An informal meeting with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is scheduled at Ashford Grade School on January 6, at 6:00 p.m., which invites members of the community and concerned citizens to give voice to their concerns about future ridge top removal at Ashford.

“They have been mining behind the ridge for years, and now they want to take an additional 150 feet of the top of the ridge,” Rebecca Grubbs told the Coal Valley News.

Grubbs, a Boone County teacher who has family members living in Ashford, said she will be in attendance and is working to spread the word that the meeting is open to the public to voice their opinions.

The purpose of the public forum is to give residents in opposition to the DEP’s issuance of the permits the chance to express their opinions and concerns.

According to Grubbs, permits were issued by the DEP that would amend and/or renew the mining companies’ ability to continue mountain top mining on the ridge top at Ashford.

“I don’t want to look back years down the road and say, ‘I could have done something to help stop the destruction of this mountain,’” Grubbs said.

The informal meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Janurary 6, at Ashford Elementary School.

For more information, contact Rebecca “Becky” Grubbs at 304-744-3131.

Contact Joanie Newman at jnewman@coalvalleynews.com or call 304-369-1165.