I OBJECT to the issuance of permit number S300125 (Eagle South) to Alpha Metallurgical Resources subsidiary Republic Energy. 

We have several reasons to object to this permit, some of which follow and some of which may be further elaborated during the conference:

-This operation will endanger the health and lives of the surrounding communities (https://www.ted.com/talks/michael_hendryx_the_shocking_danger_of_mountaintop_removal_and_why_it_must_end). This type of surface mining, particularly blasting, will pollute the air that residents breathe with fine and ultrafine silica dust, a known hazard. Residents face significantly higher rates of cancer, heart disease, birth defects, and other deadly illnesses. Dozens of peer-reviewed scientific studies demonstrate the impact to residents' health. WVDEP claims that they lack the capacity to understand the science, and that they have no knowledge of human health. But granting this permit will violate WVDEP's mission of "promoting a healthy environment" and the permit requirement that "all operations shall be conducted to prevent significant imminent environmental harm to the health or safety of the public." Since WVDEP does not know what would constitute "harm to the health of the public," they have no business granting this permit.  

A few of the more notable studies are:

--Appalachian Mountaintop Mining Particulate Matter Induces Neoplastic Transformation of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Promotes Tumor Formation (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4224494/)

--Association between residence near surface coal mining and blood inflammation (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214790X15000386)

--The association between mountaintop mining and birth defects among live births in central Appalachia, 1996–2003 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935111001484)

-In addition to the health impacts of airborne dust, blasting on the site will damage aquifers and pose a hazard to neighboring homes.

-The deforestation and alteration of natural contours will cause an increased flooding risk.

-The operation will pollute adjacent streams.

-This operation will destroy habitat for the endangered Indiana bat and northern long-eared bat.

-The deforestation of 670 acres and the extraction of more than 10 million tons of coal from this site will contribute to the growing climate crisis. While WVDEP may deny that human activity can affect the climate, the reality is that your action of approving this permit will add to heat waves, droughts, and catastrophic weather events around the world.

-This permit would prevent community members from the use and enjoyment of the area for traditional activities such as hunting and gathering mushrooms, ramps, ginseng, and other resources. 

-This permit adds to the more than 10 square miles already damaged or permitted on Coal River Mountain. What WVDEP and Alpha have done to this mountain is an abomination.

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