Mining Hearing Draws Crowds
A hearing got heated Wednesday during discussion of proposed rule changes for surface coal mining.
Wednesday’s hearing inside the Holiday Inn was one of four hearings going on simultaneously across surrounding states.
According to the US Office of Surface Mining, the rule changes will reduce the environmental impacts of surface coal mining and give operators clear standards for mining near water.
But the opposition says it will do more damage to West Virginia’s streams.
“They’re destroying our most precious resource of water. I mean when you destroy water you’re actually destroying life itself,” said Chuck Nelson, a retired coal miner..
“I don’t think that it would change us to make us more lenient to make a mess, per say. I honestly say that I feel we would even do better,” said Jerry Bevins, a miner from Kentucky.
The Office of Surface Mining will accept written comments through Nov. 23.
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