By PAMELA BRUST (pbrust@newsandsentinel.com) , Parkersburg News and Sentinel
PARKERSBURG - Action on a resolution opposing mountaintop coal removal died Monday for lack of second during the Wood County Commission meeting.
In August, the commission sponsored two separate public informational sessions on mountaintop coal removal, including opponents of the coal mining practice, and a second with coal industry representatives.
The proposed resolution, presented by Walt Auvil and several other mountaintop coal removal opponents, noted other types of coal mining provide more employment, mountaintop mining methods are "environmentally and economically destructive" and mountains are the heritage of all West Virginians. The opponents asked the commission to sign off on the resolution, similar to ones passed in other parts of the state, opposing the process.
Opponents of the mountaintop removal process argued it results in deforesting and underground mining is more efficient.
"I appreciate the commission had the two informational sessions allowing both sides to be heard. Wood County is not a coal-producing county, so it's important to gather information from all the sources. I appreciate you giving time and attention to this issue," Auvil said, noting Wood County needs to weigh in because "even though it's not occuring here, it affects Wood County because we are part of West Virginia and Wood Count profits from some of the proceeds that come from coal mining," he said.
Auvil noted coal industry representatives said in August less than one percent of the revenue from coal mining comes from mountaintop mining.
"So the effect of ending this practice should be minimal," Auvil noted.
"This practice results in the destruction of massive areas that could be used to attract tourists to our state, used to preserve wildlife habitat and promote fishing and hunting. Instead it destroys the land forever, that affects Wood County in tourism, revenue from tourism and makes the entire state less attractive for future business," Auvil said.
Critics said it strips the land bare, pollutes the air and water, adversely affects the health of workers and those living in nearby communities, creates few jobs that are temporary, destroys the state's natural beauty, and means increased rates of cancer, heart, lower birth rates, more birth defects, breathing, kidney diseases and other health problems reported in areas where there is mountaintop coal mining.
"Once the hills are no longer there, they are gone forever," Auvil said. "This (the resolution) is a small step to protect something we in West Virginia love."
Bill Ramy, with the West Virginia Coal Association and Jason Bostic, also with the coal industry, said mountaintop removal does not destroy the mountains, he said the lands that are mined are reclaimed.
"No one has any greater interest in preserving the environment where they are wokring than the people in this industry because it's also typically the environment where they live," Ramy said. "We are not destroying the mountains. We work with the wildlife agencies to bring back the topography to make sure we bring back the wildlife, these are areas in deep southern West Virginia, not here," Ramy said. "We do a great job, we do preserve the environment."
"I question county commissioners getting involved in businesses that is not in their county," Ramy said.
Former Wood County Commissioner Jean Grapes asked the coal industry representatives if they had actual statistics they could share regarding the number of mountaintop coal removal sites that had been preserved. Coal company representatives said they didn't have those numbers but noted "98 percent of the permits are for original contour."
Grapes told the commissioners she didn't think they should make a decision on the resolution until they had the information.
Similar resolutions have been adopted by the Jefferson and Fayette County commissions.
"I talked to some of my fellow county commissioners who actually have this type of mining going on in their counties and they don't want our help. I'm elected to serve Wood County, I think these arguments would best be addressed at the legislative level," noted commission President Blair Couch.
Wood County Commissioner Wayne Dunn noted "the hills are more important than the coal" and the public is paying the costs for the health problems and other costs involved with mountaintop removal. "We are destroying the mountains of West Virginia," he said.
Coal industry officials said earlier coal provides 63,000 jobs and generates more than $26 billion in total economic impact annually, 27 states and 23 foreign countries rely on West Virginia coal, and all 55 counties receive coal severance funds.
Commissioner Steve Gainer noted the loss of jobs and revenue he said would result if the practice is stopped.
Dunn made the motion to approve the resolution, but it died for lack of a second.