News
New National Poll: Americans Oppose New Rule to Allow More Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining
Thursday, September 13th, 2007
September 13, 2007
APPALACHIA – A major new national poll finds that a strong majority of Americans oppose a new Bush Administration rule change easing environmental protections and expanding mountaintop removal coal mining. The survey, by the Civil Society Institute, was released in conjunction with the launch of 700mountains.org, a new website where the public can submit comments opposing the rule change.
The change to the buffer zone rule was announced by the Bush Administration in late August, and would dramatically weaken a provision of the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act that currently prohibits mining activity within 100 feet of a stream. Coal field advocates say the change will remove one of the primary legal obstacles to the unchecked expansion of mountaintop removal.
Some key results of the poll included:
- 2 out of 3 Americans (65%) stated they opposed the efforts of the Bush Administration to weaken the buffer zone rule, which prohibits mining activity within 100 feet of a stream. When respondents learned more about the level of destruction that would be caused by this rule change, half of those who were initially supportive of the rule change changed their position.
- 9 out of 10 people (88%) agreed with this statement: “Before the United States puts in place new regulations to permit more coal mining, it should first make sure that coal mines and coal mining practices are safe for miners, nearby communities and the environment.”
- 77% of Americans feel it would be better for the Bush Administration to concentrate first on energy conservation before resorting to more mountaintop removal.
- Almost half of Americans, 45%, said that they had heard of mountaintop removal unprompted.
- 71% of people said they would be opposed to mountaintop removal on a mountain within 50 miles of their home, and 50% of those surveyed said they would strongly oppose such mining.
- Women were less likely than men to support expanded mountaintop removal.
- Opposition to mountaintop removal was bipartisan among Republicans and Democrats.
The poll was conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation for the Civil Society Institute, a nonpartisan think tank.
September 24th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
This breaks my heart. Not only are areas being flooded, water being deemed undrinkable and our landshapes being forever ruined, but the wild life are moving down. Were are they to go except into our backyards? How many pets are we to lose due to starving wildlife? Do they even care?
There is a reason why I moved to WV from MD. That is because it is a beautiful state. I would like to keep it that way.
I proudly display my “I love Mountains” bumper sticker on my truck.
October 6th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Why can’t we just leave the world the way God intended and let nature take it’s course.
Doesn’t any of the higher ups care about humanity or animals anymore.
Who gave anybody the right play God and change the landscape.
November 13th, 2007 at 11:02 am
I love these beautiful mountains . It brings tears to my eyes to see the devasation left behind after they are mined .It is taking away the beauty of this state . I was raised in these mountains and took them for granted until I moved away . When I would come back to visit my heart would leap for joy at the sight of these beautiful mountains after seeing nothing but corn fields and prarie grass . I ended up moving back to WV and every morning I can I sit on my front porch and look at the beauty of the mountains. Now it seems they are going to take away the mountain in front of me and disfigure it , the way so many others have been.Is there no stopping this?