Last Thursday, I joined hundreds of Virginians in support of SB 564, the Stream Saver Bill. The bill was introduced by state Senator Patsy Ticer and would ban dumping waste from surface mining into streams. 1,900 miles of streams in Appalachia have been buried or degraded by this practice, impacting clean water supplies for residents of southwest Virginia.

Snowbound students at George Mason University collected over 80 photo petitions in support of the bill and on the same day, 800 people rallied at the Kentucky General Assembly for “I Love Mountains Day” in support of a similar bill, according to the Kentucky Herald-Ledger.

A planned rally was cut short in order to allow supporters to get in line for the special hearing held by the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources committee. Due to turnout, I sat in an overflow room. Hundreds had come to speak for and against the measure. Matt Wasson with Appalachian Voices presented on the environmental and economic destruction that mountain top removal leaves in its wake. During the 45 minutes each side had for public comments, residents of southwest Virginia spoke passionately about their concern for their family and friends’ health and for the mountains.

Many opponents to the bill spoke about their concern for job loss in the already struggling area. A legitimate concern yet coal mining employment in the United States has plummeted over the past century. Currently there are only about 4,797 coal mining jobs in the Commonwealth, 1,433 of them surface mining jobs. Coal is an important part of the economy in southwest Virginia but it’s also keeping diversified economic opportunities from investing in the area, such as tourism.

“The mountains that have been lost can never be brought back,” stated Wasson. “The streams will be polluted for a long time.”