Coal Mining Shut Down - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Coal Mining Shut Down

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RALEIGH COUNTY -

"I believe it's bad because we do need jobs and everything else but I also feel that's its good for the environment. So I have mixed emotions about it," said Brian of Beckley.

An agreement that would take Patriot Coal company out of the mountaintop removal business.

People across southern West Virginia are quick to react.

Those who are in favor of this agreement, and those who are neutral, are hopeful the look of West Virginia's landscapes will improve.

"That's fine, they just need to plant the trees back in place, to make it look better then," said Deborah of Raleigh County.

 One woman who comes from a long family history of coal miners believes that this could cause a string of other problems.

"It's a domino effect. If there's no jobs in West Virginia, peoples not going to be going out to eat, they're not going to be going shopping. I don't think people really understand that," said Rebecca of Maple Fork.

A retiree of the coal industry, has even bleaker views.

"There's going to be a lot of empty towns," believes Roger of Shady Spring.

Out of all the people I talked to today, only one was in favor of this Patriot Coal agreement.

We posed the question to you on our 59 news Facebook page.

Here's what some of you had to say..

"If big coal company's had cleaned up their mess and invested in ways to clean the coal we wouldn't see this happening today," said Marshall.

"Forward into the 21st century, Good News for West Virginia," said Robbie.