Massey Blasting Under Way On Coal River Mountain

Massey Starts Blasting On Coal River Mountain; Wind Farm Proponents Say They'll Keep Fighting

(AP)  WHITESVILLE, W.Va. (AP) - Blasting has begun on Coal River Mountain, where environmentalists have battled Virginia-based Massey Energy over mountaintop removal mining for more than 18 months.

The Bee Tree site is a small part of Massey's larger plans for the mountain the company says has enough reserves to feed power plants for 14 years.

Coal River Mountain Watch wants Massey to stick with underground mining and allow the ridges to be turned into a 200-turbine wind farm.

Co-director Judy Bonds said Wednesday the blasting means the loss of as many as 20 turbines.

Massey is chipping away at the mountain, she says, but her group will fight on.

It's worried not only about the loss of land, but also the possibility that blasting could destabilize the massive Brushy Fork sludge dam.