Continuing News (follow-up stories)
April 1998 to August 1999
For later stories, click here

April 19:
Suit will challenge mountaintop removal mining

May 4:
DEP delays Massey permit
Gazette probe, pending suit bring mine review

May 5:
Wise, Rahall blast coal permit process

May 6:
Miners pack hearing to support strip permit
Area needs the jobs, UMW member says

May 7:
Wise wants multi-agency review of mountaintop coal removal

May 10:
OSM chief defends variance policy

May 11:
Groups seek federal review of mine mitigation bill

May 17:
Feds to probe Massey mountaintop mine variance

May 21:
Underwood forms mountaintop removal task force

May 22:
Marshall president to lead mine task force

June 4:
EPA halts Massey strip mine
State stopped from approving project

June 6:
Former regulators top mining task force list

June 8:
State's strip mines may be headed for permit delays

June 9:
Coal industry puts on best face for tour

June 14:
OSM hesitates on mitigation

June 18:
If mine fills illegal, change the law, coal lobbyist says

June 21:
Strip mine showdown could come this week

June 25:
Protests mark OSM meeting
Coalfield residents take umbrage with strip mine methods

July 5:
Agency expands mountaintop removal study
Investigation focuses more on whether state officials abused mine reclamation rule

July 14:
Coal lawyer visits future mine site
Blair resident wants to save homeplace from company

July 17:
Lawsuit seeks to curb mountaintop removal

July 18:
Mountaintop mine task force to have 1st meeting

July 19:
Corps says it doesn't regulate valley fills
Stance could help suit over mountaintop removal

July 21:
Ex-regulators criticize mining mitigation

Aug. 4:
Dialogue on mining urged
Mountaintop removal concerns ignored, some say

Aug. 5:
EPA continues to block Blair mountaintop mining permit

Aug. 6:
More time - or less - wanted in mining lawsuit

Aug. 7:
Underwood backpedals on mountaintop removal

Aug. 11:
Rahall blasts OSM; Wise wants permit moratorium

Aug. 12:
Corps of Engineers to halt valley fill permits
Moratorium requires judge's approval

Aug. 15:
Feds confirm mining problems
Draft report suggests tougher state law, wholesale changes in permit process

Aug. 17:
Interior Department opposes expansion of mine near Blair

Mountaintop removal opposition building

Aug. 25:
Group fights wildlife habitat as legal post-mining land use

Aug. 29:
Coal industry groups want in mining lawsuit

Sept. 1:
Arch Coal launches pro-mountaintop-removal campaign

Sept. 4:
Underwood stands by Methodists' link to threat

Sept. 5:
Governor's bomb threat theory new to State Police

Sept. 6
OSM shakeup reportedly coming
Mountaintop removal cause of controversy

Sept. 7:
Mountaintop removal to be discussed at Oct. hearing

Sept. 11:
DEP wants company in coal mining suit

Sept. 13:
Mountaintop removal report delayed

Sept. 18:
Ky. paper finds more mountaintop-removal problems
Operations permitted without proper plans, Courier-Journal says

Sept. 23:
Industry wants judge to tour mountaintop removal mining site

Sept. 24:
EPA mine hearing Oct. 24

Sept. 26:
Land firms want say in mountaintop removal suit

Sept. 27:
Massey fights back with OSM lawsuit

Oct. 3:
Corps told to testify in mountaintop suit

Arch Coal issues warning to its investors
Regulatory scrutiny could hurt profits, company says

Oct. 4:
Valley fills cover hundreds of miles, report says

Oct. 7:
Roberts ends silence on mountaintop removal
UMW president calls for its strict regulation

Oct. 10:
Judge nixes efforts to derail mining suit

Oct. 15:
Land firms try to join strip-mine lawsuit
Lawyers argue they have no claim

Oct. 16:
Mine permit actions 'baloney'
Mountaintop removal requests will be approved, DEP boss says

Oct. 20:
Land firms can't join mountaintop mine suit

Oct. 21:
Arch Coal reports $30 million profits so far in 1998

Oct. 24:
Pending mine permits would bury 50 miles of streams

Arch Coal, Logan County to form development group

Oct. 25:
EPA gets earful on mountaintop mining
Supporters of practice outnumber opponents at hearing in Logan

Oct. 27:
Landowners want mining permit 'flexibility'
Future development needs unpredictable, spokesman says

