Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

The following email was sent to the 36,000+ supporters of iLoveMountains.org. To sign up to receive free email alerts, click here.

Dear Mountain Lover,

Last week, the Senate held its first hearing on mountaintop removal coal mining and the Appalachia Restoration Act (S 696) — and an overflow crowd of activists and coalfield residents turned out to show their support for Senate action to end the destructive practice of mountaintop removal.

Among those testifying at the hearing was West Virginia native Maria Gunnoe, winner of this year’s Goldman Environmental Prize.

Click here to watch a special message from Maria to supporters of iLoveMountains.org

The Appalachian Restoration Act (S 696) is the Senate version of the Clean Water Protection Act, which would outlaw the dumping of mining waste into streams and undo the Bush administration’s 2002 gutting of the Clean Water Act.

As you can see in the video, turnout for the hearing was incredible.

Nearly 200 people lined up for the hearing — so many that an overflow room in a nearby building was set up for those who couldn’t get inside the Senate chamber. We’re proud to say that supporters of the bill strongly outnumbered opponents.

Now, more than ever, it’s absolutely critical that the Senate knows that the public — including you — supports ending mountaintop removal coal mining.

That’s why I’m joining Maria and asking you to take action today.

Let your Senators know that you support the Appalachian Restoration Act. Please take a moment out of your day right now to call your Senators and urge them to support an end to mountaintop removal coal mining.

Use our toll-free online call-in tool to call your Senators now. Suggested talking points are provided.

Last week’s hearing was a critical first step on the road to getting meaningful Senate action to end mountaintop removal coal mining.

Please, take a moment to let your Senators know that you support an end to the worst abuses of the coal mining industry.

Call your Senators now - http://www.ilovemountains.org/call-your-senators/

If you want to make an even bigger impact in the effort to pass the Clean Water Protection Act and the Appalachian Restoration Act, consider visiting your members of Congress in their local office when they return from DC during the August recess. We can guide you through the process to make your visit as easy and successful as possible.

For more information on visiting your members of Congress in August, click here.

Thank you for taking action.

Matt Wasson
iLoveMountains.org

P.S. - For a roundup of news stories on the hearing and links to additional photos, click here.

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