Proposed mine a travesty to locals
Americans should be outraged at the limited opportunities for public input regarding the proposed appeal of the Clean Power Plan (The Washington Post 11-28-2017). Another example of government kowtowing to big business, and ignoring the voices of ordinary people who have suffered tragic health and environmental consequences from living and working in coal industry regions.
And the devastating effects go far beyond coal-fired power plants: in August, Clairton residents filed a class-action suit against US Steel, claiming air pollution from the Clairton Coke Works has lowered property values and destroyed their health. (https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-08-11). And where will the metallurgical coal for coking steel come from over the next 20 years? From a 2,900 acre underground mine in Donegal, gateway to the beautiful Laurel Highlands, one of the biggest tourist destinations in Western Pennsylvania.
Despite significant public protests and well-researched testimony against LCT/Robindales’s proposed Rustic Ridge #1 mine at DEP’s two public hearings in 2015 and 2016, the Department of Environmental Protection still approved the mining permit in the same area where $8 million has already been spent to clean up the environmental disasters of previous coal mining. Once again, the voice of the ordinary citizen has been ignored by both government and industry. Residents in the footprint of this mine are outraged.
We are fighting to stop this coal mine before one lump of coal is removed from our mountain. We will be showing our support for the legal appeal filed by the Mountain Watershed Association by going by the busload on January 29, 201,8 for our “day in court” before Judge Bernard A. Labuskes, Jr. at the Environmental Hearing Board’s Pittsburgh office.
Like-minded citizens are welcome to join us.
Barbara McMillan
Acme
Barbara McMillan