While we here know about "mountain top removal" (ah, the euphimism), seeing it is something else entirely. I found this set of videos via Dark Daughta. Episode One, Mountain Top Removal:
All of the episodes here (in the right hand column).
Posted by binky at September 16, 2007 01:08 PM | TrackBack | Posted to West VirginiaHard to believe this is even legal; it's like fishing with dynamite, only worse.
Posted by: kcb at September 17, 2007 10:40 PM | PERMALINKAnd right now, there is an attempt to "clarify" the rules about valley fill. While widely ignored and not cited by officials, many fear that the clarified rules would eliminate the restrictions on dumping the fill close to streams. I'm busy this morning, but I'll try to get the information up later.
Posted by: binky at September 18, 2007 07:47 AM | PERMALINKThe stream buffer info (quoting The Highlands Voice):
Posted by: binky at September 29, 2007 08:22 PM | PERMALINKThe United States Office of Surface Mining has proposed modifying (and effectively repealing) what is known as the "buffer zone rule."
This rule has been in effect since 1983. It prohibits mining or mine related land disturbance within one hundred feet of a stream.
...
...the Office of Surface Mining noticed that the current buffer zone rule (promulgated during the administration of noted environmental extremist Ronald Reagan) needed to be "clarified." Now it wants to clarify it right out of existence.
...
Although the Office of Surface Mining is required by federal law to analyze alternatives to repealing the buffer zone rule, it did not even consider leaving in place and enforcing the existing rule in its analysis of available alternatives.
You can view the proposal at www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main ... search for Document ID "OSM-2007-0007-0001".