After more than 30 hours, direct activists from Rainforest Action Network are holding their post in the front central plaza of EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C. 

They have requested that Administrator Lisa Jackson come to Appalachia and see a mountaintop removal coal site herself, via aerial tour. 

Local authorities remain tolerant, and spirits remain high.

(Photo:  RAN.)

“It’s very clear that this is a nonviolent civil disobedience,” said Nell Greenberg of RAN, who was on the ground at the protest when she updated TENTHMIL.  “This is really about directly communicating to the EPA.”

The core group of 15 demonstrators, including two who were perched 20 feet up in the air on tepee-like tripods, was there all through the chilly night. 

The EPA building is right beside the Federal Triangle Metro stop, on Pennsylvania Avenue, and has been a prime location to get attention from passers-by.  The reception has remained overwhelmingly positive.

(Photo:  RAN.)

“It has been incredible to see the flood of reactions this morning,” said Greenberg, “with EPA employees returning to work, seeing that the [demonstrators] were still here, from last night.”

The activists are still awaiting EPA’s official response, though a lot of informal communication has come down, including upbeat comments from employees and a visit from a public relations representative.

There has been a long-standing request for an EPA Administrator to do a fly-over of MTR sites, made by Appalachian citizens and environmental groups such as OHVEC, Southwings, and Coal River Mountain Watch. 

Administrator Jackson has never been on a fly-over of an MTR site. 

Jackson was in her office Thursday, during the demonstration, said coordinator Kate Rooth.  While Jackson has not yet committed to doing a fly-over, she did acknowledge the issue and the concerns of the protesters on Thursday morning in her Twitter feed, saying,

People are here today expressing views on MTM, a critical issue to our country. Theyre concerned abt human health & water quality & so am I

EPA is in the process of an enhanced review of mountaintop mining permits.  Of 79 permits applied for, 3 have been approved, 3 are in formal coordination, 15 were withdrawn by the mining companies for various reasons (e.g. dropping price of coal, intent to revise mine project), and 58 are still pending.

This direct action will likely end today, by RAN’s estimate, since the EPA office will close for the weekend.  They will be back, though. 

“I may be a little physically uncomfortable,” said Kate Sinneran, who is sitting up on one of the tripods, “but its nothing compared to what people in Appalachia are facing.”

(Kate Sinneran.  Photo:  Chris Eichler.)

You can contact the office of EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, by calling 202-564-4700, and follow her on Facebook.