The Branhams’ mining permit protests 2

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1. 

   MD77 Posted 7:33 am
   23 Aug 2007

   Can I Get A Heads-Up?Why is it I don't read about these rule and regulation changes (e.g. NSA Spying Program) two days before they go into effect??  I barely have time to write and call my reps.  I'm not totally up on the system but I would think these initiatives would have to go through hearings or some kind of debate.  The White House never lets us what they're doing until it's too late really voice our opinion.  And the media- well they're absolutely useless- I mean it.  When I read about this this morning I wrote an angry letter to the congressional members in those states that are effected, my own reps, and the DOI.  Lot of good it will do now.  

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2. 

   RESCUE Posted 5:38 am
   01 Sep 2007

   Environmental JusticeIn parts of PA we head in a similar direction towards mountaintop removal, except it's noncoal surface mining. Our Department of Environmental Protection uses a "string of pearls" policy that was outlawed for coal by the Feds in 1987. It works like this. With almost no public notice obtain a five acre surface mining permit (no E&S plan, no NPDES permit, no antidegradation procedures, no public hearing)then obtain another and another. This process avoids all of the PA large noncoal mining regs. (and ignores the Clean Water Act). Then, when sufficient stream, well, wetland and quality of life degradation occurs, when the operation moves well outside of its permitted area, cover up the whole mess by simply issuing a large noncoal mining permit.
   Not possible?
   At the New Milford exit of I-81 in the Endless Mountains of Susquehanna County PA, operators propose to cut off the top of the gateway hill to the County. This massive site of 400+ acres is surrounded by 100+ homes and looms over the Borough of New Milford. It morphed from a small noncoal mining permit into three, then moved outside of its approved area all without notice to the public. Next it connected with big time aggregate seller who installed a large crusher. Now it operates on 42 acres, discharges without permit into High Quality streams, blasts and consumes large amounts of water with no engineered plan for any aspect of the operation. Our DEP's solution? Apply for a large noncoal permit, so they have done so - for 400 + acres.
   And who allows this? It's a combination of good old boy R's from this rural County aided by the mining division of the DEP headed by Kathleen McGinty, former environmental counselor to Al Gore.
   How sick can these political connections get in the name of big business? Import foreign workers of indeterminate work and immigration status to slave in 19th century work conditions and finance part of the project through industrial development loans.
   Also, make sure that you've picked an area that most environmental and social justice supporters have overlooked - an area that is not used to fighting for itself. Degrade property values and quality of life to keep land cheap, then run amok.  

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