Mine Workers Chief Arrested

(ENS) -- United Mine Workers president Cecil Roberts was one of 11 people arrested recently at the site of a huge coal sludge spill caused by Massey Energy. Nearly 200 union members paced outside the gates of Martin County Coal, the Massey subsidiary where 18 months ago an estimated 306 million gallons of water and black coal slurry contaminated the Big Sandy River and its tributaries. The demonstrators refused to leave the road, and Roberts and 10 others were arrested and freed after a brief period in custody. "We are targeting Massey because of its corporate greed and callous disregard toward the environment, worker safety and the well-being of Appalachian coalfield communities," said Roberts, a sixth generation coal miner. The spill created what West Virginia environmental enforcement coordinator Mike Zeto called "the worst environmental mess I have seen in 22 years." It killed fish and contaminated drinking water. Lawns were buried over six feet deep in the gooey black sludge. This was the second breakthrough at the impoundment; the first occurred in 1994. "The audacity of Massey to initially blame the slurry spill on 'an act of God' was a prime example of the company's callous attitude," said Roberts. "The safety of that impoundment was questioned back in 1999, and Massey should have responded to those concerns. But it didn't respond, and thousands of citizens throughout Appalachia are still paying the price."