Environmentalists Hold Tree Sit-in at Massey Mine
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Posted: 3:20 PM Jan 21, 2010
Environmentalists Hold Tree Sit-in at Massey Mine
Three environmentalists have climbed trees at Massey Energy's Beetree Surface Mine in southern West Virginia to protest mountaintop removal coal mining.
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
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MARSH FORK, W.Va. (AP) - Three environmentalists have climbed trees at Massey Energy's Beetree Surface Mine in southern West Virginia to protest mountaintop removal coal mining.

Climate Ground Zero and Mountain Justice identified them Thursday as 23-year-old David A. Smith, 19-year-old Amber Nitchman and 28-year-old Eric Blevins. The groups say they're sitting on platforms about 60 feet above the ground.

Organizers say the protesters want a federal ban on mountaintop removal mining to preserve sites such as nearby Coal River Mountain, among other things.

Massey spokesman Jeff Gillenwater says protesters are endangering themselves and miners and will waste taxpayer money if police get involved. Gillenwater says Coal River Mountain has been extensively mined, but the current operation doesn't use mountaintop techniques.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Latest Comments

Posted by: johny ray on Mar 5, 2010 at 12:07 PM

This is why we have problems people let them continue in this nature without haveing to answer for their actions.
Posted by: COALMINERS WIFE on Jan 29, 2010 at 05:49 AM

I HOPE THE WEATHER GETS VERY COLD THIS WEEKEND WHILE THEY SIT IN THEIR TREES!!!! JUST GO HOME AND GO TO WORK FOR A LIVING LIKE THE PEOPLE IN WEST VIRGINIA. I AM VERY PROUD TO BE A WEST VIRGINIAN AND APART OF THE COAL MINING WAY OF LIFE. GO HOME!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE NOT WELCOME IN WEST VIRGINIA.
Posted by: food for thought on Jan 23, 2010 at 06:30 PM

Michael get your facts or story straight, legitimize your brain with knowledge, PLEASE! This is not a mountain top removal site. You wonder why out of staters shake their heads and wonder? Misinformation that's why!
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