Links for Learning and taking action about Montaintop Removal Mining

This photograph was taken is Whitesville, WV in February of 2010, where the Clear Fork and Marsh Fork converge to become the Big Coal River. The difference in color between water flowing from both forks is the result of a surface mining related blackwater spill that polluted over 13 miles of the river, including the source of drinking water for the town and surrounding areas. Courtesy of climate ground zero

Take Action

  • Contact your representatives and encourage them to co-sponsor legislation that will protect our water
  • Contact the White House at 202-456-1111 and ask them to use their authority to change the rules.
    • The Problem: Taking advantage of a loophole that the Bush administration created in Clean Water Act rules, mining companies are using America's streams and lakes as dumping grounds for unlimited amounts of solid mining wastes.
    • The Solution: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to close the waste loophole in the Clean Water Act, and President Obama should instruct the agency to do so immediately.
    • Click here for talking points
    • Click here to see photos of a current direct action
  • Contact your electric company and ask them to stop buying power produced with coal from MTR
  • Switch to alternative energy providers
  • Limit your use of electricity
    • Turn off the lights when you're not using them
    • Unplug appliances when they're not in use! Studies show that appliances which are plugged in, but turned off, account for nearly 1/4 of the electricity consumed by appliances.
    • Wash your laundry with cold water
    • Take shorter showers
  • Install solar panels
  • Educate yourself and spread the word

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