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Last Monday was one of the saddest and most disturbing days in West Virginia history. The Upper Big Branch Mine explosion has thus far taken the lives of 25 brave and hard-working people, while 4 still remain missing. I recently have picked up the use of my Twitter account that I got last year but have yet to habitually use. The past week I have followed Ken Ward, a veteran Charleston Gazette journalist who has been covering the situation basically 24/7 since it happened.
Four eight-man teams are at a staging area within the mine, he said. Two teams will advance to check on the final refuge chamber, the only hope for survival for the four miners who are still unaccounted for.
Visibility inside the mine is limited to about 100 feet, because after Monday's massive explosion, there is probably dust in the air and the walls are charred black, making it harder to see. The refuge chamber is located in a cross cut, meaning that rescue teams would need to be almost on top of it before they can tell whether it has been deployed, an obvious indication that there are miners inside.
If there is no one inside the chamber, the mission immediately shifts to recovering the bodies of dead miners and taking them out of the mine.
The only hope of finding survivors will be in the final "rescue chamber" that has yet to be checked. The chambers are designed to be a safe haven after a situation like this occurs, where there is enough oxygen for a group of miners to survive for roughly 4 days. They have checked all but one chamber. We are still praying that there will be a miracle.
The hopes are growing dimmer and Governor Joe Manchin has begun to accept this realization.
Gov. Manchin: "Our journey is about to end"
This story is sad, and as a West Virginian I can vouch that the whole state feels a significant sadness in our hearts. The pain the families of the fallen miners must be unimaginable.
But the question remains is, where will we go from here? How can a disaster such as this be prevented? What will the families of the miners, and the miners who were not on duty do for work now? (because it has to be assumed that the Upper Big Branch Mine will be shut down indefinitely)
President Obama has called for a full investigation and is requesting a detailed report be on his desk by next week, but will he pursue the issue? We can only hope.
For a small town with limited resources like Montcoal, WV... where will they go from this? The mine ity of the residents. The coal mine life to many there.
The people of this community face the worst part of this situation. The hard working community has to face the heartbreak of losing so many wonderful people to such a horrific disaster, and now have to worry what they will do after this situation clears. The mine is finished indefinitely. Where will they go, what will they do for work?
To me the whole situation does a grave injustice to the hard-working families that inhabit the community, and the people who were unfairly affected by the disaster.
My heart goes out to the families affected, the miners lost, the miners who look to move on, and to the entire state of West Virginia. For the people of Montcoal, if you are reading this, the entire state of West Virginia loves you and care about you, and wishes the best. As a small state, there is a certain connection felt when tragedy strikes to unite. We are West Virginians, therefore we all care about you and your families. My prayers go out to all those affected by the disaster, and to the families. I pray that there is justice brought to the situation, and that the families of the miners and the miners themselves may eventually find peace.
Rescue officials and West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin just announced a huge setback in their efforts to find the four miners still missing inside the Massey Energy Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, W.Va.
Repeated readings for carbon monoxide, methane and other gases indicated a potentially explosive mixture, prompting a decision to pull four rescue teams from the mine just five hours after they went in early this morning.
"We've had a setback," said Kevin Stricklin, coal administrator for the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Ken Ward Jr.'s Coal Tattoo is the go-to site for everyone nationally. He is an indispensable resource in a time like this and is receiving national recognition.
[Upper Big Branch] was a mine that had violations. I think the fact that MSHA and the state and our firebosses and the best engineers you can find were all in and order this mine and all belive it was safe ... speaks for itself.
Any suspicion that the mine was improperly operated or illegally operated or anything like that would be unfounded. None of these groups would have allowed this mine to operate had it been unsafe.
Good afternoon, West Virginia Blue readers. This is your afternoon open thread to discuss all things Hill-related. Use this thread to praise or bash Congresscritters, share a juicy tip, ask questions, offer critiques and suggestions, or post manifestos.
