7 Mining Activists Arrested At W.Va. Gov's Office

LAWRENCE MESSINA

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A handful of environmental activists were arrested Monday outside the offices of West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, following an afternoon-long sit-in to protest plans by Massey Energy Co. to blast on Coal River Mountain.

The seven were among a group of several dozen who converged on the governor's Capitol reception room shortly after noon to urge the second-term Democrat to intervene. The seven were arrested when the office closed at 5 p.m. and they refused to leave.

Massey, based in Richmond, Va., has permits to mine at Coal River Mountain, which Climate Ground Zero, Coal River Mountain Watch and other environmental groups want to see preserved for development of a windmill farm. They say Massey should mine underground instead of blasting the mountaintop, but Massey has said that's not feasible.

The protesters delivered a letter asking Manchin to act and stop mountaintop removal mining. He met briefly with the group, listening and taking questions. But he said they were wrong to believe he can unilaterally yank the permits in question.

He also told them to call his office when they believe they are being intimidated by coal companies or "when you don't think you're getting answers."