Parson Brown and Sarah Vig with Applachian Voices talk with Sen. Al Franken
In addition to Illinois politicians, Brown and Wallace met with Sen. Al Franken (D-MN). And, Brown spoke at a hearing that involved 24 residents of Virginia who were hoping Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) would become a co-sponsor. Sen. Webb has yet to co-sponsor the Appalachia Restoration Act.
This year there were no lobbyists from Friends of Coal trying to counter their activity, but they were on the Hill the same time that Alzheimer's Awareness people were. The two groups found common ground and, later in the week, Alzheimer's Awareness lobbyists were wearing iLoveMountains badges and iLoveMountains lobbyists were wearing buttons in support of Alzheimer's awareness.
When asked if he thought lobbying on Capitol Hill had some positive effect on the issue of mountaintop removal, Brown admitted the thought crossed his mind yet despite doubts there are bits and pieces that convince Brown what he is doing is a good thing for the Appalachian people who suffer from mountaintop removal every day that politicians fail to take action on this issue.
Mountaintop removal is defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as "a mining practice where the tops of mountains are removed, exposing the seams of coal." The mountaintop is "dumped in neighboring valleys" after it is removed. The process involves clearing, blasting, digging, dumping waste, processing, and reclamation.
Obama and the EPA have yet to take any sort of meaningful action against mountaintop removal. While some thought the EPA issued a moratorium on new mountaintop removal permits in 2009, it turns out that nothing really happened.
A misinterpretation led the Obama Administration to reaffirm their support for mountaintop removal permits by reassuring organizations that there would be no block, halt or hold on pending permit applications; just a hold. And, they anticipated "that the bulk of these pending permit applications [would] not raise environmental concerns."
Health care was, of course, a dominant issue during the week of lobbying. It didn't dawn on Brown or Wallace that the issue could be tied to the health care debate until late in the week.
"Because of the environmental degradation and pollution, Appalachians have and will continue to become leeches on the health care system so long as the devastating unjust practice continues," said Brown.
The two are "definitely supportive of Obama" but, especially this week, they could tell that change is going to come from the ground up. They could sense a need for grassroots organizing and bottom-up thinking.
Both know there are a lot of people and influences on Capitol Hill making it harder for citizens to lobby. The two, like the hundreds of others who lobbied last week, have returned home and are paying close attention to key politicians like Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), who many believe recently reversed his stance on mountaintop removal.
Michael Barbine (left) Parson Brown (center), and Kat Wallace (right)
Regardless of doubts, Brown and Wallace encourage others who find mountaintop removal to be a chief injustice to join in lobbying activities in the future. It's not the only way Appalachians (and Americans) will win environmental justice, but it is one way to have a measurable impact that is beneficial in the region.
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