Group disputes state findings on coal dust from Massey's Goals

Washington (Platts)--5Oct2005

Massey Energy's Goals Coal operation in West Virginia is once again the source
of contention between local residents and state government. 

This time, the governor appears to be backing the company's location.
Following a review of the situation, Carte Goodwin, Gov. Joe Manchin's general
counsel, recently sent a letter to Coal River Mountain Watch, a group opposing
Goals Coal's silo location near an elementary school, saying a gubernatorial
review of conditions at Marsh Fork Elementary School determined that Goals is
operating safely next to the school.

"Although you may personally take issue with some of these findings, we were
pleased -- in the interest of the health, safety and welfare of our citizens
-- that the extensive investigation revealed no evidence of health risks or
regulatory noncompliance," the letter said.

That finding contradicts what the West Virginia Dept. of Environmental
Protection told him previously, CRMW volunteer organizer Bo Webb said.

State regulators previously nixed a second coal-storage silo at the site
because it was too close to the elementary school, and critics say the
existing silo is the source of coal dust at the school and causing numerous
health problems.

Goals will get an appeals hearing before the West Virginia Surface Mine Board
Nov. 8-9 on the status of the rescinded permit to construct the second silo at
the Raleigh County prep plant. In July, the WVDEP rescinded the permit for the
second silo after concluding it was not within the permit boundary. The
project aroused the ire of local residents who objected to the silo's
proximity to the school.

But the real problem is from coal dust from the existing Goals operation, Webb
told Platts Coal Trader Tuesday. Kids and teachers at the school are suffering
a variety of ailments, and the state's response hasn't been satisfactory at
all, Webb claimed.

"Let's build them a new school away from the mine site," he said. "We are not
against coal mining, but we are opposed to the methods being used today. 

"All we are asking for is a real investigation," Webb said, indicating that
CRMW is not trying to shut down the Goals operation.

The existing Goals silo, approved two years ago, is within 180 feet of the
school, and that is "illegal" and contrary to the federal Surface Mining
Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Webb said. He claims that students and
teachers are suffering from headaches and sore throats that disappear once
they are away from school for the summer or holidays.

But Goodwin's letter to CRMW said the gubernatorial review of conditions at
Marsh Fork determined that Goals is operating safely next to the school.

"From these efforts, it was determined that the suggested school sites were
not feasible alternatives; that the indoor air quality of the school complied
with applicable regulatory provisions; that there was not an abnormal rate of
cancer or disease in the area; and that the impoundment [at Goals] satisfied
governing federal and state regulations," Goodwin wrote. 

A Massey spokesman didn't respond to calls by press time.

-- Steve Hooks, steve_hooks@platts.com

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