Category Archives: Coal River Mountain
August 8 – National Call In Day to Protect Coal River Watershed
On Monday, August 8th, tell the Department of Environmental Protection to deny the Bee Tree Renewal Permit and prohibit future strip mining in the Coal River Watershed. On Tuesday August 9th, local residents are gearing up for an important hearing on the renewal of the Bee Tree permit and the proposed Collins Fork Remediation Project, […]
Living in Trees and Fighting Injustice
Becks Kolins writes about fighting to protect the Coal River Watershed and their experience coming down from living 80 feet up in a poplar tree, being arrested and taken into the jail system. Becks spent 14 days in the trees with Catherine Ann, who still remains in her tree and intends to stay put. Becks plans […]
Hearing on Strip Mining Coal River Mountain
As Catherine-Ann continues to occupy her tree on the Bee Tree permit (16 days!), local residents are gearing up for an important hearing next Tuesday on the renewal of the Bee Tree permit and the proposed new Collins Fork Remediation Project, a strip mine on the other side of the mountain. The hearing will be […]
Day 15: Update from Becks
I am officially down from the tulip poplar I was living in for the past 2 weeks. After a long day yesterday, I was released without bail on my own recognizance–something we never would have imagined happening. Immediately following my descent from the tree, I was arrested by WV State Police and taken to Whitesville […]
Tree-Sit on Coal River Mountain Continues after One Sitter Arrested
UPDATED 5:00 pm 8.2.11: Becks Kolins has been released without bail after being charged with trespassing, conspiracy and littering. Marfork, W.Va. – Becks Kolins, who has been occupying a tree on the Bee Tree permit on Coal River Mountain for the last two weeks, descended the tree voluntarily and was arrested this afternoon by the […]
The Real Deal on Coal River Mountain
Post by Rob Goodwin On July 26, in conjunction with local protest of the renewal of the 1,095 acre Bee Tree strip mining permit on Coal River Mountain, we performed a citizens’ inspection of the Bee Tree site, owned by Marfork Coal Company, a subsidiary of Alpha Natural Resources. Allies Ernie Thompson of Horse Creek, WV, […]
Update After Day 12
Monday marks 13 days in the trees for Becks Kolins and Catherine Ann MacDougal. They remain in high spirits, their main hardship seems to be staying occupied on their small platforms day after day. They have been spending time at one another’s platforms, and earlier this week received strong enough cell phone service to do […]
Tree Sit on Coal River Mountain: Day Ten Update
Day Ten of Coal River Mountain Tree Sit As of today, the tree-sit on Coal River Mountain has become the longest tree-sit in West Virginia history. Becks Kolins and Catherine Ann MacDougal have been in their trees for ten days and are determined to remain, despite the extreme heat and bugs. Although the tree-sit itself […]
Still Time to Oppose the Bee Tree Permit Renewal!
Submit Comments to Stop the Bee Tree Permit Renewal and protect Coal River Mountain The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection just announced a public hearing on the renewal of the Bee Tree permit, where Becks and Catherine-Ann have been sitting in trees since last Wednesday. Please show your support for the tree sitters by […]
Recap of the Tree Sit So Far
Becks and Catherine-Ann have been in their trees for a full week and one day now. They have weathered severe heat, thunderstorms, and biting insects, but they remain resolute and in high spirits. They are determined to remain in the trees for as long as they can. They have succeeded in halting most work and […]
