DEP Denies Blair Mountain Petition

(West Virginia) - The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has denied a petition filed by several groups asking for Blair Mountain in Logan County to be declared unsuitable for mining. Massey Energy, which is now part of Alpha Natural Resources, and Arch Coal have indicated they want to develop mining operations on Blair Mountain. The June 2nd petition was filed by the Sierra Club, Friends of Blair Mountain, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, West Virginia Labor History Association and West Virginia Highlands Conservancy.