Matt Wasson Tells Washington About Mountaintop Removal, Science, and Ill Health

Today on Capitol Hill the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Environment and the Economy held hearings. The hearing was titled “Modernizing the Business of Environmental Regulation and Protection.”

            Persons testifying at the included a number of state regulators who explained programs and efforts to hasten the pace of the regulatory process. Perhaps to shed some light on the reality that for folks living in Appalachia there exists scant regulation when it comes to mountaintop removal Representative John Yarmuth (D-KY) brought in Matt Wasson, the Director of Programs for Appalachian Voices, to testify as to the large body of science that links mountaintop mining to the poor health of Appalachians living in proximity to the mines. Here is a short video of Wasson’s testimony:

Yarmuth is the author of the Appalachian Communities Health Emergency Act (H.R. 526), which would halt mountaintop removal until it is determined to be safe by the Director of Health and Human Services. The science is there, but I doubt if there is any way his bill could get through Congress. If you want to see the whole hearing, it is here in a hyperlink sort of way.

Benghazi and the Presidential Debate: But What About Lives Lost in This Country?

The violence in Benghazi that left four Americans dead last month, including ambassador Christopher Stevens, was brought up at the presidential debate last night. I did not watch the debate and think that what was said last night doesn’t really matter. I just heard about the debate from the news this morning and know that the Benghazi incident has entered the fog of politics.

            One thing I do know is that there have been hearings in the House, lead by GOP representative Darrell Issa into the matter. There is also an FBI investigation.

            Now I am not saying that this is a matter that should not be investigated. The government should ensure the safety of its staff overseas. But look at the hearings and investigation in the context of other lives lost.

            In 2010 the lives of 29 miners were lost in the Upper Big Branch mine in southern West Virginia, due to an explosion. In their report on the disaster the Mine Health and Safety Administration excoriated Massey Energy, the owner of the mine, for their disregard of safety regulations and their emphasis of profit over safety. The report says in essence that the miners lost their lives because of the criminal activity of the mine owner.

            Though the families of the deceased miners pleaded with Congress for improved mine safety and stiffer penalties for mine safety violations, Washington lawmakers did nothing.

            There were also no Congressional hearings on the matter either.

            So Congress is holding hearings on the Benghazi attacks, which left four dead and held no hearings on a mine disaster that killed 29. Unlike Benghazi, which is in another country in a different continent on the other side of the world, the coal mine those miners died in is right here in this country.

            Does this make any sense at all?