Community Speakes Out on Effects of Mining

The Monongalia County community had a chance to speak out on the effects of mining in its area.

The State Journal
9 October 2010
By Kelly Rippin

PURSGLOVE -- Everyone knows that mining, especially surface mining, affects an entire community. Emotions were high Thursday night at a forum in Pursglove where residents voiced their concerns to those in charge.

Legislators, miners, environmental leaders, and residents all gathered at the Shack Neighborhood House in Pursglove to focus attention on the many issues raised by surface mining.

And many came ready to defend their stance.

The main issues addressed were the health risks associated with fly ash and the effects of the blasting on homes and who is taking responsibility for both.

Day in and day out, those who live close to the mining are experiencing problems first hand.

"We hear the noise from all the heavy equipment all night long, we get a little bit of the dust. When they blast the house shakes. But if you're closer then you've got more clouds of dust, potential damage to your house. Some people have lost well water. There's just a whole series of different things," explains Petra Wood who lives nearby.

Residents say the coal ash is a health risk to those who are exposed to it, whether it is near their homes or deposited on streets when being transferred.

This is not a problem just in West Virginia.

"The big concern we're seeing is that every state has a slightly different regulatory framework, but none of them seem to be doing a good job of that. The USEPA is currently considering federal regulations and we think it’s important that there be enforceable federal regulations of coal ash disposal," says Jim Kotcon of the Sierra Club.

Many residents also complained of damage to their houses because of the blasting and said their complaints have gone unanswered.

The Department of Environmental Protection defended its studies, but says it understands the changes that occur with a mine in the community.

"I can definitely feel for someone. You look at a community like that, they've been out there, its a nice peaceful community, they moved out there to peace and quiet and now a mine moves in. I'd be glad to sit down with anybody at anytime and go over their complaints and go over their problems and do what I can," acknowledges David Vande Linde, chief of the Office of Explosives and Blasting with the Department of Environmental Protection.

The meeting was an opportunity for everyone involved in the situation to listen to each other and hopefully make strides to improve on the situation.