Oct. 30:
Poll: Most oppose mountaintop removal

Oct. 31:
400 Arch miners in Logan face layoff threat
Party over Dec. 31 if permit not approved, company says

2 Nicholas officials support valley fills

Nov. 1:
Forestry chief resigns over mining

Nov. 4:
Controversial mining permit issued
Mountaintop project to face challenges on several fronts

Nov. 9:
Federal OSM is showing a double standard
In Tennessee, bowing to EPA objections, it halts mine permit; in West Virginia, it yields to DEP

Nov. 10:
Ruling sets up next mining battle
Judge refuses to revoke mountaintop removal permit in prelude to long legal fight

Nov. 11:
Mining task force calls for reforms
Mountaintop removal must reduce damage, reports say

Nov. 13:
Byrd, Jay weigh in on mountaintop mining

Nov. 17:
'Original contour' divides task force
Final mountaintop removal hearing tonight

Nov. 23:
Wise insists on real development after mining
Congressman also urges continued study of mountaintop removal's effects on the environment

Nov. 27:
A little off the top
Mountaintop removal focuses attention on coal, its future

Dec. 1:
Mining task force to vote on its report

Dec. 3:
Land companies can join mining suit

Mining panel wants governor, Legislature to act

Dec. 5:
Permit's blasting rules too strict, Arch Coal says

Dec. 7:
EPA preparing to back off mountaintop removal
Dec. 8:
Report mutes mining criticism
But OSM paper still cites problems with mountaintop removal

Corps' stance on valley fills at issue

Native Americans speak for mountains
Group blasts mountaintop removal mining

Dec. 9:
Byrd, Rahall criticize OSM
Mountaintop-removal mining report fails to address environment concerns

Judge cancels mountaintop mine permit court hearing

Dec. 10:
U.S. district judge cancels mountaintop removal hearing

Dec. 12:
Mountaintop removal opponents criticize task force report

Dec. 14:
New OSM report doesn't answer important question

Dec. 16:
Underwood balks at following mountaintop mining task force

EPA trying to hurry mountaintop mining lawsuit

Dec. 24:
Legal agreement may save mountaintops
New limits placed on strip operations

Dec. 31:
Despite landmark agreement, Dal-Tex lays off 13 in Logan

Jan. 3:
Deal may halt mountaintop removal permits
Arch Coal will get Logan permit, but other mines face environmental studies for 2 years

Jan. 8:
Mining deal in for fight
Mountaintop removal plan blasted by lawyers

Jan. 9:
Blair mine permit at heart of new challenge

Jan. 14:
Mining permit won't get another review by public

Mountaintop mines not part of speech

Jan. 17:
Mining legislation dodges big-picture debate
Compensating state not a good trade-off, environmentalists say

Jan. 18:
Mountaintop removal is harmful tool of dying industry

Jan. 19:
Open mind missing on Mount Olympus

Jan. 22:
Governor's mining legislation group causing stir

Jan. 23:
Governor disbands legislative panel on mountaintop mining

Blair mine gets permit

Jan. 24:
Threatened suit charges DEP doesn't do mine water studies

Jan. 28:
Governor won't have mountaintop removal bill

Jan. 29:
EPA asked to help in mining dispute
Staton wants feds' input on methods of removing coal

DEP ignores mine stream buffer rule
Environmentalists file part of permit official's legal deposition in court

Jan. 30:
Mountaintop settlement applauded

Jan. 31:
Author lends voice to protest

Feb. 1:
Proposed mine home to rare birds, report says

Feb. 2:
Miano wants permits out of suit

Feb. 3:
DEP, Corps, company ask for mine approval

Clinton seeks more mine cleanup money

Feb. 4:
Mountaintop mining halted, for now
Haden wants to hear more before ruling on Arch Coal permit

Feb. 5:
Mining removal permit flawed, engineer testifies

Feb. 6:
Revised Blair permit's reclamation slow, expert testifies

Feb. 7:
Wise wants speedier permit process
Won't work to ban mountaintop mining, congressman says

Feb. 9:
Mining, gambling measures examined

Feb. 10:
Valley-fill study flawed, biologist says

Feb. 11:
Judge delays mine permit a second time
Arch Coal's request to strip Logan County mountaintop on hold

