Published: January 06, 2009 10:55 pm      

Community speaks out at meeting over Massey

DEP gets earful on renewal of permit for Marsh Fork facility

Officials from the state Department of Environmental Protection held an open meeting Tuesday night at Marsh Fork Elementary School in regard to the renewal of a Massey Energy permit.

Massey was granted a five-year permit for a coal silo located in close proximity to Marsh Fork Elementary, and it’s now up for renewal.

The facility includes a 2.8 billion-gallon sludge impoundment that’s situated 400 yards from the school. Environmentalists have contended the impoundment at the facility is leaking and is dangerous to not only the school but the community as well.

Sherry Geisler of Rock Creek asked, “What are we going to do for the people whose homes are in direct danger if this thing — which will eventually collapse?”

“We care about the kids and the people who live here. We’re property owners. My husband didn’t work his whole life to have somebody come in and take away our air quality, water quality and standard of living. That’s what they do in China and Third World countries, not here in America.”

Bo Webb, a citizen also in opposition to the renewal of the permit, said, “Someone needs to get some common sense and do something right. You guys can do it, the governor may not want you to do it, the mine company doesn’t want you to do it ... This has got to stop, This is not a safe situation here.

“Reissuing this permit is going to cause more sediment, more coal processing; that means more refuge in the dam and that means more dust these kids will breathe. Build us a new school and a safe place away from this operation.

“I’ll say two words — Buffalo Creek,” Webb added, referring to the dam constructed of coal waste that failed in 1972, killing more than 125 people and sweeping away hundreds of homes.

Webb suggested that DEP start taking steps “immediately” by bringing in a “DEP seismograph” and monitor it, rather than “Massey Energy telling you what the seismograph reads.”

Local resident Sarah Haltom said she’s having problems with blasting and dust.

“Between 4 and 5 p.m., I would suspect that most people that live in Hunter addition probably avoid sitting on their toilet because the blasting is so bad,” she said.

“The blasting is intense. I don’t think it’s fair for people in this area to have to suffer so that someone can make a buck. It’s not right. It’s not been right since the permit was first issued.”

Resident Vernon Haltom addressed the DEP saying, “It doesn’t matter what we say, you guys are going to grant the permit anyway.”

“We’re here because we want to be on record as saying, ‘We oppose it.’ That way you guys can’t say nobody opposed it,” he added.

Toby Edwards, a mining employee, spoke in favor the permit renewal.

“The coal mining industry is highly regulated by the DEP. It provides over 200 jobs in this area,” he said.

According to DEP permit supervisor Edward Wojtowicz, the decision on whether to renew the permit should be announced within 30 days.

— E-mail: jayres@register-herald.com