Not Very Different from Those of the "Environmental Extremists"(This article appeared in the Charleston Gazette on May 24,1999)

IN DECEMBER 1998, United Mine Workers (UMWA) President Cecil Roberts submitted a position paper on mountaintop removal to the Governor’s Task Force on Mountaintop Removal. Many of the concerns raised by the UMWA in this paper are the same ones raised by environmentalists who are now being characterized as radicals trying to destroy mining jobs.

For example, the UMWA "supported the comprehensive study of long-term effects of mountaintop removal recently suggested by EPA officials," and stated "that officials entrusted with enforcement have on many occasions not sufficiently protected our communities." They were "supportive of federal regulations which require the return of overburden to its approximate original contour," stating "that federal law should be strictly enforced."

The UMWA also stated that Approximate Original Contour (AOC) variances "should not include simply fish and wildlife habitat and recreation." In addition, they stated "that historic portions of Blair Mountain must be preserved and thus should be off limits for mining."

The contradictions between the statements in the UMW’s position paper and its current strategy of attacking citizens and judges who share these same concerns as "radical environmentalists out to destroy mining jobs" does nothing to address the real issue.

Job losses are due largely to mechanization and corporate motives to increase profit by decreasing the overhead costs of employment. Since 1977, more than 45,000 miners have lost their jobs, while production has nearly doubled. Much of the mechanization that cost so many mining jobs was subsidized by huge tax breaks given to coal companies by our Legislature in the 1980s.

Three hundred miners have recently been laid off due to environmental concerns, yet within the same time frame more than 1,000 miners were laid off due to what corporate executives euphemistically refer to as "market conditions."

The layoffs were as follows: 250 A.T. Massey miners, 350 Consol miners in northern West Virginia, another round of A.T. Massey layoffs of 250 miners, 150 Meadow River Co. miners in Fayette County and 350 Cannellton miners.

Rather than standing beside rich out-of-state corporate executives whose quest for profit has cost so many miners their jobs, the UMW should call for an increase to the coal severance tax.

These funds could be used to retrain laid-off miners with technology-based skills. We must prepare our work force for the day when the mineable coal runs out.

According to the West Virginia Coal Association, $4.4 billion in coal was extracted from West Virginia in 1997 and $2.6 billion remained in the state’s economy. That means that $1.8 billion, or 41 cents on the dollar, left our state.

A modest 1 percent increase in the coal tax still enables coal companies to take 40 cents on the dollar out of our state. According to the Governor’s Task Force summary on mountaintop removal: "If the coal industry and those benefitting from the extraction of mineral resources are allowed the short-term privilege of exploiting our state’s wealth through mining, then with that privilege must come the responsibility of helping address the long term needs of the people."

A modest 1 percent increase in the coal tax seems like a small price to pay, especially since for nearly 100 years companies extracted huge amounts of wealth without paying any severance tax and enjoying huge tax breaks on the land they owned.

Of course, taking on the powerful coal lobby would only be successful through a coalition. There are potential coalition partners.

For instance, the West Virginia Education Association recently adopted language in its legislative program to raise the severance tax on coal and has discussed the possibilities of forming coalitions to do so.

One thing you can be sure of: The coal companies will whine and scream, just like they did when miners got a fair wage, laws to ensure safer working conditions and health care.

Boyd is on the West Virginia Education Association legislative committee and a member of the Plateau Action Network in Fayette County.