The miners were joined by local leaders, elected officials and political hopefuls. Surprise speakers Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo (D) and Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R), opposing candidates in the 2010 U.S. Senate race, both touted the positives of coal and pledged their support to the industry if elected.
Rallies like this one have become commonplace in Appalachian towns recently due to a debate over mining permits.
Under the Obama administration, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement has agreed with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to aggressively review surface coal mining permits in Appalachia. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposes eliminating or, at least, suspending a streamlined permitting process for surface mines in six Appalachian states. The EPA recently withheld 79 coal mine permits in this region.
Last week, Gov. Steve Beshear announced that he has approved an increase in the number of mine inspectors and the number of mining permit reviewers in the Energy and Environment Cabinet. The governor has also signed an emergency regulation that allows for assessments on new mine permit applications. The additional funding is expected to raise an estimated $800,000 with an equal federal match that will be used to pay for 19 additional employees in the Division of Mine Permits.
The governor’s office cites that “budget cuts and retirements in 2008” are to blame for the holdup of permits and say that their latest move — hiring additional employees — will alleviate the problem.
“I am grateful that the Governor has worked to help the coal industry, especially since it seems of late that the EPA and Corps have had the whole industry under attack,” said Rep. W. Keith Hall, of Phelps, co-chair of the Energy Committee of the Kentucky General Assembly, in a recent press release.
“It is critical to the economic well-being of Kentucky that we move quickly to properly review and approve those mine permits that meet statutory requirements,” Energy and Environment Secretary Len Peters said in the news release. “The addition of these positions is an important step in protecting one of our greatest economic assets.”
Speakers at Saturday’s rally echoed the Energy and Environment Secretary’s sentiments.
One of those speakers, Rev. William Boyd Bingham, called upon a higher power for help during the rally, saying, “I’m burdened for the people of Eastern Kentucky. We know that God put the coal here and put it here to be a blessing to the mountain people.” The reverend continued with a prayer, “Lord, we are asking... for your help, we ask that you put a smile on the faces of coal.”
The event was organized by the Bell County Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Faces of Coal organization, and was supported by several local public and private entities.
Mongiardo claims to oppose Cap and Trade legislation that has passed in the House and will be voted on in the Senate.
“We need to be using our oil, we need to be using our natural gas, and let me say this loud and clear so everyone understands,” Mongiardo shouted, “We need to be using our coal!”
“This administration has declared war on coal. By doing this, they declared war on Kentucky. I want to stand up to Barack Obama, Nancy Palosi and all the other democrats,” Mongiardo’s opponent, Trey Grayson said.
Bell County Judge-Executive Albey Brock charged the two U.S. Senate candidates to act on their words, “We’re not going to forget what you say here,” he said to overwhelming applause.
Mongiardo, Grayson, State Representative Rick Nelson (D-Middlesboro), State Senator Brandon Smith (R-District 30), a representative from Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers’ (R- District 5) office, Bell Judge-Executive Albey Brock, Rev. Bingham, local coal supporter Paul Connor Cawood, WKYT’s Barbara Bailey, Hayden King and Bell County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rob Lincks spoke during the event.
Brandy Calvert is the managing editor of the Middlesboro Daily News. Contact her via e-mail at editor@middlesborodailynews.com.
I was at this Gethering. I was Offered one ot the Paid for big coal Signs. I listen to all the For Big Coal Speakers, NOT ONCE did I Hear The Words ""MOUNTAIN TOP REMOVAL???" Is MTR like the "N" word. Forbidden at These So Call MTR & Strip Mining Rallies. Obams's Bunch is Not trying to Stop Mining or cost Jobs. Just Fix the Mess that MTR & Striping Creates, Wake up People
My Vote is for the United States Envirnmental Protection Agency. GOD Put the Trees. Clean Air & Water and the mountains On Top Of The Coal.
shaker70 is a retired deep Coal miner....
When the green things and the coal are gone, who will be gathering to protect the sterile fill dirt industry in so that we can feed our children. The politicians will be there, promising whatever, not to protect the interests of the voters, but to protect the corporations and their profits, to protect their own power and income raked in from selling their votes in return for corporate contributions to their campaign chests and to their private "non-profit" foundations and for other unknown considerations.
If you want to learn a little about the permanent damage the coal operators are doing to the mountains to gain short term profits, go to the following web site, open your eyes and engage your brains: http://www.ilovemountains.org/multimedia#ge. While you are at your computer, visit maps.google.com and go to Bell County, KY. When the screen comes up, take a satellite tour, focusing on the bare mountain spots--take a close up view of some of the more obvious areas.
Think of what you are leaving to you children, and to your grand children for generations to come. What will they have to say about your legacy to them? Will they say that you were poor and ignorant and didn't know any better? Or will they say that you were the "me" generation who wanted cash in your time so that your children could live in poverty? Or will they simply damn you for what you have done to the world that you passed on to them.
Take your kids along for a Sunday afternoon drive into the mountains and let them see for themselves what the industry you want to protect is doing to the mountains--so that you can feed them. And ask whether, when the trees, the coal and the topsoil are all gone and the mountains are huge piles of sterile, lifeless dirt, will you then rally and ask the politicians to legalize consuming our children so that we can survive for just a little longer?
And God gave us these beautiful mountains and our corruptable politicians and our greedy corporations, and our beautiful children. I hope that God smiles on those children and their children.
Be careful what you wish for.