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Updated: 11:13 PM Aug 11, 2009
Protest at DEP Ends in Four Arrests
Four people were arrested Tuesday after they chained themselves to the doors leading into the Department of Environmental Protection's building in Kanawha City.
Posted: 10:32 AM Aug 11, 2009Reporter: Anna Baxter; Amanda Barren Email Address: anna.baxter@wsaz.com; amanda.barren@wsaz.com |
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Four people were arrested Tuesday after they chained themselves to the doors leading into the Department of Environmental Protection's building in Kanawha City.
According to a news release, the protesters were "demanding the resignation of DEP Secretary Randy Huffman. The group claims the department has failed to enforce mountaintop removal coal mining and water quality regulations.
The protesters are with several environmental groups, including the Coal River Mountain Watch group.
“The WVDEP simply fails to adequately regulate the coal industry,” said Rock Creek resident Lorelei Scarbro. “When WVDEP Secretary Randy Huffman runs off to lobby the EPA to grant illegal valley fill permits, he’s abdicated his responsibility to the people. Corporate coal influence has become so great inside the WVDEP that he has become a public relations spokesperson for the coal industry instead of an enforcer of mining laws and regulations.”
Charleston Police were called to the scene once the group started chaining themselves to the doors.
According to the news release, the protesters were hoping to halt operations at the DEP.
A spokesperson with DEP tells WSAZ.com Randy Huffman's resignation is not a means to an end for this group's concerns.
Kathy Cosco says they have a right to voice their concerns and if they want to meet with DEP they will do that, but this is not the best way to get the DEP's attention.
Laura Marie Merner, Andrew R. Munn, Laura N. Steepleton and Michael S. Bowersox were arrested Tuesday and arraigned in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.
All four of them currently live in Raleigh County, but they have out of state driver's licenses.
For more information, click on the video link above.
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Latest Comments
Amazing how fanatical the coal cult is. They'll do and say and think anything that Don Blankenship and the other out of state coal barons and bankers tell them. It's amazing how the coal cultists got their fangs and claws out to defend the DEP. It just proves who the DEP works for and why they need a good house cleaning.
Old-timers will tell you property that has been in their families for generations never flooded severely until MTR mining began near their property. It is common sense. Thousands of year old forest floors absorbs more water than reclaimed MTR sites. I don't see how anyone can argue with that. It will take several hundred years for that land to ever get back like that. Obviously you are not interested in common sense though. You would do anything for a dollar. You care nothing about your heritage. A very dishonorable person.
Here is some research> MTR coal is cleaner than UG. Look it up it takes more. John Amos used Met coal from Hobet. Dow uses Met coal from (shoot may have me here) Black Castle. Duke Energy The TVA ...oh and even the White House is powered by Met coal...and yes your computer is too. Yes people do say MTR causes flooding. Look it up on youtube the claims some of these goofs say MTR caused all the flooding. 6 weeks of 5 out of 7 days of rain had nothing to do with it?Please! A hippie had a sign at the June 23rd of a family that drown. Said it was due to MTR. That family lived where no MTR sites were at. IT WAS 7" of rain in 3 hours. like this or lump it I don't care what % it is. Still working because people like you demand and I supply. Your Welcome.
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