“Politicians and public officials fail to help” - Penny Loeb, author for WV coalfield
Ragland is a community with a long history of both coal mining and mine-related problems. From contaminated water to local roads damaged by coal trucks, residents worry about the mounting toll of mining impacts on their community. According to author Penny Loeb,
“Many Ragland residents don’t oppose the mines, underground or mountaintop. But they have seen so much damage, that they are angry - and frustrated that politicians and public officials fail to help them.”
“What concerns many Ragland residents the most is the slag dam near the top of the mountains. It stretches nearly three football fields across and is twice as long. Originally it was about 140 feet deep. But waste coal covers the bottom, so the water depth is considerably less. The watery dump was used for nearly 30 years until it reached capacity a few years ago.”
“Since the dam sits nearly a mile off the road and is reachable only on four wheelers and steep roads, those just passing through wouldn’t know it exists. But for the Ragland residents, it lies above the community, a dark watery reminder of the tragedy at Buffalo Creek. The community has been evacuated at least once because of concerns that the dam would break. People who have worked around these kinds of dams find this one of the most worrisome. They believe it was improperly constructed, though improvements were made more recently.”
“As if bad water, lack of public sewers, a looming lake and pot-holed roads weren’t enough, soon a White Flame Energy mountaintop mine will move in at the end of one hollow.”
Click here to learn more about Ragland, WV and the communities that live nearby.
Story and photo contributed by distinguished author Penny Loeb, www.wvcoalfield.com
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November 20th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
When a corporation is allowed to destroy entire mountains to run video games 3000 miles away, Hell can’t be far behind.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Thanks for a brilliant way of showing the connection of energy source to the consumer. With that connection, we can understand better and take responsibility for our part in the coal extraction nightmare every time we plug in to the grid. Hopefully, the first step for each of us is to dramatically reduce our own electricity use and dependency on this extraction process, while increasing our energy conservation and calls for change.
May 18th, 2009 at 1:12 am
Please earnestly support S696, HR1310, & HR2169.
Encourage President Obama to undue all the damage done by previous administrations.
Reclaim YOUR American heritage.
Reclaim YOUR mountains.
Join Me –
Kathy A. Johnston,
Tulsa, OK
Thank You.
January 7th, 2010 at 7:38 am
WE ONCE BUG IN THE MOUNTAIN TOP’S TO PLANT OUR SEED’S TO FEED OUR FAMILY. WE FISHED INT THE CREEKS AN RIVERS FOR FOOD.
WE WERE HUMANS.
NOW WE REMOVE OUR MOUNTAIN TOPS TO RETRIEVE BLACK GOLD TO POLLUTE OUR AIR, CREEKS AND RIVERS.
WHAT ARE WE NOW
support S696, HR1310, & HR2169.
January 18th, 2010 at 2:08 am
We are very much against the raping of Southern West Virginia and these rich coal companies buying the candidates. Help me bring this knowledge to Christian Parkersburg residents. Join the Tea Party and we can win for all of us. Please help me educate them!
April 10th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
If your representatives are not listening to you, vote them out. PEOPLE before PROFIT! Vote for those who who listen and ACT on your behalf.
April 11th, 2010 at 12:09 am
We have been following the ILoveMountains.org website for a number of years. We click on the links and sign petitions, write letters, and make phone calls to politicians. We own a copy of “Coal Country” and lend it out to friends and relatives. Presently, we are following the Naoma Massey Mine disaster. We are saddened by the plight of the men who work for the Massey company.