|
| FOR THE SAKE OF THE KIDS
West Virginia Residents Confront Massey Energy
Sundial, West Virginia
May 24, 2005
While Massey Energy stockholders met at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in
New York City, parents, grandparents, and other residents of Coal River
Valley, West Virginia rallied to oppose Massey's operations adjacent to
Marsh Fork Elementary School. Massey owns Goals Coal Company, which
operates a coal preparation plant, loading silo, and toxic waste
storage facility beside the K-5 th grade school. 25 residents of the
Coal River Valley and 25 supporters from other regions currently being
mined participated in the rally. After an opening prayer, speakers
described the hazards of the operations and read a list of demands for
Massey. Two grandmothers and a third resident of the valley attempted
to deliver a list of demands. The residents demanded that the coal
preparation plant behind Marsh Fork Elementary School be shut down,
that Marsh Fork Elementary School be cleaned up or that a safe, new
school be built in their community, that Massey withdraw its
application for the second coal loading silo behind the school, that
Massey stop blasting their homes because residents have a right to be
safe and secure, and that Massey shut down its surface mine sites. The
residents were met by the plant's head of security who refused to allow
them to present their demands. When the residents again attempted to
present their demands, they were arrested in a moving and dramatic act
of civil conscience.
"Seems to me that every government official in this country has a
responsibility to protect American citizens everywhere. In fact,
they've sworn to it. Yet, we, the citizens of Coal River Valley, have
been abandoned to fend for our children," said Bo Webb, one of the
residents who was arrested. "I commend the West Virginia State Police
Department for being courteous and calm and treating us with the utmost
respect, which is something that no politician or coal company has ever
done for the residents of Coal River Valley."
"Our communities and children have been the sacrificial lambs long
enough to the coal companies. It's time for us as the parents,
grandparents and the community to change that," said Debbie Jarrells,
whose granddaughter attends Marsh Fork Elementary. Ms. Jarrells was
among the residents who attempted to deliver the demands to Massey, but
was not arrested.
"I have to commend the residents of Coal River. I'm very proud of them
for standing up to Massey Coal. We embrace and we welcome all our
brothers and sisters all over America in this fight to stop the rape of
Appalachia. I think this is a perfect way to announce that we are
Mountain Justice Summer. I think that it's a crime that the people of
Appalachia have to beg the government to protect them from violent coal
companies like Massey Energy," said Judy Bonds, the 2003 Winner of the
Goldman Prize and a grandmother and resident of the Coal River Valley.
Ms. Bonds was also arrested.
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is
considering Massey's application to construct a second loading silo
next to the first, which sits 150 feet from school grounds. The DEP is
holding a hearing Thursday, May 26, at 6:00 p.m. at the school in
Sundial. At the hearing, residents can voice their concerns over the
silo and also over the renewal of Massey's permit to operate the waste
facility, a 2.8 billion-gallon earthen dam whose base is 400 yards from
school grounds. In spite of residents' protests, in 2004 the DEP
approved Massey's permit to operate a 1,849 acre mountaintop removal
site around the waste facility above the school.
"We've appealed to every government agency and elected representative
we can think of," said Bo Webb of Coal River Valley, who was arrested.
"They all pass the buck or just ignore us. No one seems to care about
these kids. No child in America, or anywhere for that matter, should be
forced to attend a school surrounded by these monstrosities."
"Anyone who thinks Massey is doing the right thing with energy needs to
take a good look at this sludge dam and prep plant, " said Patty Sebok
of Coal River Valley. "Massey Energy's disregard for Appalachian people
is what is truly extreme. Just look at this silo, right next to the
school. Decent people do not allow this kind of atrocity."
Jackie Browning, a Coal River Valley resident who participated in
building the sludge dam, said, "This dam is not compacted correctly.
It's not as strong as it should be and poses a threat to these kids."
Recent inspection reports from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health
Administration show seepage from widespread areas of the toe area and
from the downstream foundation area.
Ed Wiley, a Coal River Valley resident whose granddaughter attends
Marsh Fork Elementary, said, "What Massey Energy is doing to these
children and this community is nothing short of terrorism. The kids
live in fear, but we shouldn't let Massey drive us out of our homeland.
We should have the same rights as any other American citizen."
"We don't just have a right to be here; we have a duty to these kids to
be here. Everyone who cares about our children should be here with us,"
added Webb.
Debbie Jarrells, a Coal River resident whose granddaughter attends
Marsh Fork Elementary, said, "This coal company and this state are
using our children as sacrificial lambs. We're here to take their
place. All parents need to stand up for their children."
|
