A September issue of the "Parsons Advocate" reporting on the Tucker County Commission meeting (Blackwater Canyon lies in that county):

"Commissioner DiBacco told of a TV documentary which will be done by Public Broadcasting System. Opinions, he said, are being sought on 12 major issues within the county. Among the issues is the possibility of a national park in the Blackwater Canyon. DiBacco said he has no objection to the park as long as the county can be guaranteed financial assistance."

Supporters of the Blackwater Canyon National Park are delighted by this new show of support from the Commissioner. ª

Ohio’s 26 coal burning power plants emit tons of mercury in the waters around the Great Lakes, threatening the people and wild life while state and federal environmental organizations continue to look the other way. That’s the thrust of a National Wildlife Federation report from their Great Lakes Resource Center called "Ohio’s Mercury Menace."

According to an EPA report, power plants are responsible for increasing mercury emissions nation wide. Mercury, which occurs naturally in coal, is a highly toxic substance that is especially dangerous to unborn children. Fetal exposure can harm the brain and nervous system, causing irreparable problems with attention, learning and language development.

One drop of mercury can contaminate a 25-acre lake to the point that fish are unsafe to eat. A single, one-hundred megawatt coal burning power plant emits about 48 pounds of mercury every year into the atmosphere. Because Ohio generates 90% of its electricity by burning coal, its power plants spew as much as four times more mercury into the air that those of other Great Lakes states. The report highlights the concern that coal-burning power plants are not required to control mercury emissions. Ohio’s newly adopted rules under the Great Lakes Quality Initiative requires industries to meet tight new standards for mercury discharged into water, but power plants continue to escape smoke stack regulation.

The Summit for the Mountains was held at the Appalachian South Folklife Center in Pipestem, WV, from August 27 thru 29. The purpose of the summit was to bring folks together from coal producing regions where mountain top removal (MTR) mining is a threat to communities, ecosystems, groundwater, and a growing tourism industry. It was basically a retreat to brainstorm ways in which maximum use of small resources could be used to stop or at least reduce and modify MTR mining. Also problems attendant to MTR mining were identified and included in the strategizing meetings.

Forty-two persons were registered for the full span of the summit -- a number of others came in for a lesser period of time. Eight states and the District of Columbia were represented by the participants. The Summit was moderated by Sam Cook of the Department of Philosophy at Virginia Tech. Notables participating were Harvard Ayres of Appalachian Voices; Dianne Bady, director of the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition; Lowell Dodge, president of Trees for the Planet; Larry Gibson of the Stanley Heirs Foundation; Carolyn Johnson, director of the Citizen’s Coal Council; Kate Long, well known folk singer and author; Andy Mahler, director of Heartwood; Cindy Rank, chair of the WVHC Mining Committee; Elizabeth Sampson, president of the WV Environmental Council; Betsy Taylor of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth; and John Taylor of the Methodist Federation for Social Action.

Three working groups were organized to develop strategies: 1) for immediate action, 2) to free up reclamation money held by the federal government, and 3) education. After each group met their concerns, priorities and suggested actions were shared with the entire group.

Delicious vegetarian food was prepared for the participants.

Carol Jackson had set up her famous "cemetery"on a grassy knoll outside the ASFC for all to view.