Marsh Fork Elem, Demonstration at WV Capitol (1 of 2) 3/16.

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Charleston,
W. Va.—Eleven parents, community leaders and student activists were arrested today while sitting in at the office of West Virginia Governor Joe Mancin. Their sit-in was spurred by a recent decision by the State Mine Board to approve a second coal silo nearMarsh Fork Elementary School. Protesters were treating roughly and dragged through puddles of mud. About 40 protesters remain in the governor's office. Marsh Fork Elementary located near Sundial, WV currently sits 225 feet from a coal silo. Residents say Governor Joe Manchin is shirking his responsibility for the health and safety of the students.

The coal silo operated by Massey Energy releases chemical-laden coal dust into the air which is poisoning the air that school kids have to breathe. Independent studies have found coal dust throughout the school. The school is also 400 yards downstream from a 385 foot tall seeping toxic coal waste sludge dam with a nearly 3 billion gallon capacity, over 20 times the volume of the Buffalo Creek sludge dam disaster that killed 125 people in 1972. A 1,849-acre mountaintop removal mine surrounds the sludge dam and much of the nearby area.

"Governor Mancin seems to believe that all he has to do is make promises while the children who attend Marsh Fork continue to breathe in coal dust," says Bill Price of
Charleston, WV. "We are not interested in promises. We want a new school for these kids so that they do not have to breathe in polluted air while they are trying to learn."

"This is exciting that students and community members have joined together to demand a safer school for the kids who attend Marsh Folk Elementary," says Sarah Kidder, a student at Glenville State College and a key protest organizer. "These kids should not have to endanger their lives simply by going to school and having to breathe in air polluted by coal dust."

Massey has been attempting to build a second coal silo near the school, but the WV Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 2005 rejected Massey's permit request for the second silo. On Tuesday, March 13, the state Surface Mine Board overturned the DEP's order that blocked the silo.

"The situation at Marsh Fork is an embarrassment to West Virginia," said Lindsey Warf of
Bluefield, WV. "People from other states can't believe this is happening in the
US."

Contrary to Massey's public claim that the silo would reduce coal dust, their 2005 air quality permit application associated with the second silo's operation predicts an increase in coal dust emissions by three and a half tons of dust per year.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• MJS
• MJSB
• Marsh
• Fork
• energyaction
• climateaction
• arrests
• coalriverwatch
• penniesofpromise
• direct action

[djrck101]

if you all were hit by the sludge you all would smell better. and i'm not poor. i have been to many poplulated cities my question to you is if all tree huggers are taking care of the environment, then why do you all polute west virginia with you smell? we are a proud state and we can take care of ourselfs. take ur stinkin asses back and we'll take care of ourselves. until we reach out our windows and scream "someone please save my tree" then why do u invade us? love to judy though.hometown woman

[Snipedanwo]

I dig the Bluegrass protest !

[Snipedanwo]

when the wall bursts, and MFE is drown in Coal Sludge, and everyone you know including you, are dead, can we be pissed off dirty hippies then?

what would you like us to say @ your funeral if they find your body?

You are one stupid bastard !

[bennyspider1]

Don Blankenship is a mountain raping coal licker

And he will burn in hell

[bloodymountain]

you should be ashamed this is fascist and stereotypical. if you weren't so isolated you would realize what they are trying to say. Anyone who has ever lived in a bigger populated city can tell you that it is your right to understand that it may be harmful and should not be forced on you by corporate dictatorships or government. This wouldn't stand anywhere that was heavily populated with powerful people.

[djrck101]

My name is jordan cook and i posted the message below. MARSHFORK PRIDE BABY!!! its messy cause of space issues.

[djrck101]

i'm from WV.Iwent toMFES for7 years.k-6and i'm perfectly healthy.That old fart at the begining of this video is a dumbass.I'm17 and i know it takes longer than 7 years to develope black lung.I live close to marshfork and i'm fine.My family works at marshfork as teachers and have for 30 years. the 2 are fine.So as a person who wants these outsider hippies to go away and realize the people around here can take care of our selves.leave HIPPIES.and the next time you come to marshfork.TAKE A BATH!!!

[bryanleecade]

wow that sign makes all westvirginians look like hilbillys

[wvlavender]

the only thing wrong with wind power is that the politicians bought coal and oil stocks.

[tiffanymariewv]

Why is it that everytime someone represents WV they look like a stereotypical "hillbilly"