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WSERC has created an atmosphere of las versus them Dear Editor: [t is with considerable dismay that I read the feature article in the DC!'(July 12, 2000) regarding Steve Hinchman's decision to leave the Western Slope Environmental Research Council (WSERC). This article left the impression that Mr. Hinchman has provided a valuable sen•ice ro the community and will be sorely missed. Nothing could be further from the truth. Mr. Hinchman has been a divi- sive force in the community, most recently, with his shenanigans as a member of the North Fork Coal Working Group. His efforts to draw attention to the perceived lack of responsibtlity by the coal compa- nies in mitigating impacts from their operations are a sham. The quotation attributed to him in the DCl article: "The question is does WSERC have to be the bad guys again, or will West Elk take respon- sibility for the impact i[ creates" demonstrates his complete lack of knowledge with regard [o how the coal companies conduct their busi- ness. The other explanation may be that Mr. Hinchman is deliberately misleading others by his views to further some personal agenda. Either explanation demonsrates a lack of character that one usually would expect from a true communi- ty leader. All three coal companies pay a considerable sum to the federal, state and local governments each year in the form of royalties, sever- ance taxes and property [axes, respectively. These taxes are levied to provide funds to the respective government entity primarily for ~w__ mitigation of the socioeconomic impacts of the mining operation on the community (or in the case of the Federal Governmcn4 the coun- try). West Elk Mine paid $8.3 mil- lion in, royalties, $I'.9 million in severance taxes and $1.5 million in property taxes in 1999. Since com- mencing production in 1982 West Elk has paid $3D million in royal- ties, $7 million in severance taxes and $20 million in property taxes. Another favorite azgument NIr. Hinchman and others like to throw out goes like the following. Since production levels are increasing at the three mines they must pay more to mitigate the impacts. It should he noted that production increases result in higher royalties and sever- ance tax levies (both are based on tonnage produced), and generally higher property tax levies (more facilities and equipment raise assessed valuation). It should be obvious that additional impact already begets additional trrrri~~[iori funds from these sources. This is: demonstrated by the fact that West Elk's tax burden has increased since 1992 which corresponds to the introduction of longwall mining and [he higher production rates that followed. The real question that should be asked is how much of this taz stream is actually employed to miti- gate socioeconomic impacts in the communities that are affected. The State Department of Local Affairs administers energy impact funding to the communities and the county commissioners handle property taxes. I suggest Mr. Hinchman and WSERC would better serve the community if they were to ask these agencies how they intend to employ their considerable largess, reaped from the coal companies under the guise of mitigating impacts, to mitigate the impacts they seem to be concerned about. Of course, this assumes that Mr. Hinchman and W;iERC are really concerned about socioeconomic impacts and do not have some other agenda, which remains to be seen. When one considers the magni- tude of the amount:: West Elk Mine has paid far impact mitigation it is difficult to understand how Mr. Hinchman could believe anyone would take him seriously when he asks us to consider West Elk an operation which refuses to "... take responsibility for [he impact that it creates." Sadly, some individuals in the community have taken this hog- wash as gospel without bothering [o understand the facts. This has creat- ed an atmosphere of us (the good folk of the community) against them (the big bad coal companies). This is a small part of the wonder- ful "legacy" Mr. Hinchman will leave us with. i believe the North Fork can only benefit from his absence. Chris Nyikos Paonia A disclaimer Dear Editor: ' As an addendum to my previous letter' Nader will be speaking at WCC's annual meeting iu Mon- trose Sept. 9 in his capacity as a lifelong consumer advocate. ~~$$ a4i"i°' non-profit 501(C)3, WCCeafftiot endorse candidates for public office. )oy MacN»Ity