Manchin Promises Review of Coal Critics' Complaints
Charleston Gazette
25 January 2010
By Ken Ward Jr., Staff writer
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Joe Manchin on Monday promised to review
citizen complaints about lax enforcement of strip-mining regulations
and urged the coal industry and its critics to discuss their
differences without resorting to violence and intimidation.
"What we're looking for is trying to find a balance," Manchin said
after a private meeting with coalfield residents, environmentalists and
several academics who have studied coal's negative impacts. "You would
like to think there's got to be some common ground."
Manchin met with coal's critics about two months after a similar
private summit with West Virginia's major coal executives and coalfield
elected officials.
"It's just the right time to talk with each other, instead of talking
at each other," said Raleigh County resident Bo Webb, an activist who
organized the meeting.
Webb, Manchin and other citizens -- including well-known activists Judy
Bonds and Maria Gunnoe -- met for several hours, then appeared together
at a news conference.
Reps. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., both
attended. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., attended the coal executive
meeting but did not show up for the meeting with coalfield residents.
Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., sent staffers to both meetings.
Citizens were not allowed to attend Manchin's meeting with coal
executives, but several coal lobbyists took part in Monday's meeting
with citizens. News media were prohibited from attending both sessions.
United Mine Workers officials attended both sessions.
Webb said the governor had agreed to review citizen concerns about
enforcement by the state Department of Environmental Protection, and
Manchin said he certainly knows environmental groups are not happy with
the DEP.
"There were a lot of questions concerning DEP and the frustrations we
heard loud and clear," Manchin said. "We want to make sure enforcement
is being done in an expedient and prudent manner."
Manchin said later that his interpretation is that the citizens are
opposed to mountaintop removal "as we know it," adding that he told the
citizens, "I wasn't at that conclusion, nor do I believe that."
"We had a respectful agreement to disagree," Manchin said.
Manchin started the news conference by responding to citizen concerns
that coal industry workers have threatened and intimidated them,
especially at a federal Corps of Engineers public hearing where all
mining opponents were shouted down when they tried to testify.
"We will not in any way, shape or form in this state of West Virginia
tolerate any violence against anyone on any side," Manchin said. "If
you're going to have the dialogue, have respect for each other."
Singer and West Virginia native Kathy Mattea, who attended Monday's
meeting, praised Manchin for taking a strong stand against violence and
in favor of reasonable discussions about coal issues.
"I want this conversation to take place in an atmosphere of safety,"
Mattea said. "I've watched some people hear each other in the last 24
hours, and that's a beautiful thing. It gives me a lot of hope and it
makes me very proud."
Webb said he and other citizens who are campaigning to stop mountaintop
removal wanted to make it clear that they are "not opposed to coal."
"We are adamantly opposed to mountaintop removal, steel-slope strip
mining," Webb said. "We must not be so complacent that we allow the
destruction of our mountains and the extermination of our communities."
Manchin said later that his interpretation is that the citizens are
opposed to mountaintop removal "as we know it," adding that he told the
citizens, "I wasn't at that conclusion, nor do I believe that."
"We had a respectful agreement to disagree," Manchin said.
Manchin started the news conference by responding to citizen concerns
that coal industry workers have threatened and intimidated them,
especially at a federal Corps of Engineers public hearing where all
mining opponents were shouted down when they tried to testify.
"We will not in any way, shape or form in this state of West Virginia
tolerate any violence against anyone on any side," Manchin said. "If
you're going to have the dialogue, have respect for each other."
Singer and West Virginia native Kathy Mattea, who attended Monday's
meeting, praised Manchin for taking a strong stand against violence and
in favor of reasonable discussions about coal issues.
"I want this conversation to take place in an atmosphere of safety,"
Mattea said. "I've watched some people hear each other in the last 24
hours, and that's a beautiful thing. It gives me a lot of hope and it
makes me very proud."
Reach Ken Ward Jr. at kw...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1702.