Environmental Concerns

Can you believe that Christmas is only eight days away? Once again time travels at supersonic speed in this household.

We have many blessings in this state. One of the things that concerns me, however, is having leaders who are sensitive in protecting our natural heritage. It is important that they have an effective plan assuring the protection our little piece of the biosphere for the future. You know how I love Dolly Sods, Spruce Knob, and the other natural areas that are within our boundaries. These unique areas are special to many folks and certainly add to our economy of our state.

West Virginia recently placed 50th in a ranking of the 50 states. This ranking came from what is perhaps the nation's most respected business publication, Forbes magazine.

Forbes ranked West Virginia 50th - dead last - in a ranking of "green" states. The rankings appeared in the Oct. 17 issue and put Mississippi (you knew it), Louisiana, Alabama and Indiana just ahead of West Virginia.

About these states, the magazine said: "All suffer from a mix of toxic waste, lots of pollution and consumption, and no clear plans to do anything about it. Expect them to remain that way."

West Virginia has the highest rate of death caused by power plant pollution in the entire United States. According to US Environmental Protection Agency estimates, nearly 400 West Virginians die each year from heart attacks and lung cancer caused by power plant pollution. In addition, 314 emergency room visits, 331 hospitalizations, 7923 asthma attacks, and 41,627 lost work days are estimated to result from power plant pollution in WV.


I was really saddened when the WV Department of Environmental Protection recently slashed a list of West Virginia streams targeted for extra protection nearly in half.

Gov. Joe Manchin has asked that 303 protected streams be reduced to 156 streams.
Manchin and WV legislators, after listening to coal industry lobbyists, requested the reduction.

The change will allow for several new mountaintop removal operations, where debris is used to fill in adjacent streams.

The protected designation allows a minimal amount of new pollution to enter a West Virginia stream.

The DEP will be submitting the new, shorter list to the Legislature in January.

There has to be a compromise between our natural energy industries and environmental groups soon!