A spokesman for the National Mining Association, Luke Popovich, said that unless mine owners were allowed to dump mine waste in streams and valleys it would be impossible to operate in mountainous regions like West Virginia that hold some of the richest low-sulfur coal seams.

All mining generates huge volumes of waste, known as excess spoil or overburden, and it has to go somewhere. For years, it has been trucked away and dumped in remote hollows of Appalachia.

Environmental activists say the rule change will lead to accelerated pillage of vast tracts and the obliteration of hundreds of miles of streams in central Appalachia.

Again - the stupidity of Bush, these mining companies and other greedy people never ceases to astonish me.
I can honestly say that I hope Mother Nature begins to defender herself even harder in the future.

When I watch the Avatar cartoon with my oldest child - it is interesting to think in the perspective of Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. These are 4 powers that no human technology can deal with and Mother Nature has them at her disposal. Hopefully she will target only those areas where these mining companies want to cause harm. Hey -- it seems to work on Avatar

If we would seriously look into alternative sources.
We would not only find the answers. But we would
gain new industries. That would mean jobs for people.

Living in West Virginia, I see this nightmare daily. It is beyond description to see a flat horizon where there were once montains. It is an atrocity that needs to end.

But will the conservative voters in West Virginia turn against those who would destroy their beloved hills and mountain valleys?

No chance. They routinely kiss the ring of the hand that is holding them down.
There are actually bumperstickers all over this area "I <heart> coal." Even though it destroys our state and keeps our citizens dependent on the coal companies.
Anti-coal = blasphemy

Coal = Blast2mt