WV Coal Industry On Brink Of Change - Will Rebrand Mining "Mountaintop Development"

[hatrack]

November 23, 2010 · The coal industry has long pointed to its economic benefit in West Virginia — from mining jobs to development projects on former mine sites. Now, there’s talk of changing mining terminology to reflect some of this economic development.

Some call it mountaintop removal, some mountaintop mining. Either way, the term refers to a form of surface mining in which a mountain’s overburden is taken away to reach a coal seam. Coal companies say this is the most efficient way to mine, while environmentalists argue that it destroys the ecosystem.

Last month, Tyler Phipps, a junior at the University of Kentucky submitted a letter to the university’s student newspaper. Phipps pointed to examples of development on former mine sites in Kentucky, and suggested the term “mountaintop development” might be a better way to describe the practice. Phipps’ phrase appealed to many in the coal industry. Two days later, Chris Hamilton of the West Virginia Coal Association, emailed the story to coal groups, echoing the call of Massey Energy Vice President Mike Snelling that this might be a good way to re-brand the controversial practice.

“It just sort of struck a favorable note among those of us who are more directly involved with the coal industry and surface mining here in West Virginia,” Chris Hamilton said. “All around the state we have many examples today of industrial, commercial or recreational facilities that are on post-mine land sites, former mine sites, where there’s just a tremendous amount of economic development.”

EDIT

http://www.wvpubcast.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=17679

[kristopher]

1. Unfortunately this will probably be a successful strategy.

Historically one of the most precious commodities to people in mountainous regions is the fertile "bottom land" because that can be farmed. Over time it has developed into just "flat land" that is suitable for building a house without stilts. For a lot of people there, the fact that this vile practice leaves behind flat land is enough to make it desirable.

I have relatives in Kentucky and some of the hate it (one in particular that loves to wander and collect gensing) and others who love the idea that it "makes room". Local farming is no longer important as it once was, but farming isn't the only economic activity that they value.

I'm only surprised it took them so long to key in to that group for support.

[pscot]

3. I think Hatracks Principal applies

but I can'tremember what it says.

[XemaSab]

5. Teh Google says Hatrack's principle is as follows:

Americans will do anything to protect the environment, as long as it costs them exactly nothing and causes them absolutely no inconvenience.

[pscot]

7. +1

Yeah. That one.

[enough]

2. Oh boy, when Franzen put this in his recent novel, I thought it sounded far-fetched.

I guess he was prescient.

[glitch]

4. So now they're calling ecosystems "overburden"

Fuckers.

[Nihil]

6. What you said is true!

Don't fix the problem, just re-brand it instead!
:grr: