It seems the main argument is mountain top removal. Deep mining is ok. However, the impoundment that was mentioned as scaring the little boy was probably made by the refuse from underground mining. Underground mining methods frequently have 30% or more material they must impound while much of surface mining coal it taken directly to the power plants. Mr. Kennedy talked about the damage done by surface mining, but roads are built using the same methods and there is a lot more land disturbance due to roads. Recently a bridge was blown up across the Ohio River and a piece of the bridge went through a house. The media reported it in passing, but when similar occurrences happen in mining we get weeks of coverage.

Canada, in its pursuit of tar-sand oil production, gave the oil companies a guaranteed floor for the oil price. Now Canada is a big oil producer. It would be silly to think this industry did not have environmental issues. The government is a partner rather than a regulator.

One more point that seems to be avoided is the inspectors are told the must find and write violations and as a result many of these are frivolous. Many of the field inspectors have very little practical experience and their supervisors are frequently called to abate their findings. This practice runs the numbers of violations out of sight. Mining is an industry that employs many engineers with vast education and experience to design the mine, only to have an inspector with one year experience to stop the implementation.

It is easy to criticize. You don’t have to have a solution to run your mouth. Personally, I would rather have a coal mine in my back yard than a nuclear power plant, but I will take which ever gives me the cheapest power bill.

I will say, though, that I sincerely hope that Blankenship steers clear of Kennedy’s past. It is, after all, Kennedy’s arrest that resulted in him becoming such an incredible environmental advocate. Everyone, even a Kennedy, trips up in life, but rarely do we see such a dramatic turnaround in a convict’s character as we’ve seen with Bobby. For Blankenship to target this would be a terrible mistake.

Just a link correction… the debate will be livecast on Waterkeeper’s site at http://www.waterkeeper.org. Should be a good one!