Feb. 16:
Massey Coal keeps growing, report shows

Feb. 17:
OSM delays land use ruling for mountaintop mines

Feb. 18:
DEP defends Blair mountaintop permit

Feb. 19:
Coal permit rules may cost 2,800 jobs

House committee OKs mine-blasting bills

Judge scolds DEP mining official again

Feb. 20:
Mountaintop mine order extended

Massey idles four mines, cuts back at 2

Feb. 22:
Bill could save coal millions

Mountaintop removal study hearings to be held this week

Feb. 23:
Mountaintop mine bill focuses on communities, not streams

Feb. 24:
Mountaintop mine case to end Friday; judge to conduct tour of site Thursday

Feb. 25:
Mountaintop bill weak, environmentalists assert

Dal-Tex mining cited for dumping

Coal industry packs EPA study hearing

Feb. 26:
Judge tours mountaintop mining sites

Feb. 27:
Mine ruling expected 'within days'

Feb. 28:
Congressman criticizes OSM
Agency must improve mountaintop removal efforts, Rahall says

Feb. 28:
Mining concerns justified, agency says

March 1:
Plug pulled on mountaintop blasting
Injunction prohibits mining at Logan site for six more months

March 2:
Haden ruling turned tide against mines
Mountaintop removal foes feel vindicated

Mountaintop mining bill revises provisions in 1998 law

March 6:
UMW members protest mine ruling

Miners 'caught dead in middle' by decision, UMW leader says

Coal industry jobs arguments irrelevant, environmentalists say

March 7:
Layoffs begin at Logan County mine

Tougher mining permit reviews start
Settlement requires additional scrutiny

March 8:
Judge enters debate over mine contour

March 9:
Arch Coal to close Dal-Tex by August

March 10:
Arch Coal will seek early trial in lawsuit over mining

March 11:
Logan County leaders argue against Haden mine ruling

Senate praises mining bill; citizens call it illusion

March 13:
UMW files request to join mining lawsuit

Panel votes to drop big coal firms from lawsuits

March 14:
Twice as many acres mined as reclaimed, report says
An area the size of Logan County now being stripped

March 17:
New policy tightens reclamation

March 18:
DEP to hold AOC meeting Monday

March 19:
UMW hopes to resolve mountaintop dispute

Legislature may revisit mountaintop removal, Jackson says
'Complex issue' will be closely monitored

March 23:
DEP touts 'approximate contour plan

March 24:
Environmentalists oppose early mountaintop removal trial date

March 25:
Two more leave mining lawsuit
Mountaintop removal ban too costly to area, Madison couple fear

March 26:
UMW's Roberts turns up heat on environmentalists

March 27:
Enforcing laws would create jobs in coalfields, environmentalists say

March 31:
Haden moves up mining trial date

March 1:
Plug pulled on mountaintop blasting
Injunction prohibits mining at Logan site for six more months

March 2:
Haden ruling turned tide against mines
Mountaintop removal foes feel vindicated

Mountaintop mining bill revises provisions in 1998 law

March 6:
UMW members protest mine ruling

Miners 'caught dead in middle' by decision, UMW leader says

Coal industry jobs arguments irrelevant, environmentalists say

March 7:
Layoffs begin at Logan County mine

Tougher mining permit reviews start
Settlement requires additional scrutiny

March 8:
Judge enters debate over mine contour

March 9:
Arch Coal to close Dal-Tex by August

March 10:
Arch Coal will seek early trial in lawsuit over mining

March 11:
Logan County leaders argue against Haden mine ruling

Senate praises mining bill; citizens call it illusion

March 13:
UMW files request to join mining lawsuit

Panel votes to drop big coal firms from lawsuits

March 14:
Twice as many acres mined as reclaimed, report says
An area the size of Logan County now being stripped

March 17:
New policy tightens reclamation

March 18:
DEP to hold AOC meeting Monday

March 19:
UMW hopes to resolve mountaintop dispute

Legislature may revisit mountaintop removal, Jackson says
'Complex issue' will be closely monitored

March 23:
DEP touts 'approximate contour plan

March 24:
Environmentalists oppose early mountaintop removal trial date

March 25:
Two more leave mining lawsuit
Mountaintop removal ban too costly to area, Madison couple fear

