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This news story originally provided by The Charleston Daily Mail
October 4, 2005
Manchin review finds no problems at Raleigh elementary
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- A Manchin administration review of
conditions at a Raleigh County elementary school located next to a
coal processing operation and below a coal waste impoundment
indicates the school is safe, a letter from Gov. Joe Manchin's
general counsel says.
The letter was sent last week to Coal River Mountain Watch, which
wants an independent study of conditions at Marsh Fork Elementary
School. The letter said there is no need for another review.
State officials considered alternative school sites, performed two
indoor air quality tests and reviewed health data regarding rates of
illness in the surrounding area, said the letter from Carte Goodwin.
Administration officials also looked at documentation of federal and
state oversight of the coal waste impoundment.
"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 satisfied governing federal and state
regulations,'' Goodwin wrote.
"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.
Coal River Mountain Watch, a grass roots environmental group, has
long been concerned about the safety of the school near Sundial.
On June 30, state Environmental Protection Secretary Stephanie
Timmermeyer renewed permits for the Massey Energy subsidiary Goals
Coal Co.'s coal waste impoundment and approved construction of the
second of two new coal silos at the site.
In July, the Department of Environmental Protection revoked the silo
permit, after learning that the structure was proposed to be built
outside the operation's original permit boundary. Under state and
federal law, no new mining operations are allowed within 300 feet of
a school.
A Massey Energy spokesman did not immediately returned a phone call
Tuesday morning.
Bo Webb of Coal River Mountain Watch said the administration's
investigation was a sham.
"The kids deserve more,'' Webb said Tuesday. "Joe Manchin stood on
the back steps of the Capitol and said clearly and plainly to many
media members that these kids and their health was the utmost
concern to him. They haven't done anything.
"He really needs to get out from behind his chair and drive up to
Marsh Fork Elementary School unannounced and check it out for
himself.''
Webb said the group plans to step up its campaign for further study
of the site.
"If he thinks we are just a bunch of holler hicks he can throw some
fancy words at through his attorney, no, it's not going to happen.
... We want questions answered,'' Webb said. "We have sick kids
here.''
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