CHARLESTON--A public debate between the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy Mining Committee Chairwoman Cindy Rank and United Mine Workers (UMWA) President Cecil Roberts on mountaintop removal mining would validate the incorrect notion that this controversy is between coal miners and environmentalists. For this reason, the Highlands Conservancy (WVHC) has declined Roberts' challenge to debate, but still welcomes the "civilized discussion" that the UMWA president has suggested.

In declining the debate, Rank said, "Above all we believe that UMWA and WVHC share a bond that neither of us shares with industry: our members will still be here in West Virginia long after the coal is gone. Given this deep seated mutual interest, it is essential that we do all we can to bring mining practices into compliance with the law to secure the future health and well being of the state and our members and their descendants."

The Highlands Conservancy has not avoided public debate. According to Frank Young, the organization's president, "The Conservancy's Mining Committee chairwoman, Cindy Rank, and other Conservancy directors and representatives have participated in several public forums, along with coal industry officials, regulatory agency officials and UMWA union workers. Such forums included the West Virginia Public Radio "Switchboard" program aired statewide, a panel discussion forum held at West Virginia University, a tri-county Concerned Citizens Coalition forum held recently at Spencer, and another public event just this week in Huntington. We expect the public debate to continue."

Young added, "We have repeatedly made the point that the environmental issues at stake are between the Conservancy and the coal companies that violate the laws, not between us and the miners. It is the regulatory agencies, not the union, that have permitted the violations. Therefore, we think future debates should involve the companies and the agencies, not just the Conservancy and the UMWA."

While the Conservancy does not believe that a public debate in the format suggested by Roberts would be productive, it does agree with many of the principles which he sets forth. In his letter suggesting an "open debate," Roberts emphasized the importance of mining being done responsibly and by the law. The Conservancy agrees wholeheartedly; this is the goal of its ongoing litigation.

Roberts also suggests a "constructive dialogue" and a "civilized discussion." The Conservancy agrees that a dialogue which is constructive and a discussion which is civilized would serve the interests of both the UMWA and the Conservancy as well as the people of West Virginia. While the Conservancy does not believe the high profile one-on-one debate Roberts suggests would be productive, it welcomes the opportunity for a constructive dialogue and a civilized discussion.