Lincoln County Delegate Jeff Eldridge and Logan County Delegate Greg Butcher were both in attendance at the rally yesterday. Photo/Michael Browning
The EPA has delayed 79 surface mine permits, including several in the southern West Virginia counties of Boone, Logan, Lincoln, Mingo and Wyoming.
The rally was organized by the West Virginia Conservative Foundation and nearly 200 people were in attendance, holding signs and cheering on speakers. Environmentalist protesters were also in attendance and coal supporters held up signs in front of their faces to prevent the protesters from being heard at the rally.
Logan County Delegate Greg Butcher said he hopes officials in Washington, D.C., hear the rally’s message.
“This is the same message I’ve had for years,” Butcher said. “I lost a $50,000-a-year job due to environmental issues. I’m blaming the Obama administration and the EPA for portraying me, as a state legislator, and the people I represent as an irresponsible thugs. We’re not irresponsible. What is irresponsible is coming from the administration in D.C.
“If we have mining problems, let’s address those problems, get the permits and put our people back to work.”
Butcher said he wants West Virginia’s congressional delegation to stand up for coal.
“Stop allowing Washington, D.C. to call coal a dirty word,” Butcher said. “Our state is sick of that. Our congressional delegation needs to step up and not allow people to call coal a dirty word. It’s offensive to me and offensive to the families and people I represent to call us irresponsible.
“We have to send a message to Washington, D.C., and our congressional delegation, who have been my friends for many years. I’m worried about the quality of life for my grandchildren. This state will be a ghost town without coal. This cause is so great and we need to hound our congressional delegation.”
Lincoln County Delegate Jeff Eldridge said he hopes the state’s congressional representatives will start supporting coal.
“We have to keep our jobs. That’s the bottom line,” Eldridge said. “All we’re doing is regulating ourselves out of work. West Virginia probably regulates better than any other state in any other country – by far. Congress and our senators need to get on the right page and start representing the people of West Virginia.”
The crowd, at one point, chanted for Congressman Nick Rahall to be voted out of office because he reportedly said the EPA is just doing its job.
Eldridge said he doesn’t understand Rahall not speaking up for coal.
“He needs to step up and listen to the people of West Virginia,” Eldridge said.
But, Butcher disagreed with his legislative peer.
“I disagree with that part of this rally,” Butcher said. “Rahall has been a good friend to coal. He’s supported coal all these years. I intend to speak with him. He’s been good for coal for years. He has been a good representative. I thought that was an unfair remark.”
Several speakers discussed coal’s importance at the conservative rally. Both Democrats and Republicans took turns at the podium, which was sitting in front of the Coal Miner Memorial on the Capitol grounds.
Several miners attended the rally and several coal officials, including Putnam County legislator Troy Andes, who is also a public relations official for Massey Energy. Other coal officials also spoke at the rally.
Eldridge stood behind several of the speakers holding a sign in favor of coal. Both local delegates said they found out about the rally through an article in The Logan Banner.
The EPA has delayed 79 surface mine permits in West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.
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