We are writing to express our concern for the ever increasing impact of surface mining occurring in Monongalia County, particularly west of the Monongahela River.
Much of this surface mining is less than five miles west of Morgantown in the vicinity of Osage and Cassville, where almost 1,100 acres have been surface mined since 1997 and permit applications for an additional 580 acres of surface disturbance have been submitted to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.
Although we know that mining is an important economic driver of the West Virginia economy, we believe that, as practiced in this area, it infringes upon the rights and well-being of the hundreds of citizens of Monongalia County that are being adversely affected by these large areas of surface mining.
Yes, a few people in this area benefit by selling or leasing their land to the mining companies.
Some have sold and moved out of the area because they did not want to face years of surface mining.
But what about the families who chose not to abandon their homes and lives by selling to big coal or those that do not have coal under their land?
They have the right to live in a healthy environment.
The coal companies make millions of dollars and the state gets lots of tax revenue.
What do the residents who live in the vicinity of these surface mines get besides dirty air and water and 24/7 noise from the mining operations?
Does any of the state coal tax revenue from these mines actually benefit the community from where the coal came? Doubtful.
Highly alkaline coal combustion waste from power plants is used as a liner and filler on coal surface mines to reduce acid mine drainage which makes it profitable to strip mine the Waynesburg and other high-sulfur coal seams near Morgantown.
From 1999 to 2007, we estimate that about 6 million tons of CCW have been deposited on seven surface mine permits in and around the Cassville community.
The CCW wastes contain mercury, selenium, arsenic and other contaminants, but the state grants the mining companies waivers from monitoring the groundwater that seeps out of these mine sites.
A study in Pennsylvania of 15 mines reclaimed with CCW found that these contaminants, as well as chloride, sodium and sulfates had leached into surface and ground water and degraded water quality.
Yet, at half of these mines acid mine drainage was not reduced.
CCW dust includes fractions of fine, glassy particulate matter that are in the respirable (PM2.5) and thoracic (PM10) size range.
When it is dumped from trucks onto surface mines, moved around the site with bulldozers or blown around by wind (since it is not immediately covered), how much becomes airborne and leaves the mines as fugitive dust?
When CCW becomes airborne, how does it affect air quality and the health of families living near these mines, or even families living in Morgantown, since the prevailing winds generally blow from the west?
Trucks leaving the active mines deposit considerable amounts of dirt and CCW on public roads.
When it’s not raining, everyone driving between Cassville and Morgantown can see the clouds of dirt and ash stirred up along Route 7.
The road may be swept daily, but this only increases the amount of airborne particulates.
During wet weather, driving on WV Route 7 is made hazardous by the spray of mud and ash that is spewed by ash and coal trucks.
We know that federal laws require reclaiming the land after the mining is complete.
But the hundreds of acres of hardwood forests lost to surface mining can’t be replaced in our lifetime.
Particularly when the land is often reclaimed to hay and pasture that does not support the same biological diversity as our native hardwood forests.
Blasting operations on a currently active surface mine are more than one-half mile from where we live, yet the blasts shake our home like an earthquake.
If approved, a new permit will entail surface mining of another 225 acres over five years.
This new permit will put the surface mining operations and the mine pit within 300 feet of our home and the homes of 13 of our neighbors.
What kind of damage will the blasting do then? Will it crack our windows, walls, foundation or roof?
The dust, ash and noise levels will all increase tremendously.
Will we be able to sleep with the constant noise? Will the dust and CCW ash contaminate our organic garden? Can we safely breathe the air when we go outdoors?
We have a right to live in an environment that does not threaten our health and well-being.
We know that our situation is not unique.
Almost the entire population of Cassville lives within one-half mile of the new proposed mine; about half of them within 1,000 feet.
Many families living in this area have already endured years of surface mining.
Now comes another five years, and then very likely more as the coal companies continue to make plans to surface mine more land in this area.
Morgantown is the fourth largest city in West Virginia.
It is mind-boggling to think that the extensive surface mining occurring so close to so many people and the disruption of so many lives is considered acceptable.
The time to voice your concern is before surface mine permit applications have been approved.
Currently, there are six mining-related applications under review by WVDEP that will disturb an additional 994 acres in Monongalia County.
Two of these applications encompass 580 acres within five miles of Morgantown.
Contact the WVDEP and comment on any current surface mine permit applications and the associated community impact statements and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits that have been submitted for Mon. County.
Electronic copies of these permit applications can be obtained from WVDEP for a minimal fee.
Petra and John Wood are residents of Cassville, W. Va.
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