On Coal River |

February 19, 2010

Coal Companies Help Environment by Blowing Up Mountains

According to TN Rep. Zach Wamp – http://bit.ly/9252pv

February 17, 2010

New GAO Report on MTR

Link to report and commentary bit.ly/MTRGAO

February 14, 2010

The sound mix is done!!

It sounds awesome.

October 27, 2009

Blasting begins on Coal River Mountain

Jeff Biggers Huff Po article here.

October 22, 2009

National Academy blockbuster: Coal’s huge hidden costs

“…in a major new report out today, the National Academy of Sciences details some of the huge “hidden costs” of coal: More than $62 billion a year in “external damages” — that is, premature deaths from air pollution.”

via Coal Tattoo

October 22, 2009

Huge MTR news: EPA moves to veto Spruce Mine permit

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials today announced the gigantic news that they have formally moved to veto the Clean Water Act permit for the largest mountaintop removal mine in West Virginia history.

via Coal Tattoo

October 22, 2009

From last month, but worthwhile: NY Times story on water pollution

And specifically failure to enforce the clean water act. Featuring Prenter, WV and several people featured in On Coal River. Great article here.

October 22, 2009

Editing update

Getting re-acquainted with footage we haven’t thought about for awhile while preparing to begin work with Mary Lampson (our consulting editor, who worked on Harlan County, USA and Trouble the Water among other films) next week. So excited.

April 5, 2009

Dear Sen. Byrd: Restoring mountains could be your greatest legacy

Soon, as you know, as the colorful peepers of red bush and wake robins pull from the clinch of winter, I will take my granddaughter’s hand and roam our Clay Branch hollows in search of ramps. This has been a 150-year tradition in my family in the Coal River mountain range, as I am sure it was for your family along Wolf Creek.
Bo Webb, Charleston Gazette Op-ed

April 4, 2009

W.Va. House resolution supports Coal River wind farm

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — More than 40 members of the House of Delegates have signed a resolution supporting the development of a wind farm on Coal River Mountain in Southern West Virginia. By Alison Knezevich, The Charleston Gazette

April 2, 2009

Legislators, Greens, Industry React to Climate Bill

Reactions to the newly unveiled American Clean Energy and Security Act , which promotes clean energy and tries to stop climate change, have been pouring in all day.
NY Times

April 2, 2009

Judge voids easier WV mountaintop mining permits

A federal judge on Tuesday voided a streamlined permitting process for companies to fill valleys with materials left over from mountaintop removal mining.
AP via Forbes

March 24, 2009

EPA Halts Mountaintop Mining Permits

(CBS/AP) The Environmental Protection Agency is putting on hold hundreds of mountaintop coal-mining permits until it can evaluate the projects’ impacts on streams and wetlands.

March 19, 2009

Scientists: Tests show metals in state’s coal slurry

“West Virginians eager to know what’s in the slurry that coal companies pump into worked-out underground mines will have to wait until May for the state’s answers, but preliminary independent tests suggest it contains heavy metals they wouldn’t want to drink.” Vicky Smith, AP

March 19, 2009

Big mountaintop removal hearing on Monday

“We asked yesterday what President Barack Obama is going to do about mountaintop removal coal mining…Well, on Monday we might get a hint about Obama’s plans.” Ken Ward Jr. via Coal Tattoo

March 2, 2009

Judy Bonds and Bill McKibben on Democracy Now

Interviewed by Amy Goodman
Video via Democracy Now!

March 1, 2009

Bo Webb’s Letter to President Obama

“As I write this letter, I brace myself for another round of nerve-wracking explosives being detonated above my home in the mountains of West Virginia…”

via Alternet

March 1, 2009

Coen Brothers Direct New “Clean Coal” Ad

In this new ad, a pitchman gives us the hard sell on a “Clean Coal Clean”-scented air freshener that works just as well as “clean coal.”

via Huffington Post

February 25, 2009

Appeals Court Reverses Limits on Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2009/2009-02-17-092.asp

February 14, 2009

On Coal River is currently in post production & is seeking finishing funds

Coal wins big in Senate stimulus package
http://www.wvgazette.com/News/200901270569

Blowing Away King Coal
http://www.salon.com/env/feature/2009/01/29/mountaintop_removal/

Coal River Mountain Can’t Wait
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/2/3/9038/46414/

Peabody Energy profits soar
http://www.kentucky.com/101/story/674080.html