Some of the Hill news that's fit to blog is over the fold...
- As expected, following his coming out ceremony, longtime closet Republican and Blankenship vacation buddy Spike Maynard has announced he will run against Rep. Nick Rahall.
"I didn't leave the Democratic Party - the Democratic Party left me," Maynard said.
Well, if by "left me" he means they were turned off by scandal to the point that a sitting chief justice suffered a landslide defeat in a primary and practically tied for last on the ballot, then, yeah, I guess the Democratic Party did leave him.
But what's a little corruption to West Virginia Republicans, who used the occasion to announce a bold new era of ethical bankruptcy for their party?
"I think he's been in the wrong party all of his life," Chairman Doug McKinney said. "We would welcome someone of his character and integrity in the Republican Party."
The usual media suspects sprang into action, touting Maynard's chances in objective, thoughtful "analysis" pieces that praised Brent Benjamin's campaign and railed against something called the "Democrat Party."
The field for the West Virginia Representatives to the U.S. House is complete. Here's the candidates who have filed for office in each of the three district races.
The Candidates
WV-01
Alan B. Mollohan (Democrat) from Fairmont, Marion County
Mike Oliverio (Democrat) from Morgantown, Monongalia County
Cindy Hall (Republican) from Wheeling, Ohio County
Patricia VanGilder Levenson (Republican) from Wheeling, Ohio County
David B. McKinley (Republican) from Wheeling, Ohio County
Sarah Minear (Republican) from Morgantown, Monongalia County
Thomas Stark (Republican) from Parkersburg, Wood County
Mac Warner (Republican) from Morgantown, Monongalia County
WV-02
Virginia Lynch Graf (Democrat) from Charles Town, Jefferson County
Shelley Moore Capito (Republican) from Charleston, Kanawha County
WV-03
Bruce Barilla (Democrat) from Bluefield, Greenbrier County
Nick Joe Rahall II (Democrat) from Beckley, Raleigh County
Lee A. Bias (Republican) from Barboursville, Cabell County
Marty Gearheart (Republican) from Bluefield, Mercer County
Conrad G. Lucas II (Republican) from Huntington, Cabell County
Elliott E. "Spike" Maynard (Republican) from Williamson, Mingo County
What to expect
WV-01 While six different Republicans bloody each other up to face the incumbent Alan Mollohan he'll have, on paper at least, just as tough a challenger in the Democratic primary. The primary challenge from the conservative Democrat Oliverio may be a blessing in disguise for Mollohan if it brings out Mollohan supporters early and awakens a campaign apparatus that was dormant when he ran unopposed two years ago. The national GOP want WV-01 to be a high profile race, but with the recent clearing of Mollohan of any criminal wrong-doing in a long-simmering FBI probe, Mollohan can now focus on building up a war chest. Rep. Mollohan may have to campaign harder than usual, but with the advantages of incumbency he should have no returning for another term.
WV-02 After facing a well-supported and well-financed challenge by DCCC-recruited strong challenge by DCCC-supported* candidate Anne Barth in 2008, Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito is breathing a major sigh of relief this year. The DCCC and state Democrat party was unable to recruit any high profile candidates for this race. Democrats are lucky that grassroots activist Graf has stepped up to challenge Capito, so the seat remains contested. Graf benefits from no primary challenge so can immediately focus on Capito and a general election campaign. Capito has 'bought a landslide' two cycles in a row, Graf can only hope Capito is complacent and gets caught by surprise if the Graf campaign catches fire.
* Updated: In my haste earlier, I may have left the wrong impression. To clarify: Anne Barth was well supported by the DCCC once she entered the race; State Sen. John Unger was the original DCCC-recruited candidate up until he unexpectedly dropped out just prior to the filing deadline. Also, although Anne Barth did well with fund-raising, she was still out-spent by Rep. Capito by around 3:1.
