One of Appalachia's biggest coal companies is getting out of the mountaintop removal business. Patriot Coal signed an agreement with the Sierra Club, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, and West Virginia Highlands Conservancy on November 15 to immediately phase out its practice of large-scale surface mining in Appalachia.
For Appalachians suffering from the effects of mountaintop removal mining -- increased risk of heart disease and birth defects, water and air pollution, and the destruction of 500 area mountains -- this is an historic moment.
While this is great news, there's still work to be done. Other coal companies are moving forward with plans to blow off the tops of mountains and bury streams in dozens of locations across Appalachia.
Tell the EPA to make protecting Appalachia from destructive coal mining a top priority in the next Obama administration!
https://secure.sierraclub.org/site/Advocacycmd=display&page=UserAction&id=9851
| posted by: Somebody @ 10:43am |
