Mountaintop Removal Mining Gets Big Blow
In a major step forward in stopping the blasting of mountaintops to get to coal, a federal court unanimously upheld the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to veto these projects under the Clean Water Act. In 2011, EPA, for the first time, revoked a permit for mountaintop removal. It was for Spruce Mine, the biggest, most destructive project proposed to … Read more
United Mine Workers march on Patriot Coal in Charleston over proposal to cut employee and retiree health benefits.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An estimated 6,000 to 10,000 union members and supporters rallied at the Charleston Civic Center on Monday, then marched a few blocks to Patriot Coal’s state headquarters, to protest a proposal from the company to cut employee and retiree health benefits. Sixteen people were arrested at the end of the peaceful demonstration, … Read more
Complete and utter disrespect speaks for itself
This is NOT A GRAVE YARD! THESE ARE THE GRAVES STONES THAT USED TO BE ON A MOUNTAIN THAT GOT BLOWN UP in mountain top removal coal mining.
Patriot Coal Miners ask: “Who’s Going to Stand for Me?”
This is a call for environmentalists and other critics of coal to come to the aid of America’s miners. Whenever government protection of workers health and safety or the environment rears its ugly head, America’s coal companies are quick to portray themselves as the coal miners’ best friends. They are ever ready to come to … Read more
When Mountains Move: Remembering Judy Bonds
Republished from the pages of National Geographic magazine Written by John G. Mitchell March 2006 Coal brought people to Marfork hollow in the Appalachian Mountains of southern West Virginia. And it was coal, or rather a different way of mining it, that finally drove the people away. The last to leave was Judy Bonds. A … Read more
Lowe et al v. Peabody Holding Co LLC – RE: Patriot Coal Bankruptcy
NEW YORK, Jan 28 (Reuters) – Patriot Coal Corp wants to limit its obligation to pay retiree health benefits to thousands of U.S. mine workers and their families as part of its plan to survive Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to court documents filed Monday. The company has proposed creating a trust, known as a voluntary … Read more
UBB: Blankenship indictment and conviction “only possible outcome” of complete UBB investigation
[TRIANGLE, VA.] United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil E. Roberts today issued the following statement: “The statement in court today by Mr. David C. Hughart that the former chief executive officer (CEO) of Massey Energy, Don Blankenship, was involved in a long-term scheme to violate mine safety laws and cover it up is … Read more
Former Massey executive pleads guilty to conspiracy
February 28, 2013 · While he didn’t call him by name, former president David Hughart said, under oath, that Massey’s former CEO Don Blankenship knew about the violations. David Hughart now faces up to six years in prison and a $350,000 fine. David Hughart of Crab Orchard admitted that he conspired to impede the Mine Safety and Health … Read more
