Court Ruling Threatens Appalachia's Ecosystem!
Mountaintop removal mining destroys entire forests and threatens nearby communities with floods and poisoned drinking water. Locals have described it as "strip mining on steroids."
Sadly, on February 13 a panel of federal judges ruled against the Appalachians and said: The Clean Water Act - as written - won't protect streams in this ancient mountain range. About 100 mountaintop removal mining permits were on hold pending this case. The ruling potentially opens the floodgates for more destruction in Appalachia. These permits will destroy 432 valleys and 213 miles of streams in Kentucky and West Virginia alone!
Tell President Obama to prevent this irreversible destruction and work quickly to undo changes in Clean Water Act rules that allow industries to bury streams and other waters under their wastes by calling it "fill" material.
Dear President Obama,
As you know, parts of Appalachia are being permanently destroyed because of a destructive form of coal mining known as mountaintop removal. During your campaign, you agreed that mountaintop removal mining is tearing up the Appalachian Mountains, and your leadership on this important issue is needed now more than ever.
On February 13, 2009, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ignored science and the law when it ruled in favor of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to permit companies to conduct devastating mountaintop removal mining without minimizing stream destruction or conducting adequate environmental reviews. As a result, up to 90 new mountaintop removal permits could soon begin to blast mountaintops and permanently bury streams.
I implore you to stand strong against this destruction and quickly undo changes made to Clean Water Act rules that, for the first time since that law was passed, allow industries to bury streams and other waters with their wastes by calling it "fill" material. Last year, Congressional leaders pledged to stop mountaintop removal by introducing the Clean Water Protection Act, and I am hopeful they will continue with that important legislation. But mountaintop removal mining is an immediate and permanent threat, and we need your leadership urgently. I sincerely hope you will protect Appalachian Mountains, streams and communities from further destruction.
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