Families in West Virginia’s southern coalfields have traditionally buried their people in cemeteries on top of hills and mountains – and more of these mountaintops are threatened by mountaintop removal.

OVEC members Versie Sims and Anita Miller recently visited WV legislators to talk about the vulnerability of coalfield cemeteries. Sims became alarmed when she realized that 171 Lincoln County cemeteries are not adequately protected from mining operations.

In response, on Feb.19 a bill was introduced in the House that seeks to protect cemeteries from encroaching machines. Thanks to the sponsors: Delegates Jeff Eldridge, Ted Ellis, Ralph Rodigherio and Dale Stephens. This bill would require additional public notification of proposed mining near cemeteries, and would prohibit mining within 1,000 feet of cemeteries.

The Stover Family Cemetery on Kayford Mountain was desecrated by mountaintop removal mining in July. Since then, members of OVEC and the Sierra Club have been meeting with state regulatory agencies.

We need better enforcement of current laws and additional legal measures to prevent human remains from being bulldozed into oblivion (or into the bottom of a valley fill).

We’re planning to have a more detailed and comprehensive Coalfield Cemetery Protection bill ready to be introduced at the beginning of the 2009 legislative session.

We’ve learned that this is a very legally and politically complex issue. It’s going to take a well organized coalition of citizens and groups to stimulate new state laws, and to make sure existing laws are enforced.

Please, your help is needed! if you’re willing to get involved, call Dianne at the OVEC office, (304) 522-0246, Extension 9.