Your action is needed to stop coal industry assault on our streams!

Gas well in national forest

Courtesy of DOE/NREL

We need your help. Our most valuable streams and wetlands are at risk from the coal industry again.

The coal mining industry wants to change the Coal Refuse Disposal Act make any area near an existing coal refuse disposal site a preferred site for coal waste disposal. Currently, only areas previously contaminated or polluted by coal mining are considered "preferred sites" for new coal refuse waste. But two bills, now working their way through the legislature, would allow pristine areas, including wetlands and headwater streams that are adjacent to coal refuse disposal sites to be filled with coal refuse. The legislation would actually do this by labeling these areas as “preferred.”

Ask your state representative to oppose House Bill 1847 and your state senator to oppose Senate Bill 1034. Thanks for your help!

If you wish to send an email or write a letter, you can use the following model:

Dear Representative_____________ / Senator ____________

I urge you to oppose HB 1847 and SB 1034, which proposes to change the Coal Refuse Disposal Control Act. These unnecessary bills are being slipped through while the attention of the Commonwealth is focused on the ongoing state budget crisis. The bill would change the list of “preferred sites” for coal refuse disposal to include “an area adjacent to or an expansion of an existing coal refuse disposal site.”

Such an expansion of “preferred sites” would open many new areas, not previously contaminated or polluted by coal mining, to coal refuse disposal. This new provision would allow coal mining companies to contaminate exceptional value streams of the Commonwealth. Previously uncontaminated streams and valleys should not be contaminated just because they are situated next to an existing coal refuse disposal area.

Please vote NO on HB 1847 and SB 1034.

Sincerely,