Entry 1190 of 1199
By Blue Prevails On January 27, 2011 at 1:00 PM
Almost all the time, I use this space to give my opinion on issues and invite you to comment, but today is a little different. As a Southwest Virginian, I feel so strongly about the following issue that I am inviting you, if you feel similarly, to take some action. The issue is clean water for our part of the state. As background, you might want to read the following article in today's Washington Post, EPA Crackdwon on Mountaintop Coal Mining Criticized as Contradictory. According to Mike McCoy of Wise Energy for Virginia, a bill - SB 1025 is being promoted by the coal industry that would restrict water testing or water quality monitoring for pollution and would take water pollution discharge petmit and enforcement authority from the Water Control Board and give it to the Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy.

                                                  mt top removal dirty water

                                                                                                     Picture courtesy of Wise Energy for Virginia

We know that the McDonnell administration is pro big business and not friendly toward consumers including the people who live in the mountains of Virginia and depend on clean drinking water from Southwestern Virginia springs, streams, wells, and rivers. That is why the State Senate must stand in opposition to big business running roughshod over the interests of the people who live in Southwest Virginia. I do not want our state senators to vote for this bill without studying it closely and hearing the concerns of the citizens. I am asking you to call (preferably) or at least email your state senator and find out more about this bill...and, if what Wise Energy is stating is true, ask the Senator to OPPOSE SB 1025.

Reprinted below is the email I received from Wise Energy for Virginia:

     In response to the EPA's crackdown on the worst impacts of mountaintop removal, the coal industry is promoting a Virginia bill designed to prevent effective enforcement of the law. Please take the time to ask them to oppose SB 1025. They need to hear from you today!

This bill would actually restrict state officials' authority to even consider testing water for pollution or water quality monitoring to determine whether pollution from a mountaintop removal mine would cause water quality violations. And if those charged with enforcing the law aren't testing for pollution, chances are they won't find it.

As if this weren't enough, this bill would repeal the Water Control Board's authority over water pollution discharge permitting and enforcement, taking this responsibility away from the citizens on this board and giving unchecked authority to the director of the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.

Over 60 Virginia mountains and more than 150 miles of Virginia streams have been destroyed by mountaintop removal. Please click here to contact your state senator now to let them know you oppose this bill designed to let the destruction continue.

Thanks, as always, for your action.

Mike McCoy
Wise Energy for Virginnia