WV-03 Incumbent Democratic Nick Rahall will have no problem dispatching Barilla in the primary. Former Democrat Spike Maynard is widely expected to be well funded by Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship and prevail in the Republican primary field. A Rahall vs. Maynard general election will almost certainly be a hugely negative, substance free affair. This race will draw national interest--after all, can you think of any other congressional candidates who have inspired Grisham novels? In the end, the interest will benefit Rep. Rahall's fund-raising and he'll be returned for yet another term.
-Jeff Friedrich on the end of Climate Ground Zero's 9-day treesit: "Lies Don Blankenship Told Me: Why Climate Activists Are Heading To The West Virginian Coal Fields."
- Nitchman and Blevins still in jail. Total bail at $9,624.00.
- Logan Banner managing editor Michael Browning asks why we should care about celebrities' views on coal mining - unless, of course, they're named Ted Nugent or Hank Williams Jr and get a check from Blankenship for a rally that the Banner helped promote.
- Blankenship political operative Roman Stauffer would probably have a good idea what the schedule of disgraced judge Elliott "Spike" Maynard looks like. Stauffer, who's been pushing for a Maynard challenge to Rep. Rahall, says Spike is going to talk to John Raese's mouthpiece, Hoppy Kercheval, Monday at 10:00 a.m. Will Don's pal announce a coal owner-funded run?
- Mollohan and Rahall joined Capito's coal caucus.
- And President Obama took time from his smackdown of the House GOP at their Baltimore retreat to take a question from Capito.
Since their first night in the trees Massey has been harassing the sitters using sleep deprivation tactics; this is harming the hearing of both the security and the sitters. Security personnel are perpetually shining bright lights and employing the noise-making machines. A few hours ago Eric Blevins took action by calling the state police and reporting a noise violation. Quite soon after he called the noise machines turned off but they have since been turned back on. In a similar vein of harassment, Massey security has tied a rope to a smaller tree next to Amber's platform. They are pulling and releasing the rope so that the sapling smacks the bottom of her platform, hoping that she will feel unsafe and come down.
- Governor Manchin will meet with Bo Webb and other coalfields residents today.
- The stenographer of the week award goes to Bill Archer of The Bluefield Daily Telegraph for covering FACES of Coal.
- Big Laurel Coal is cited for ignoring dangers that contributed to a Virginia mine electrician's death.
-and Friends of Coal: The coloring book. really.
First off, here's all the important logistical details:
WHAT: The University of Charleston will present a public conversation between Waterkeeper Alliance President and environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Massey Energy Chairman and CEO Don Blankenship titled the Forum on the Future of Energy. The event will advance the national discussion about U.S. energy policy and its impact on jobs, the environment, the economy, and national security.
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010, at 6:15 pm
WHO: Don Blankenship - Chairman and CEO, Massey Energy Co.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. - President, Waterkeeper Alliance
Dr. Edwin H. Welch - President, University of Charleston, event moderator
WHERE: University of Charleston's Geary Auditorium; live remote broadcast in Eddie King Gymnasium
If you want to attend in person, the tickets for the auditorium are "sold out" (they were never available for sale to the public), but free admission is available for the remote broadcast in the Eddie King Gymnasium.
The Forum has generated considerable interest and demand for tickets has exceeded the auditorium capacity. Event organizers will distribute tickets in advance, and no additional seats will be available. For all others, the forum will be broadcast live in Eddie King Gymnasium on the university's campus.
To accommodate television coverage, the University of Charleston requests that the audience be seated prior to 6:15 p.m. Those holding tickets will be seated in their respective sections, on a first-come, first-served basis, with early arrivals seated at the front. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. and entry into the event will be through the Keenan lot entrance of Riggleman Hall only.
All interested parties are invited to submit questions for the participants in advance. Dr. Welch, as moderator, will ask the participants a balance of representative, challenging questions chosen from those submitted.
