Governor Grants Meeting with Hunger-Striking Grandfather

Hunger Strike on the steps of the West Virginia State Capital (pics)

JULY 5, CHARLESTON, W.VA.—The grandfather of a Marsh Fork Elementary School student sat down on the West Virginia State Capitol steps today and refused to leave until Governor Joe Manchin came out to speak to him. Ed Wiley of Coal River Valley demanded an explanation for the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) approval of additional coal operation permits adjacent to the school. The DEP granted the controversial permits to Massey Energy’s Goals Coal Company in spite of overwhelming community resistance and protests that had so far resulted in 20 arrests.

“I want the governor to explain to me why Massey Energy’s profits are more important than these kids’ health and safety,” said Wiley, who displayed an aerial photograph of the school sitting 400 yards below a 2.8 billion-gallon coal waste dam. “On June 22, one of the people who built that dam explained to the governor how it is improperly constructed. We told him our concerns about the kids breathing coal dust and chemicals from the coal silo 150 feet from school grounds. Then on June 30 the DEP renewed the permit for the dam and approved a second coal silo next to the first. Where is the governor’s heart? Where is his loyalty?”

Massey Energy recently released statements that the company is a good steward of the environment and uses only EPA-approved chemicals common in the industry. “That doesn’t make anyone sleep easier,” said Wiley. “This is the same company responsible for the 300 million-gallon sludge spill in 2000 in Martin County, Kentucky, as well as a long list of other spills and violations. Do the governor and DEP Secretary Stephanie Timmermyer really expect Massey to operate differently just because the preparation plant is next to a school?”

At a hearing on May 26, the DEP allowed residents only two minutes each to voice their concerns over the permits. Over fifty speakers spoke against the permits, and no one spoke in favor of them. At a rally at the Massey plant on May 24, two Coal River Valley residents were arrested when they were refused admittance to present their demands. On May 31, sixteen people were arrested, including an 82-year-old grandmother, at the same site at a much larger rally supported by Mountain Justice. On June 29, another Marsh Fork parent and a Mountain Justice participant were arrested at Massey Headquarters in Richmond, Va.

“I’m not surprised that Stephanie Timmermyer approved the permits,” said Wiley. “She has already made it clear that the DEP works for the coal industry and not for the people of this state. But I was surprised that the governor didn’t put the children’s interests first.” Wiley added, “I’ve been in the governor’s office. That didn’t help. I want him to come out here and explain how he’s going to fix this problem that could have been prevented with a phone call.

Governor Grants Meeting with Hunger-Striking Grandfather

Promises to Act on Behalf of the Children of Marsh Fork Elementary School

July 5, 2005

Charleston, WV – At approximately 2:30 pm, Governor Joe Manchin granted an impromptu meeting with Ed Wiley, grandfather of a Marsh Fork Elementary School Student. Ed Wiley, who went on a hunger strike earlier this morning, vowed to remain on the Capitol steps until the Governor addressed his concerns regarding the health and safety of the students of Marsh Fork Elementary School and specifically his grand daughter. In a public statement made by Governor Manchin later that afternoon, he promised to act on behalf of the children of Marsh Fork Elementary School.

As a result of Wiley’s meeting with the Governor this afternoon, a meeting with the State Board of Education has been scheduled for 10:00 am tomorrow to discuss an alternative location for students to attend class. This meeting will take place at Mount View Elementary School in the Coal River Valley. An additional meeting with the DEP is scheduled for 9:00 am Thursday morning at the Capitol Building. Residents are invited to express their concerns regarding the school.

Mt. View Elementary School is located on State Route 3 in Rock Creek, WV.

Contacts: Bo Webb or Julia Bonds (304) 854-2182

Hillary Hosta (304) 854-2324

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