Beam me to Planet Gore !
Posted on 12/10/2009 5:47:25 AM PST by markomalley
Chalk up another 500 to the list of jobs President Obama will need to create or save.
A Pittsburgh-based coal company, CONSOL Energy, will lay off nearly 500 of its West Virginia workers next year and its CEO blames environmentalists dead-set against mountaintop mining who have waged “nuisance” lawsuits for the job loss.
But CONSOL Energy’s political problems are not unique to the mining industry, which has suffered under the Obama Administration. The Environmental Protection Agency is already holding 79 surface mining permits in West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. The EPA says these permits could violate the Clean Water Act and warrant "enhanced" review. And, agency went even further in October, announcing plans to revoke a permit for the Spruce No. 1 Mine in West Virginia.
The latest setback for the coal industry was announced on Tuesday when CONSOL Energy said close to 500 workers would lose jobs at their Fola Operations location near Bickmore, West Virginia in February 2010.
CEO Nicholas J. DeIuliis said the poor economy compounded by legal challenges by environmental activists forced CONSOL to slash jobs.
"It is challenging enough to operate our coal and gas assets in the current economic downturn without having to contend with a constant stream of activism in rehashing and reinterpreting permit applications that have already been approved or in the inequitable oversight of our operations,” he said in a statement. “Customers will grow reluctant to deal with energy producers they perceive are unable to guarantee a reliable supply due to regulatory uncertainty. It inhibits the ability to remain competitive."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
ONly drives prices up.
During his campaign, Hussein promised to shut down coal mines. The union voted for him anyway. Sow and reap.
Obama said one of his goals was to destroy the coal industry and those states still voted for him.
Not West Virginia.
That's one promise he intends to keep.
sw
here’s to hoping 499 were Obama voters.
Coal production at a mine in Monongalia County came to a halt today when every union miner stayed home, as part of a political protest.
It was an idle day Monday at the Blacksville #2 Mine.
More than 440 workers who are members of the United Mine Workers of America took what's called a Memorial Day instead of going to work.
Union officials say they took the day to protest after a film crew from the National Rifle Association showed up at the Consol mine last week to interview union workers.
They say the crew tried to get union coal miners to speak out against Barack Obama. Read on...
The NRA didn't just show up at the coal mine, this was apparently an unprecedented move by mine management, who allowed them in and supported the manipulation and exploitation of their employees. Consol just learned a big lesson - don't f*#k with your union workers.
"Consol doesn't let anybody on their property - never," said Safety Committee Member Mark Dorsey, "And for them to let the NRA come on the property and solicit our membership was totally uncalled for. We made our endorsement to our political process and we didn't bother them and they shouldn't be harassing our membership over this."
They changed their tune when they discovered Obama wanted to shut them down.
sw
I can’t believe this country voted this man president. God help us.
If I know West Virginia (and I think I do), there are going to be some meddling environmentalists who are going to be desperately trying to evade some buckshot shortly
"When the righteous rule, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people mourn." Proverbs 29:2
Might as well find a use for the shovels.
“Coal company cuts 500 jobs, blames environmentalists”
Those B______S don’t want coal-fired plants or nuclear plants built. But there they sit with their TVs, computers, electric cars, cell phones, iPods and a hundred other electrical gadgets. Jackasses!
“What were they thinking? Obama was very open about his intentions. The people even knew of Obama’s radicalness and associations with Wright, Ayers, etc.”
I know. And Hitler told the world what he was going to do before he was elected, in his book, “Mein Kampf”.
Sharpen up, world!
Wait a minute, didn’t coal country vote for the ONE?
Of course they did.
So how is that “hoax and change” going for them?
Dead people voted him in, but they don’t work or pay taxes.
Good for them, now they can go enjoy the holidays.
This is what is known as collateral damage.
Killing civilians to exterminate vermin Al Queda is a no no, but killing West Virginian’s is ok.
the target was destroyed
And the small businesses that served them are gonna be hurting with 500 fewer customers. So much for the local economy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.