Ashley Judd Is Right on Mountaintop Removal

Mountaintop removal remains ignored by the media. Kentuckian Ashley Judd continues her principled stand on mountaintop removal and that brings forth ridicule from coal company executives and no response from media or legislators.

Although mountaintop removal is largely in Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Virginia, it is a national concern. During President George W. Bush's first term he weakened the Clean Water Act with loopholes, supporting the efforts of coal companies to dump waste in waterways and make much more money.

According to Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, serious environmental and human health results include:

• More than 1,400 miles of Kentucky streams have already been buried or seriously impaired by mountaintop removal and valley fills.
• People living in areas where mining has affected the quality of the water have a lower life expectancy, higher rates of a variety of life-threatening illness, and are 26% more likely to give birth to a child with a birth defect.
• Mountaintop removal mining is totally unnecessary to meet the demand for coal.

This destructive practice continues to endanger the health of millions, pollute streams, and kill wildlife.

Putting profit above the health of people and the health of Earth must stop. We can let our concerns be heard by contacting President Obama and asking to close loopholes in the Clean Water Act. Just go to whitehouse.gov to send an email or call the White House comment line at 202.456.1111.