Longwall mining dries up streams
David Hess, secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department for Environmental Protection, can be complimented for being a viable entity at work. He has addressed organizations all over the state and he speaks of the need for new laws to protect Pennsylvania’s water resources. He talks of concern for water quality and quantity in every water shed. He tells how critical saving our water is to our economy and that in order to maintain a healthy environment we must protect and conserve our water. Mr. Hess uses his platform well but he doesn’t tell the entire story. I want to say to him, Mr. Hess, in February 2002, you told the members of the House Environment and Energy Committee that in one-third of western Pennsylvania in particular, you have almost no information at all about water because a fully functioning river basin commission does not cover this area.
At a Water Conservation Congress the title of your remarks was “The Future of Pa.’s Water Resources Begin Today.” You said that we are a little spoiled, that many people think water comes from a faucet, not from aquifers and streams and many times we aren’t careful with the way we use the water we have.
Mr. Hess, you have been to Southwestern Pennsylvania. You have seen the streams and ponds that are dry and the damaged homes that need repair, all due to longwall mining. You don’t need a river basin committee to tell you that everyday we lose more of our natural water supply to mining and our farmers continue to fight for water for their animals.
You know that the coal companies own more land in our counties than the rest of the citizenry and therefore, it is difficult to get a true picture of the real damage in our homes, streams, wells and ponds.
You place an emphasis on clean water, and that is the way it should be, but I wish you would tell me why you, your staff and several members of the House of Representatives can come into Greene and Washington Counties, see the results of mine subsidence then go back to Harrisburg and nothing happens. No action is taken and the coal companies continue to mine and to grout our streams due to the lack of water drained away by mining. Still, mining continues.
Our cities have already been threatened. Protecting water systems is a major concern. Mark my words, the farmlands of Pennsylvania one day will be the most important areas in our state but only if there are still natural water sources.
Why do you continue to let the coal companies mine under our streams, ponds and wells as you lecture to the citizens about water conservation?
Land owners who had springs and wells as their prime water source know more about water conservation than most city dwellers but now have no water to conserve.
You are the secretary of an important department of our state government. Why don’t the legislators listen to you and why don’t you listen to us, your neighbors?
If you really mean the laws must be changed and that includes Act 54, then stamp your feet. Shout. Do whatever it takes. And quit giving permits to mining companies when you know more streams will become dry.
Help us protect Southwestern Pennsylvania’s remaining water.
Laurine Williams
Waynesburg
A life-saving change
This is a letter that can save lives in our community.
The simple yet powerful act of changing the batteries in smoke alarms when you change the clock on Oct. 27 can double a family’s chances of getting out of a home fire alive.
As a 20-year fire service veteran, I have witnessed first-hand the tragedy of devastation of home fires. It’s even more heartbreaking when a young life is cut short. Each day, an average of nearly three children die in home fires. Overall, roughly 80 percent of home fire deaths in this country occur in homes without working smoke alarms.
Considering that a residential fire ignites every 85 seconds and fire deaths peak in winter months, it just makes sense to change your smoke alarm batteries each and every fall. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends replacing your smoke alarms every ten years.
Myron P. Nypaver
Uniontown Fire Department
Walker isn’t a traitor
The recent 20-year prison sentence meted out to American Taliban fighter, John Walker, constitutes a blatant and nefarious miscarriage of justice.
It is incomprehensible to me that the present administration in Washington and the American public are so blinded by passion that they are unwilling to clearly take a good and hard look at the facts.
Walker joined the Taliban well before they were at war with the U.S.
Walker had nothing to do with and was not involved in the terrorism of Sept. 11, 2001.
Also, to accuse Walker of plotting and conspiring to kill Americans is the height of absurdity. This is tantamount to saying that a native of New Mexico or Arizona must travel to Alaska because he is plotting to kill rattlesnakes. How ridiculous can one get? If Walker’s goal was to kill Americans he certainly wouldn’t venture to a part of the world where Americans are few and far between. The logical move would be to remain in the United States where Americans are everywhere.
Mr. Walker is not in prison today because he is a traitor. He is in prison because the U.S. Justice Department and the Department of Defense needed a scapegoat because of their own shortcomings and ineptitude.
Sadly, most Americans support Washington in this matter because they have espoused the attitude: My mind is made up so don’t go confusing me with facts.
Walker is now incarcerated because of the hysteria and paranoia pervading this nation today.
August J. Bachetti
Brownsville