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 Summer. On June 29, another Marsh Fork parent and
a Mountain Justice Summer 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
Click here to see more actions.
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