Two of the three tree sit platforms, with banners hanging.
First tree sitter, with the road construction that they are stopping.
Up-close view of the tree sitters, showing the truck that holds the sound equipment
View from the tree
The cherry picker that Massey used to intimidate the tree sitters.
Josh Graupera being led out of jail after he was arrested for his ground support role.
Nearby blasting on Coal River Mountain
Josh Graupera, 19, Lancaster, PA before the tree sit action. Josh was arrested for providing ground support to the tree sitters on the day the action started.
This diagram shows the planned strip mine on Coal River Mountain. The yellow area is the Brushy Fork Impoundment, the blue the Bee Tree permit, and the red Eagle 2 permit. In addition to Bee Tree and Eagle 2, Massey seeks two more permits (Eagle 3 and Collins Fork) to expand their operations. Currently the only section blasted is the western portion of Bee Tree permit. Massey does not have Clean Water Act permits for creating valley fills, which is limiting the current scope of their operation. Instead of using valley fills, they have partially lowered the slurry lake in the Brushy Fork impoundment, enabling them to dump rock and earth into it instead of valley fills. However, to continue to do so, they need to cut a haul road between their area of operation and the Brushy Fork impoundment. The tree sit is crucial, because it halts the construction of the haul road. The Eagle 1 and Collins Folks are currently not activate. The lifespan of the mine (all 4 permitted areas) is approximately 14 years.
[Cell Phone Photo] David Aaron Smith, 23, Baton Rouge, LA descending a tree after 5 days because of cold and wet conditions. Note the fence surrounding the trees, trying to prevent a re-supply.
[Cell Phone Photo] David Aaron Smith, 23, Baton Rouge, LA as he turns himself in to state police and Massey security guards around the base of the trees.
[Cell Phone Photo] Amber Nitchman, 19, Lancaster PA on her platform, banner hanging down from one of the trees, with the coal mining site in the background.
Eric Blevins, 28, Tennessee, talking about his motivations for participating in the tree sit to stop blasting on Coal River Mountain.
Inside Eric's tarp on his platform
full view of the fence and security setup from Eric's tree
a view of the mine site from Eric's platform
a close up of the security situation
Amber in her tree!!
Happy to be out of the van!
Jail does not dampen Aaron's spirits!
Going into the police station
Horns Massey Energy is using to abuse tree sitters in an attempt to dislodge them. Locations of Brushy Fork and the site of blasting the sit is stopping are approximations. Massey is still blasting at other sites on the Bee Tree permit.