There's a lot of national interest in the debate and the fact that it is happening at all is significant. It is one more sign that folks are starting to take planning for West Virginia's post-carbon future a little more seriously.
- An appeal is being filed by the West Virginia Labor History Association over the removal of Blair Mountain from the National Register of Historic Places.
- The Times Herald-Record, of New York's Hudson River Valley, profiled Mat Louis-Rosenberg of Coal River Mountain Watch.
"Mountaintop removal is the worst manmade catastrophe in the nation's history," he said. "It's also an economic catastrophe for West Virginia. The coal industry, while promising prosperity to the state, has devastated communities across the state."
Blankenship was feeling shy:
Blankenship declined comment on the "Rolling Stone" article and on accusations of violating the Clean Water Act. He also declined comment on accusations that mountaintop mining affects the health of the Appalachian people.
- When Don's feeling more talkative, he often says mountaintop removal is necessary to ward off competition from overseas. He might want to look into these guys at Massey Energy, who just signed a deal with Delhi, India-based Jindal Steel & Power for coal projects in India, Mongolia, Australia and the United States.
-The rightwing Charleston Daily Mail tells us that changes for the black lung benefits program that Senator Byrd put in the Senate health care bill are a "job killer."
How do we know?
"Experts" say, according to the Daily Mail - Experts like Steve Roberts of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, who, coincidentally, wanted Byrd to hold the health care bill hostage unless the coal owners' demands were met.
Some fine stenography by the Daily Mail's business editor, George Hohmann.
- And speaking of Daily Mail hacks, just wanted to point out that we're two weeks out and Don Surber has yet to offer even a remotely substantive rebuttal to Ken Ward's post that obliterated the crap Don was inserting into DM editorials.
- Republican Senator James Inhofe has a distinguished career as a total shill for corporate America. Whether its pushing for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or comparing the world's scientific community to the Third Reich, he's worked hard to be the go-to guy for polluters... and He's quite proud of it. ...so it was only a matter of time until he came out solidly in favor of the destruction of the Appalachian Mountains.
It's a new year, the holidays are over and the coal barons and their allies have launched a new offensive of misinformation.
Citizen activists and environmentalists achieved true momentum in 2009, and the coal companies see a threat to their goal of continuing to treat West Virginia like a third world country.
As part of their effort to regain ground in 2010, Massey Energy has started running a series of new attack ads on TV that flash Al Gore's image at you and demonize environmentalists as "tree-hugging extremists," though Kevin Grandia at Huffington Post made short work of their misleading claims that Massey is "fighting hard for Appalachian jobs:"
It is a strange world indeed when standing up for "what's right" means cutting employee wages, stuffing the CEO's coffers with more cash and dumping toxic pollution into freshwater streams.
Meanwhile, Massey CEO Don Blankenship has decided to quit whining on Twitter about how the Gazette won't turn its opinion page over to him and sent in a response to a critical letter by Tom Burger. He's probably a bit peeved about having to follow a set of rules this time, though.
- Speaking at Massey's Christmas extravaganza Saturday, Don Blankenship got into the holiday spirit by referring to Senator Byrd as "naive" and said EPA stand for 'Equal Poverty for All."
-Steve Roberts of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce can't understand why our senators think it's "beyond foolish" to hold health care reform hostage for the coal barons.
- Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, gives an excellent rebuttal to Don Blankenship's latest load of B.S.
While it baffles me that flat-Earthers like Blankenship still exist, my response to the last few deniers is simple.
If you don't believe in the science, that's your problem. But the need for America to generate jobs and strengthen our national security is paramount, and clean energy is the fastest way to achieve that.
Mark your calendars this ought to be a good one. In an article today in the Charleston Gazette by Davin White, Robert Kennedy Jr will be debating Don Blankenship on the future of energy. This will take place on January 21st, 2010 at the University of Charleston. You can read the short piece by clicking here.
UC President Ed Welch said he looks forward to having the pair debate issues such as mountaintop removal and climate change.
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