Mountain Justice Summer shuts down Strip Mine, 10 arrested

For Immediate Release
August 15, 2005

For More Information:
Monica Moquee - 541-521-1832
Ryan Bennett - 865-406-2964

(Up to date action report is available at
http://www.MountainJusticeSummer.org)

Photo Opportunity, Photos Available

Reclaiming Appalachia: A Mountain Take Over

Zeb Mountain Destruction Halted by Escalating Anti Mountain
Top Mining Campaign in Tennessee

Knoxville, TN - As dawn approached this morning, activists
stood on an ancient Appalachian mountain in a dramatic
protest against mountain top mining. This is the first time
a mountain has been taken over in the struggle to protect
the Appalachian Mountains from the devastating practices of
mountain top mining. Dedicated citizens are blockading
National Coal's strip mine in scenic Campbell County,
Tennessee to halt the destruction of Zeb Mountain. Activists
affiliated with MountainJusticeSummer.org and Katuah Earth
First! are using creative non violent tactics to bring
attention to the modern atrocity of mountain top mining.

In an unprecedentated non violent intervention, individuals
are blockading the entrance to the mine by locking
themselves to a car on the haul road and sitting in a tripod
to prevent access to the mine. Other activists have locked
themselves to drilling equipment. Citizens are using their
bodies to create a giant “no blast” zone across the
mountain. These drastic tactics are being used because strip
mining companies are not allowed to use explosives when
unauthorized people are nearby. “Coal companies bend and
break laws in order to blow apart Tennessee's mountain
headwaters. Since regulatory agencies refuse to protect our
mountains, non violent citizen intervention has become
necessary. We stand for the preservation of the mountains,
water, forests, and communities of Appalachia” said Maria
Johnson of Kingsport, TN.

“These mountains are our homes, and they are being stolen
and destroyed by companies like National Coal and this must
be stopped. To put my body between the mountain and the
companies' machines may be the only way to stop them” said
Nable Wallin of Asheville, NC.

Zeb Mountain is located above beautiful Elk Valley in
Campbell County, just 40 miles north of Knoxville, TN.
(Directions Below) Mountain top mining practices involve
removing the tops and sides off mountains with explosives
and heavy equipment to access thin seams of coal.

“We are reclaiming Appalachia. We are calling on Governor
Bredesen to do the same by enforcing Tennessee's water
quality laws and ban mountain top mining” said Mere
Burton, perched upon a tripod in the middle of the road on
Zeb Mountain.

10 people have been arrested so far but actions to keep the mine shut down are continuing. Four of the arrestees have reported being violently assaulted by mine wokers and police, some sustained serious injuries. Legal funds are desperately needed. Please visit http://www.mountainjusticesummer.org to make a donation via paypal.

No matter where you live you can support the people putting there lives on the line to protect our mountains by giving National Coal a piece of your mind:
National Coal:

Phones - 769-3749, 690-6900, (866) 703-COAL (toll Free)
Fax - 691-9982
Email – info (at) nationalcoal.com,
investorrelations (at) nationalcoal.com,
sales (at) nationalcoal.com
jdavis (at) nationalcoal.com

National Coal is headquartered at:
8915 George Williams Rd.
Knoxville, TN 37923

(Directions to Zeb Mountain: From I-75, North of Knoxville, take exit 141 to
Hwy 63W. Follow 63W for 4.3 miles and turn right at the
Pioneer Post Office on to 297E. Follow the road 5 miles
down, passing a cabinet shop and a church on left. About 1/2
mile after that, turn left onto Lick Fork Rd the mine site
is about an eighth of a mile down on right.)
Hourly updates, including photos and quotes available at
http://www.MountainJusticeSummer.org