State Reps Join With Sierra Club to Urge Action on Mountaintop Coal Mining
November 9, 2009 | 10:04 am
Carl forwards an email from State Representative Mary Margaret Oliver urging Georgia residents to attend a Sunday November 15th “sneak peak” airing of “Coal Country” at Push Push Theater in Decatur at 5pm. The event is being hosted by the Sierra Club and five, count them five, State Reps (Mary Margaret Oliver, Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, Elly Dobbs, Kathy Ashe, and Pat Gardner)
According to Oliver’s release…
The award-winning documentary features amazing footage of coal mining in the South and prompts discussion about the state of Georgia’s current and future energy economy.
…I am hosting this event to gain support and interest in HB 276, that I introduced last session to limit over time the importation of coal into Georgia from mountain top removal mines.
Here’s the summary on HB 276…
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conservation and natural resources, so as to prohibit the purchase or use of coal extracted by mountaintop removal coal mining for the generation of electricity; to provide for definitions; to provide for a phase out period; to provide for civil penalties; to change certain provisions relating to permit requirements, applications, issuance, revocation, suspension, and amendment; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
I grew up in the Appalachian mountains, and this stuff makes me sick. I’m so glad someone down here is finally paying attention to this issue. Everyone here probably already knows this, but the Southern Appalachians are home to some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. These areas and their people get very little attention, and the needs are tremendous both from an environmental and a social/economic standpoint.
I too find mountaintop removal more than a little disturbing, but from the summary and Oliver’s comments above, this bill strikes me as flatly unconstitutional.