Environment News Service reported that seven opponents of mountaintop removal mining, ages 18 to 22, were arrested as they staged a sit in at the State Capitol office of Governor Mr Joe Manchin. Capitol Police and State Police troopers arrested the seven protesters shortly after 5 PM when they refused to leave a reception area that was closing at the end of the day.

Earlier, Mr Manchin met with the protesters, Coal River Valley residents and supporters associated with Mountain Justice and Climate Ground Zero. They delivered a letter to the governor asking him to use his executive powers to repeal the permits issued for mountaintop removal mining operations on Coal River Mountain, one of the last intact mountains remaining in the Coal River Valley area.

Mr Miranda Miller and Ms Angela Wiley of Morgantown, two of the seven sitters, said that "We are delivering this letter to our governor with residents of the Coal River Valley. We are West Virginia citizens standing in solidarity with the people who submitted comments for this letter, voicing their concerns on the dangers of blasting on Coal River Mountain."

Mr Manchin said that it was not his place to issue or block mining permits, and that he is trying to find a balance between mining jobs and environmental protection. He added that "What we're trying to do is find a balance, and that's tough to do in an extractive state."

The seven protesters were cited with misdemeanor trespassing and obstruction for refusing to leave the office at closing time. The seven were brought to the Charleston police station for booking before being held at the Municipal Court of Charleston. Bail was set at USD 1,500 each, with a USD 150 bond option. Bond has been paid and they have all been released.

(Sourced from www.ens-newswire.com)