum by sending your senators a message today."

You can read more in this FOE news release about Pizarchik, and you can use this form to tell your Senators to oppose his nomination.

Mountaintop removal won't grind to an immediate halt from any of this, but we can slow down the mass destruction until we can get it stopped. Let's roll up our sleeves and get at it.

Update 10/24: Action alert from iLoveMountains -- blasting has begun on Coal River Mountain, one of the most hotly contested sites in WV.