March 26:
UMW's Roberts turns up heat on environmentalists

March 27:
Enforcing laws would create jobs in coalfields, environmentalists say

March 31:
Haden moves up mining trial date

April 1:
UMW hires engineer to examine mountaintop permits

April 3:
UMW's Roberts tired of compromise

April 6:
Consol idles Robinson's Run; 250 out of work

April 8:
Byrd, Rahall urge quick action on mining permits

April 9:
Arch Coal wants mining permit despite injunction

April 14:
DEP hires outside lawyers to defend it in mining case

Arch Coal moving forward in effort to expand Dal-Tex
Company seeking 'individual permit' for Logan operation

April 15:
Free speech could get workout at ACLU dinner

Mine foe's hearing is delayed
Blair resident faces illegal dumping charge in Logan County

April 16:
Coalfield families win case
Mountaintop removal damaged Boone homes

Mountaintop removal theme likely to flow into festival

First of mountaintop mining permits issued by regulators

April 18:
Clay mining permit badly flawed, OSM report says
State DEP won't be asked to correct it

April 22:
Mining case could be decided on summary judgment

April 24:
Arch Coal wants summary judgment in mining case

April 25:
A stake in the future
Ralliers undercut mountaintop removal mining

Massey mining permit inadequate, OSM says

April 26:
Ruling could halt mining, DEP says
Mountaintop removal permits at issue

May 5:
OSM misses its own deadline with mountaintop report

May 6:
DEP lists six new mining permits

May 14:
Wildlife post-mine use rejected
State proposal doesn't comply with '77 law, feds say

UMW's Roberts challenges Rank to debate

May 19:
OSM scraps reports on mountaintop permits

May 20:
Private mining lawyers charge state $42,000

May 21:
Mining critic rejects debate

May 23:
Mining case hinges on buffer zone/valley fill ruling

May 27:
DEP releases 'redacted' legal bill

May 30:
Greenbrier mine closure highlights cleanup fund's woes

Arch making up Dal-Tex production at nonunion mines

June 13:
Ex-DEP Director McCoy to testify in mining case

DEP to form mining rules committee

June 14:
Mountaintop permits inadequate, OSM reports say

OSM sued over mountaintop mining rules

June 15:
City law firm bills DEP another $62,000

June 18:
Judge approves partial mining case settlement; talks continue

June 19:
Deal on mining case in limbo
Coal operators back out of some key parts

June 20:
Millions in strip mine fines go uncollected

June 23:
Corps of Engineers seeks to delay motions in mining case

June 24:
DEP lawyer blasts federal delay in mountaintop mining suit

June 25:
Corps withdraws Arch Coal permit
'New material facts' send federal agency in opposite direction

Mother Jones magazine hits mountaintop removal

June 26:
Corps wants out of mining suit
Arch challenges agency's authority to withdraw blanket permit approval

June 29:
Delay requested in mountaintop removal trial

July 2:
Mining rivals report 'breakthrough'

July 3:
Lawmakers won't help Arch Coal with permit

July 4:
Corps' concerns about Dal-Tex permit not new

July 7:
Judge stops deposition in mountaintop removal case

July 8:
Arch Coal could revise its request for Logan permit

July 9:
UMW chief urges judge to help Dal-Tex miners keep their jobs

July 10:
Judge agrees to delay mining trial
Arch Coal won't pursue blanket permit for Blair mountaintop removal site

July 11:
Mining talks get breathing room
Buffer-zone rule will go to judge, lawyers say

July 13:
Review of mining permits proposed
In settlement, special panel would conduct a periodic review

July 15:
Suits against coal companies can be tossed, court rules
Vieweg's decision found to be legal

July 17:
No mountaintop mine settlement reached

July 22:
Dal-Tex mining to cease Friday
Shutdown to put 210 out of work

July 23:
Mountaintop mining ban would cut coal production 10 percent

July 24:
Still no settlement in mountaintop mining case

July 27:
Mountaintop removal settlement filed

July 28:
Haden schedules Friday hearing on mining settlement

Mining critics perceive settlement as victory

July 31:
Mining case needs work, judge says
Reports of settlement in mountaintop suit exaggerated, he says

August 3:
Underwood acknowledges DEP mining mistakes
Seeks $150 million in federal reclamation funds to help find jobs for out-of-work miners

August 7:
Mining settlement hearing sought

August 17:
Settlement won't make mining issue go away, lawyers say

October 21:
Valley fill mining outlawed
Landmark ruling prohibits mountaintop coal operators from burying state streams

Editorials:
April 14:
Mitigation: EPA takeover needed

April 24:
Devastation: Mountain moonscape

May 4:
Decapitation: Many mines illegal

May 8:
Mountaintops: Regulators falling down

May 21:
Mountaintop removal: Where are the regulators?

