Editor,

It is long past time that West Virginians be told the true cost of mountaintop removal mining. It is way past time that the people of our state stop listening to the propaganda and lies designed by the coal industry to mislead the public.

It is time that they awaken and start protecting the real value of our biggest and most important national resource n the people and the land they love.

To hide their ridiculous claim that they are making the land better, the coal industry pours millions of dollars into a handful of strip mine sites in order to claim they are doing reclamation. Even these sites make God turn His eyes away.

We ask that they show us the average "reclaimed" site. Is there a complete canopy of native trees and understory with ginseng, black cohosh, goldenseal, bloodroot, ramps, molly moochers and squirrels, etc? Are there hardwood trees?

Also, how does total acre destroyed for total acre actually "reclaimed" or developed compare? Show us every inch of every site. Show us some viable economic development on these sites.

Who are the environmentalists that coal industry shrills are trying to demonize? Check the regulatory agency complaint list, you will see that they are community residents that have complained about blasting, polluted water and air, and loss of ancestral homes.

In the early years of the coal industry, our people were nothing more than bonded slaves working for an evil, greedy industry that cared only about profits. The workers were expendable. Unfortunately, this is still true.

We can't trust the coal industry. Demand different jobs.

Janice A. Nease

Poca