AP reported that tive environmental activists have been arrested after chaining themselves to a coal barge in protest of mountaintop removal mining operations.

Sgt Michael Baylous says the incident happened Thursday on the Kanawha River near Chelyan. The five were arraigned before a Kanawha County magistrate.

Ms Catherine Ann MacDougal of Gloucester, Mass, Ms Rebecca Loeb of Maynard, Mass and Mr Nathan Walker Joseph of New Orleans were charged with trespassing and obstructing an officer. Mr Ricki Draper of Greensboro, NC and Jacob Mack-Boll of Lancaster, Pa were charged with trespassing.

Mr Draper, Mr Joseph and Mr Mack-Boll posted bond while Ms MacDougal and Mr Loeb were taken to Southcentral Regional Jail on USD 10,000 bond.

Last summer Ms MacDougal spent a month in a tree at an Alpha Natural Resources mine near Marfork to protest strip mining. She pleaded no contest to trespassing.

Source - AP

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