Take Action: We need an ethical Director of the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement

What is Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining?

As much as 600 feet of a mountain has been removed to access a narrow coal seam below

Mountaintop removal coal mining is an extremely destructive form of strip mining found in central and southern Appalachia, with some mines as big as the island of Manhattan.

It tears apart communities, poisons water supplies, pollutes the air and destroys our nation's natural heritage – while only making the climate crisis worse. Learn more here.

THIS FORM IS NO LONGER IN USE. INSTEAD, CONTACT THE US SENATE AND TELL THEM THAT OSMRE MUST ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OF MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL COAL MINING.

Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar

Tell Senate committee members that you're concerned about mountaintop removal and demand an ethical director who will enforce the law.f someone broke into your home, you would expect the law to be enforced against them, right? Unfortunately, across the US, homes and communities are being devastated by outlaw mining companies – and the agencies in charge of policing them have been asleep on the job. It's the job of the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement's job to enforce the laws governing mountaintop removal and other destructive forms of mining.

Rumor has it that Secretary Salazar is looking to appoint another director of the OSMRE with history of bowing to coal companies at the expense of communities across Pennsylvania.

If we act now, we can prevent this terrible nomination – Use the letter-writing tools below to tell Secretary Salazar (CC: President Obama) that you are concerned about mountaintop removal and you demand an ethical new OSMRE Director who will enforce the law.

THIS FORM IS NO LONGER IN USE. INSTEAD, CONTACT THE US SENATE AND TELL THEM THAT OSMRE MUST ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OF MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL COAL MINING.

Appalachian Citizens Law Center • Appalachian Voices • Appalshop • Coal River Mountain Watch • Heartwood • Keeper of the Mountains

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth • MACED • Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition • Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment

Sierra Club Environmental Justice • Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards • SouthWings • West Virginia Highlands Conservancy