Last week we confirmed reports that Massey Energy has begun blasting on Coal River Mountain in southern West Virginia. Much like our own Ison Rock Ridge in Wise County, Virginia Coal River Mountain remains a key battleground in the struggle to stop mountaintop removal across Appalachia. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has stated that the mining operation on the mountain is “actively moving coal.” Workers were seen throughout this past week moving heavy equipment up to the mining zones, and blasting and plumes of smoke were seen and heard near the Brushy Fork coal slurry impoundment on Friday.
The Brushy Fork impoundment is an enormous retention pond holding 8.2 billion gallons of toxic coal slurry waste. If the impoundment were to fail due to the blasting, hundreds of lives will be lost and thousands more will be in jeopardy from an enormous slurry flood.
A 2006 study confirmed that Coal River Mountain—the highest peaks ever slated for mining in the state—is an ideal location for developing utility-scale wind power. Local residents have rallied around this proposal as a symbol of hope, a promise of a new and cleaner energy future, but that hope may be destroyed unless quick and decisive action is taken right now.
Call President Obama at 202-456-1414 and implore him to use his influence with Governor Manchin and help stop the destruction of Coal River Mountain immediately.
And help us spread the word about this emergency situation! 
If Coal River Mountain is destroyed, one of the best wind potential sites in the region will be lost, and local residents subjected to degraded quality of life and exposure to toxic air and water.
6,000 Acres To Be Destroyed
Massey’s plans for the mountaintop removal operation would destroy over 6,000 acres of Coal River Mountain and create 18 different valley fills, devastating the Clear Fork watershed. Over 10 square miles of the most bio-diverse ecosystem in the United States will be destroyed forever, affecting the lives of the local residents by destroying their homeland and polluting their air and water.
Wind on Coal River
A wind assessment study conducted by Coal River Mountain Watch and Downstream Stategies revealed that Coal River Mountain has enough wind potential to provide electricity for over 150,000 homes and create stable, well-paying jobs—forever.
The proposed wind farm would help diversify the local economy in an area historically dependent upon sparse, temporary coal mining jobs, pumping $20 million per year in direct local spending during construction and $2 million per year thereafter. Destroying the mountain will also be destroying one of the best wind power sites in West Virginia.
This opportunity, however, depends upon the mountain being left intact. If blasting continues on Coal River Mountain, the wind potential—and the jobs—will be lost forever.
Please help us remind the President of his promise to diversify Appalachia’s economy with renewable energy—and ask him to start with Coal River Mountain. Call now, 202-456-1414.
And thank you for helping to preserve Coal River Mountain for generations to come.
