I've been truly inspired by what thousands are doing around the country to stop mountaintop removal and Big Coal, especially by asking Lisa Jackson of the EPA to stop extending permits that would destroy more mountains. Last Monday, it was announced that after a grassroots pressure campaign state-owned utility Santee Cooper is canceling its plans to build a $1.25 billion coal plant on the banks of the Great Pee Dee River in South Carolina. On Tuesday, two activists courageously climbed 80 foot trees to prevent mining company Massey Energy's mountaintop removal operations from raining debris and destruction on the Coal River Valley in southern West Virginia. Truly effective grassroots action has proven that Big Coal can be stopped in its tracks if we put our minds to it.

But we're still on the precipice of disaster. In September, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will review 86 new mountaintop removal permits. If approved, these 86 new permits could mean 86 less mountains in Appalachia. That spells disaster as mountaintop removal coal mining has already destroyed 500 mountains, buried 2,000 miles of rivers and streams under rubble and greatly harmed Appalachian communities and culture. If approved, these permits will be devastating for the people and ecosystems of West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and other parts of Appalachia and authorize a new round of blasting, flooding, and water contamination.

Now is the time to build our collective power to act. Over the past month more than 10,000 of you have joined me in asking EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to go to Appalachia and see Big Coal's swath of destruction for herself. Our goal is 12,000 signatures, and with your help we can quickly achieve this goal. If you haven't yet done so, add your name to the petition. And ask five of your friends to join us and sign the petition as well. The more signatures we get, the stronger the message we can send to the EPA, now and in the year ahead. Let's end this environmental disaster. The future of 86 Appalachian mountains hang in the balance.

For the mountains, 
Scott Parkin
Global Finance Campaign
Rainforest Action Network