Mountaintop removal

[alfredo]

Bob Sloan is a fine writer and all around good guy. His wife is a terrific woman and friend to all. Bob used to be a contributor on Morning Edition.

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/editorial/13846437.htm


Lobby legislators on behalf of E. Ky. mountains, people
By Bob Sloan
A postcard showed up in the mail this week, inviting me to come to Frankfort on Tuesday for an "I Love Mountains" lobby day.

The idea is to encourage legislators to look favorably on and then vote for House Bill 83.

It's a simple piece of law: It requires mountaintop removal coal operations to stop filling Kentucky streams with dirt and rock from their operations and keep them on the work site instead.

I've been to Frankfort while the legislature's in session, and spending a day wandering around that confusion and chaos is not my idea of a good time. Gas is running $2.40 a gallon, and Frankfort is a good way from my house. Besides, we heat with wood and spending a day buttonholing politicians means letting the fire go out.


His site:
http://www.bobsloansampler.com/

[WinkyDink]

1. Kentucky is a Red state.

Yes, I'm bitter.

[alfredo]

2. but we are fighting hard to get good representative government here.

The Republicans have shown they are not moral enough for leading our state. Our governor is the third worst in the country. Ohio and California save us from the bottom.

[WildClarySage]

3. When one state takes a stand against mountaintop removal

it can influence other states to do the same. WV needs this bill desperately... but our pols are in the coal industry's pockets (don't let Dino Joe Manchin's recent posturing fool ya, he's their #1 buddy.)

[ochazuke]

4. Mountain-top removal makes me sick

Literally. Exemptions from federal environmental laws made it possible. I think that's thanks to some KY senator back in the 70s.

This is a hugely underreported story.

[alfredo]

5. It fouls the drinking wter for much of the population of eastern

and central Ky. That was probably Larry Hopkins. He has had a bit of a change of heart. He's been supporting our efforts to buy the water company from RWE.