CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Several environmental groups teamed up Monday in Charleston demanding the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement take over the regulation of coal mining in West Virginia from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
About a dozen protesters marched from the OSMRE on Virginia St. East to the Governor’s office at the state Capitol Monday morning.
The groups launched what they call the CARE campaign or Citizen Action for Real Enforcement.
Denise Giardina, with the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, or OVEC, was one of the speakers outside the OSMRE office before the march to the Capitol.
“This is basically asking the federal government to step in and take over oversight of mountaintop removal and the damage that’s being done,” explained Giardina.
She said in the interest of citizen’s health and well-being, the DEP can no longer be counted on to do what’s best for the people of West Virginia.
“There’s nothing being done right now by the state,” stressed Giardina. “[The DEP] is not even minimally asking the law be obeyed.”
The protesters believe the OSMRE would at least make an effort to require coal companies to follow the law when it comes to environmental regulations.
Giardina said in many areas of West Virginia the damage is already done. Mountains are gone and so are the creeks and stream that used to flow down their sides. But she says there is still hope
“You can’t bring back mountains. The ones that are gone are gone and the streams are gone,” said Giardina. “But there are still parts of the state that haven’t been damaged. And even parts of the coal fields, there are still mountains there that are still standing that hopefully we can save.”