An oversight hearing on mountaintop mining is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. next Thursday, June 25 in Washington DC before the Wildlife Subcommittee of the Environment and Public Works Committee of the US Senate. The hearing is titled: “The Impacts of Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining on Water Quality in Appalachia ” and will entail two separate panels of witnesses. The first panel will feature officials from EPA and the second panel will be comprised of a State Environmental official, a scientist with expertise in water quality impacts of mtm, a spokesperson from a community affected by mtm, and a local stakeholder.
Given the Senators behind the scheduling of this hearing, it appears that the hearing is designed to provide those opposing mtm, and who are desirous to see federal legislation to restrict this form of mining, with an opportunity to tell their story and influence the media.
The Coalition on MTM is planning to attend the hearing to show interest and to have a presence as the MTM debate begins before Congress. Several buses are being chartered to leave from Logan and Charleston to transport anyone interested in attending the hearing. It is doubtful that members of the Coalition will be permitted the opportunity to speak during the actual hearing but it is likely the event will attract major media sources that will look for miners and their families for comment. Toward this end we believe that it is important to be present and accounted for.
If you are interested in attending this event next Thursday please give us a call. Additional information will be forthcoming. In the meantime, if you have any questions of need additional information, please reply to this message or call one of us at 304-342-4153.
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