(Marfork, WV) - Alpha Natural Resources says it has stopped its blasting operation at the Bee Tree Mine near Marfork because protesters are perched about 80 feet up in the trees near the site. State Police received an anonymous call saying two women, 24 year old Catherine Ann MacDougal and 21 year old Becky Kolins were up in the trees within 300 feet of the blasting site. They hung banners in the area that read, "Stop strip mining." They say they want Alpha to stop surface mining on Coal River Mountain, and are also calling on the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to stop issuing permits within the Coal River watershed. The two women are part of the "Radical Action for Mountain People's Survival" group.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Protesters Perched in Trees Stop Blasting
(Marfork, WV) - Alpha Natural Resources says it has stopped its blasting operation at the Bee Tree Mine near Marfork because protesters are perched about 80 feet up in the trees near the site. State Police received an anonymous call saying two women, 24 year old Catherine Ann MacDougal and 21 year old Becky Kolins were up in the trees within 300 feet of the blasting site. They hung banners in the area that read, "Stop strip mining." They say they want Alpha to stop surface mining on Coal River Mountain, and are also calling on the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to stop issuing permits within the Coal River watershed. The two women are part of the "Radical Action for Mountain People's Survival" group.
