Other than the CEO's of the massive coal companies, of course.
I posted the below as a comment to a current story on the frontpage by DarkSyde -- but it is long enough that i wanted to repost it here, and ask this question of everyone on DKos -- does anyone support MTR?
If so, perhaps you can help me with my attempt at understanding the Admin's position on this.
Can anybody explain how MTR mining is being allowed to continue by this Admin?
Thank you Devilstower for a great and well-written piece (and some good discussion occurs in the comment thread, too) -- what i have been wondering for some time is how the F--- this is happening under this Admin.
As you point out, this one is in their court -- i have read that 2/3 of WVians don't want MTR (of course, they likely want to mine coal, but as i say in another comment to the original piece, i'm sure they would prefer with the more labor-intensive methods so they can keep their jobs). and the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers are the primary agencies that govern this -- both federal and at least the EPA under direct Exec Branch authority (don't know about the ACE..?). this is not one that at this point Barack has gotta battle the entrenched interests Congress about, right now -- plenty of other places he will need to do that.
The Admin has the power to have the EPA analyze this properly, and to not grant those permits. he has spoken against MTR last year. earlier this year the Admin indicated they were going to fight MTR -- so what the F--- happened? i was stunned when they started granting those applications in April or so -- the suddenness and insanity of it in fact reminded me of my feelings when Bushco started talking about needing to invade Iraq back in Fall 2002 -- i just couldn't f------ believe it.
And i feel just about as angry about this now -- i live at the moment next to WV, in Ohio, and i've driven roads where you can see coal-mining operations in PA and WV, but haven't seen the utter goriness of a MTR operation except in pictures. as i've said in other places, it is an abomination against the Earth to allow this to happen. many things we humans do are -- clearcutting (as mentioned), and dumping toxic waste and spewing excess CO2 and on and on -- but many of these things i have a deep hope will be able to be fixed by wiser future human societies and generations (not that i'm happy about them -- i work on them too, spent a lot of my life in staunch forest protection for old growth in CA).
But this is different -- you JUST CANNOT BRING MOUNTAINS BACK.
You can make artificial hills all you want with human-made trash (ugh), but you're not going to make several thousand feet high mountains that took the Earth millions of years to create.
Every call i've made to Congress in recent times on healthcare, gay issues, etc. i've generally tacked on MTR at the end -- because i can't stomach the idea that this is being allowed.
Phew. ok, so i repeat my q -- how and why is the Admin doing this? i am quite clear that Barack is a reasonable and decent person, but how can he countenance this at all? what in the Good Lord's name happened behind closed doors for them to grant these permits to these massive coal-mining companies? i am trying my best to understand, because i do get it (even if i strenuously disagree) with many of the Admin's decisions -- on torture pics, nuclear power, slow response on LGBT, compromise on healthcare etc. etc. -- but i simply am not getting it on MTR. and in all the comments, and in articles, or even on the anti-MTR websites or i've visited so far, like www.ilovemountains.org or Appalachian Voices, i'm simply not seeing a deeper explanation of how and why the Admin is allowing this, and if it's only a matter of appeasing companies like Peabody Coal for their campaign contributions (is that it??).
So i am hoping someone who is a very staunch Obama supporter with insight on this can help me get it -- esp. someone who agrees with the Admin position on it.
Thx.