image by rjones0856

The end of March brought amazing news in the fight to stop mountain top removal that has continued to blossom right in step with spring.

On March 24th, Lisa Jackson, head of the EPA, announced a decision to halt and review two mountain top removal mining permits, which by extension suspends 100 valley fill permits that would bury hundreds of miles of streams in Appalachia. Explaining this action, President Obama said, “…I want science to help lead us. I know that the Bush administration made some decisions pretty late in the day, at the end of their administration, on this issue. We want to reexamine it.” The exciting news spread fast and furious throughout the media outlets and by the end of the day everybody seemed to be saying hosannahs.

The next day brought more good news when Senator Alexander (R-TN) and Senator Cardin (D-MD) introduced the Appalachian Restoration Act, a companion bill to the House’s Clean Water Protection Act. This act would amend the Clean Water Act to prevent the dumping of toxic mining waste from mountain top removal into streams and rivers. “It is not necessary to destroy our mountaintops in order to have coal,” announced Alexander.

After the confetti cleared, journalists and environmentalists stepped in to survey the new terrain. It was agreed that the EPA’s decision marked a change in policy from the permit green-lighting days of the Bush administration. But the stricter review would not mean the end of mountain top mining, rather a return to the oversight that had been originally intended with the Clean Water Act.

But this correction alone was enough to set off alarm bells among mountain top removal supporters. Sensing the halts as the beginning of a tidal shift that would steal their power, they went on the offensive. West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin immediately flew to Washington to discuss what he perceived as devastating economic impacts for his state. The National Mining Association warned, “This is not good for jobs or for energy security.”

To calm the alarmism, the EPA rhetorically backpedaled, but did not repeal the halts. Master of positive-spirited advocacy and Interim Executive Director of Appalachian Voices Matt Wasson used the outcry as an opportunity to logically dispute the argument that the EPA’s halts mean any real threat to jobs in Appalachia.

On March 31st, the movement received another boost when Blair Mountain in West Virginia was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This battle between the United Mine Workers of America and the federal government is considered one of the most significant events in U.S. Labor history. Though the decision was greeted with approval in the state, the following week Governor Joe Manchin moved to de-list Blair Mountain. Much consternation followed and last Friday state officials announced that they had not actually meant to ask Blair Mount to be de-listed. It’s unclear whether the listing would absolutely preclude mountain top removal from happening on Blair Mountain, but it is clear that there is concern on the part of the coal companies that such may be the case. To show your support, please go and sign the petition against strip mining on Blair Mountain.

A clearer win took place in the first week of April. A two year struggle to prevent strip mining on Ison Rock Ridge in Virginia was won when the EPA acted to revoke A&G Coal’s permit to mine on that mountain. “I’m walking on air,” said local resident Bob Mullins. “I feel like we’ve finally accomplished something. This is a great victory to start with and now it’s time to get our friends and neighbors together to continue fighting for the cause and building this movement that is truly gaining momentum.”

Last but not least, this past weekend, longtime citizen activist against mountain top removal Maria Gunnoe was named a winner of this year’s prestigious international Goldman prize for grassroots environmental activism. Says Gunnoe, “I live on my family property and refuse to give up the only memories I have of my family before me. They want me out at all cost and I refuse to go, dead or alive.” In her passion and conviction, Gunnoe has been a major force in attracting supporters to the cause and continues to inspire those who have committed their lives to this fight.

Though the powerful interests that support it remain strong, recent events show that the movement to end mountaintop removal is working. We are seeing the beginning of a shift in policy and attitude at the federal level. In order to continue the momentum, the public needs to affirm this shift by voicing our approval. You can do so by sending letters to your senators, representatives and President Obama. Together, we can end mountaintop removal.