Sen. Byrd’s policy statement on coal:

On Dec. 3, Sen. Robert Byrd issued a thunderbolt of a policy statement on coal, and on mountaintop removal mining in particular. The problem is, many wonder what his blast meant he intends to do.

For the sake of the state’s well being, a full understanding of his position is essential.

West Virginia’s economy is highly dependent on coal.

Furthermore, about 42 percent of the state’s coal production comes from surface methods, and 61 percent of that comes from mountaintop removal mines.

The senator’s warning about how representatives from non-coal states view mountaintop removal mining is understood.

‘‘The practice of mountaintop removal mining has a diminishing constituency in Washington,’’ he said. ‘‘It is not a widespread method of mining, with its use confined to only three states.

‘‘Most members of Congress, like most Americans, oppose the practice, and we may not yet fully understand the effects of mountaintop removal mining.’’

Could the West Virginia delegation make clear to other members of Congress the economic effects of losing a huge chunk of the state’s coal production?

In some southern counties, mountaintop removal mining is a critical source of revenue and accounts for hundreds of jobs.

A ban on mountaintop removal mining would cause devastating unemployment and knock a huge hole in local budgets and in the state budget as well.

This may be of no consequence to representatives from other states, some of whom would blithely dispense with livelihoods in other people’s bailiwicks.

But to say that clarity on mountaintop removal mining matters to West Virginians is to understate the case.

Byrd blasted responsible West Virginia leaders, including fellow Democrats, for complaining about the capriciousness of the Environmental Protection Agency under President Obama.

Gov. Joe Manchin speaks for many when he asks the senator to clarify his stance.

‘‘I want to know if he’s against mountaintop removal completely or if he just wants to modify it,’’ the governor said.

Which is it?

West Virginians need to know — indeed, deserve to.