[Coach_Owens87]

I guess everyone thinks you can't oppose a certain aspect of one occupations but still respect the hard working people of that job. Which is kinda like the whole "If you don't support the war, you don't support our troops". the way I see, Thats just simple thinking from simple minded people. So I really don't care if TH32 thinks my respect for my family is laughable, he don't know me, or my family members.

Back to the original question of the post. I am totally against this proposed rule change, and im glad more people see things my way. A recent poll showed that 88% of people are opposed to the new rule change. I read over the rule change again on the OSM website. From what I read this practice has been happening anyway, as the OSM has no control to stop them. They stated that companies must cause as little damage as possible, and that they could bury a stream (yes a stream old school) as long as they can prove it wont cause any damage to water quality. Mining companies do not have to protect wildlife, although the rules say to "protect to the extent possible". So really are they are saying is get as much coal as possible, as cheap as you can, and try not to kill or harm to much wildlife. Those rules are a joke.



All of our opinions wont matter unless we speak out, and public comment on the new rule change is still open until Nov 23. Here is how the OSM says to comment on the rule change.

http://www.regulations.gov. The proposed rule and DEIS are
listed under the agency name “OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND
ENFORCEMENT.” The proposed rule has been assigned Docket ID: OSM-2007-0007. The
DEIS has been assigned Docket ID: OSM-2007-0008.

For those of you wondering, I sent my comments through two environmental sites, and I also sent one directly through OSM.