June 5:
Valley fills: EPA backs up threats

June 11:
Valley fills: EPA studies welcome

June 16:
Decapitation: Mountaintop stance amazing

July 31:
Symbolic: Love of mountains

Aug. 7:
Remove Miano: Mountaintop malarkey

Aug. 12:
Mitigation: Too late to undo bill

Aug. 13:
Field of schemes: After-mining uses vanish

Aug. 19:
'Dumping': OSM details abuses

Aug. 27:
Decapitation: Variances meaningless

Sept. 1:
Correction

Sept. 4:
Blame game: Underwood shot absurd

Sept. 24:
Decapitation: Kentucky under scrutiny

Sept. 30:
Illegal permits: EPA needs more facts

Oct. 8:
Valley fills: Nearly 900 miles gone

Oct. 14:
Cecil Roberts: UMW's reasonable stance

Oct. 21:
Blasting: Coal won't accept blame

Nov. 6:
Extremist? Maxey pans decapitation

Nov. 9:
Decapitation: DEP wrong to issue permit

Nov. 13:
Mountaintop removal: Task force reports promising

Nov. 27:
Buying Blair: Arch removes community

Dec. 15:
Mountaintop I: OSM report doesn't clarify

Mountaintop II: Report doesn't clear DEP

Dec. 23:
Good neighbor?: Arch and blasting rules

Jan. 8:
Mountaintops: Taxpayer investment

Jan. 22:
Mountaintops: Yet another study group?

Jan. 29:
Secrecy: Violated democracy

Feb. 8:
Decapitation: Miano sees no damage

April 1:
Peculiar: Underwood on warpath

May 21:
Finally: Phony land use rejected

June 17:
More bills: Taxpayers shell out

June 24:
Abandoned fund: DEP neglecting fines


Columns:
June 19:
Dan Radmacher:
Coal hurts those it pretends to help

June 21:
Dan Miller:
Mountaintop mining task force represents expertise, experience

July 1:
Fred Tucker and Chris Hamilton:
Extremists do disservice to a beneficial industry

Samuel R. Cook:
Concerned citizens can change mining practices

July 27:
John Warner:
Churches must not be expected to stick to their 'primary role'

Aug. 2:
Cecil Underwood:
Let's set the record straight on mountaintop removal

Aug. 14:
Ken Hechler:
Mountaintop removal is a human problem

Aug. 23:
J. Wade Gilley:
Mining task force working toward balanced study

Aug. 28:
John McFerrin:
Wise sharp contrast to Underwood on mountaintop removal

Sept. 10:
Dan Radmacher:
Methodists, mountaintops and Miano

Sept. 14:
Richard Whiteford:
Mountaintop removal's effects are far-reaching

Oct. 9:
Dan Radmacher:
Mining advocates' arguments laughable

Oct. 12:
Cecil Roberts:
UMWA wants communities, environment protected

Oct. 20:
Ed Peeeks:
Mountaintop mining makes jobs in W.Va.

Oct. 23:
Dan Radmacher:
House's Kiss behind mitigation bill

Oct. 27:
David Densmore:
Fish and Wildlife has been doing its job on valley fills

Nov. 13:
Dan Radmacher:
Task force echoes Underwood's critics

Jan. 5:
Edward Peeks:
Mountaintop mining likely here to stay

J. Wade Gilley:
Task force report fair, balanced

Jan. 18:
John McFerrin:
Mountaintop removal is harmful tool of dying industry

Feb. 5:
Dan Radmacher:
U.S. law limits mountaintop removal

Feb. 9:
Richard Lawson:
Restricting coal production would hurt state's future

Feb. 19:
Tom White:
Mountaintop mining defies easy fix by state Legislature

April 9:
Dan Radmacher:
Arch Coal's hypocrisy is maddening

May 7:
Dan Radmacher:
Coal mining permits ignore the law

May 21:
Dan Radmacher:
Coal not part of state coalfields' future

John McFerrin:
UMW, Coal Association arm in arm

May 30:
Andy Hansroth:
Mountaintop grasslands make poor habitats