Urge President to Stop Mountaintop Removal
Action Needed: Send letter to President Obama
Proposal: Ask President Obama to address the issue of Mountaintop Removal mining in the Appalachians now. This very destructive type of mining that pollutes the mountain streams and destroys the environment needs to be stopped. During his campaign then candidate Obama supported efforts to halt this type of mining.
Catholic Social Teaching: We must "Care for God's Creation". Lack of clean water is a major contributor to poverty and disease throughout the world. It is our responsibility to see that the water supply is protected. Many people living in Appalachia are among the poorest in the United States. Their voice needs to be heard.
Sample Message
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Obama,
As you know, parts of Appalachia are being permanently destroyed because of a destructive form of coal mining known as mountaintop removal. During your campaign, you agreed that mountaintop removal mining is tearing up the Appalachian Mountains, and your leadership on this important issue is needed now more than ever.
On February 13, 2009, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ignored science and the law when it ruled in favor of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to permit companies to conduct devastating mountaintop removal mining without minimizing stream destruction or conducting adequate environmental reviews. As a result, up to 90 new mountaintop removal permits could soon begin to blast mountaintops and permanently bury streams.
I implore you to stand strong against this destruction and quickly undo changes made to Clean Water Act rules that, for the first time since that law was passed, allow industries to bury streams and other waters with their wastes by calling it "fill" material. Last year, Congressional leaders pledged to stop mountaintop removal by introducing the Clean Water Protection Act, and I am hopeful they will continue with that important legislation. But mountaintop removal mining is an immediate and permanent threat, and we need your leadership urgently. I sincerely hope you will protect Appalachian mountains, streams and communities from further destruction.
Sincerely,
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