Osmre

Flawed state regulatory policies for underground longwall coal mining have not only failed to protect American citizens and their private property and critically important waterways, but stand in violation of state constitutions.

It was on this day in 1977 a liberal president who campaigned to end the strip-mining wars signed the admittedly "watered down" Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act as an act of compromise.

Given the irreparable damage of his mining record, Pizarchik's entrenched support of the coal industry suggests that the OSM would continue its decades-old tradition of lawlessness and betrayal of coalfield residents.

In the meantime, this absolutely unnecessary process of strip mining has devastated the peace and prosperity of a region for over a generation.

Pizarchik's hearing on Tuesday will be a litmus test of the Obama administration's--and the US Senate's--commitment to appointing and confirming agency directors who believe in science and law in our nation's coalfields.

In a stunning blow to mountaintop removal blasting operations in the Coal River Valley of West Virginia this morning, two fearless protesters scaled massive trees and unfurled banners.