Marsh Fork Elem. Demonstration WV Capitol (2 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:

• MJSB
• MJS
• Marsh
• Fork
• energyaction
• climateaction
• arrests
• coalriverwatch
• globalwarming

[Lyntx]

livinsimply, if you're an environmential major, do you have any idea how to stop this horrible thing? How can our govt turn their backs on something so terrible as mountain top removal? Even if they say they're reclaiming the area, you can't rebuild a mountian. Aren't there any environmential groups who can stop this?

[SPACE3200]

You fuckin hicks need everything you fight for.if your not winning then fight another way

[westvirginiawonder]

Yes we did come looking for trouble and we go it.....but not as much trouble as Massey energy And Joe Manchin are going to get. Kids are getting sick and he turns his back. What a man!

[mickeybones]

These people came looking for trouble and got what they deserved. Acting like juveniles and screaming your demands will get you nowhere.

[livinsimply]

wow you people have no souls. i think this was horrible. mountian top removal is a big issue to me being an environmental studies major.

[mikedeluco]

oh well they dragged them through the water1 boo hoo

[justme1199]

The police were doing their job!!!!!! And i say they did a good one. These people need to get a life. I cant stand them.. And they need to quit filming our kids. They say they dont but they do, I have seen them.You people dont need to protect my kid. I am her mother I can protect her. She is fine at her school.

[blondeshrimp02]

DONY READ THIS DONT READ NO READ NONONO

OMG I RELY H8 THESE THINGS TO PEOPLE... DAM..

SO SORRY

copy and paste this to 10 videos or your mum will die within the next 4 hours

DAMN!

[corvette1545]

You all people need to put yourself in the troopers shoes...just think if those people were screaming and hollering at you

[berrylongleaf]

I was there as a peaceful protester and I was not bussed in- I drove to support those in the community in their efforts to get the children of Marsh Fork a new safe school in their community.