Mountain Heroes: Cindy Rank
My name is Cindy.
Ending mountaintop removal means honoring
Appalachia's mountains, nature, and people.
“Once you stand on a streamside with vibrant life all around you, and then return to that same spot a year or two later and find the stream gone and nothing that even closely resembles that valley or forests, you never forget.”
– Cindy Rank
Cindy Rank: My Mountain Story
Since 1979, Cindy Rank has spent countless volunteer hours with the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, as chair of group’s Mining Committee. An ever-persistent, quiet, and scrupulous researcher, Cindy is the humble backbone of decades of efforts to hold accountable the agencies whose responsibilities are to strictly enforce federal and state mining laws. Truly an unsung hero, Cindy was instrumental in bringing the first-ever citizen lawsuit over a mountaintop removal mine, the Spruce No. 1 mine, almost 13 years ago. She shies away from attention while remaining one of the country's most diligent and steady government watchdogs. With the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, in partnership with Earthjustice and Appalachian Mountain Advocates, Cindy has been leading the challenges — through the courts and the agencies — against the most egregious violations of the laws that are meant to protect American citizens.
This is Cindy's story:
My name is Cindy Rank, and I live in Rock Cave, West Virginia. I grew up visiting West Virginia from my native Pittsburgh, but one particular visit in December 1971 changed my life forever.
Four of us friends visited acquaintances in central West Virginia, enjoyed their hospitality in their small self-built home in the hills, spent a night in a cave on their property, and walked for hours on their 45 acres of heaven.
Serendipitously, family members wanted to sell that piece of property, and at less than $50 per acre, who could resist? No matter that there were no level places to speak of for a house on the property.
My husband Paul and I bought the land and began transitioning to our new life in West Virginia. We brought many willing hands to enjoy the wilds with us and to accomplish the very satisfying construction of our very own cabin, which has expanded over the past 40 years to become the home we never want to leave.
For a few years we were living the dream in the gorgeous mountains of West Virginia. We welcomed a physically demanding and labor-intensive life with the land there and our mountain life was a constant source of joy, inspiration, and strength.
But in 1977, when strip mining permits threatened to forever pollute our local streams with acid mine drainage and tear apart our communities, our world changed, and life hasn’t been the same since.
Our connection to the land and the mountains now serves as anchor in what I quickly learned was a far more demanding world — a world in which powerful polluting industries would exert a direct and devastating control over my little corner of the world, my adopted state, and its streams and hills that I had come to cherish.
Together with friends we formed our local group Friends of the Little Kanawha and fought to protect our homes and water resources. We joined the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, and I continued to learn about coal mining and the laws meant to regulate the impacts of mining. Since 1979 I’ve spent considerable amounts of my volunteer time with the Highlands Conservancy attempting to hold accountable the agencies whose responsibilities were to strictly enforce federal and state mining laws.
The first time I personally saw mountaintop removal mining was in 1994 — on a mine tour of the Dal-Tex mine in Blair, West Virginia, a town known for the historic labor uprising of 1921, the Battle of Blair Mountain.
I am at a loss for words to adequately describe that feeling of standing on the edge of a six hundred-foot-deep gash in the earth at the Dal-Tex mine, but it literally took my breath away and sent a cold, dark chill into the very depths of my being.
Though I had heard about the size and scale of these newer, bigger strip mines, I was totally unprepared for the visceral and visual impact of seeing those mountaintop removal mines first-hand, and being present in the midst of such totally earth-shattering operations.
Seeing that destruction only strengthened my resolve to do what I could to save our mountains, waters, and communities.
The Dal-Tex mine, as monstrous as it was, had clearly pushed beyond the limits required by law. It was so over the top that it perhaps for the first time attracted media attention to the big strip mountaintop removal mines that had developed fairly hidden among the hills and almost unnoticed by the public at large.
I have spent the decades since educating myself and others about the destruction of mountaintop removal mining and the fight to end it. With the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and our partners at Earthjustice and Appalachian Mountain Advocates, I’ve been challenging — through the courts and the agencies — the most egregious violations of the laws that are meant to protect us. We’ve been working to lessen the assaults on the waters essential for our survival.
My memory of another beautiful stream valley haunts my days. You see, once you stand on a streamside like Connelly Branch of the Mud River, with vibrant life all around you, shaded by the steep hillsides that rise above, and then return to that same spot a year or two later and find the stream gone and nothing that even closely resembles that valley or forests, you never forget.
I wish we would have ended mountaintop removal mining by now, but I know we’ve made progress and at least prevented much worse. As hard as it is for me to accept, I do believe that even what appear to be small victories make a difference, slow the tide of destruction, and are worth whatever improved mining practices that occur as a result. People in Appalachia are still suffering greatly, but were it not for those small victories many more communities would already be gone.
Aside from any victory, what keeps me going in this fight is the world around me. It is the smell of the earth in the spring, and feeling the cold stream flowing over my feet. It is the belief that the beautiful and life-giving natural world is to be honored and cared for, and that the people here in West Virginia and Appalachia need and deserve what time and energy I have to give.
I am still holding out hope that we can end mountaintop removal mining and strip mining completely, and that we can do it without substituting some other equally destructive practices. And I’m committed to this fight, so that at least some small undisturbed parts of West Virginia and Appalachia, which I love so dearly, will survive.
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Jonathan Gensler
A former officer for the United States Army and Iraq War veteran, he is working on transforming the energy profile of the one of the largest energy consumers in the world, the Department of Defense.
"We can make a similar choice today, if we want: We can say 'Yes' to growing our economy beyond reliance on deadly fossil fuels, which will inevitably run out, and embrace a profitable future with a balance of renewable energy and enhanced efficiency, supporting healthy communities for generations to come."
Read Jonathan's Story -
Dustin White
Dustin works to educate the public, elected officials, and members of Congress on the devastation mountaintop removal mining.
"Many don't realize the thing they cling to, coal, is the thing that is harming us. Even at home it is hard to get people to understand."
Read Dustin's Story -
Ken Hechler
In his early years in Congress, Rep. Hechler became an outspoken opponent of strip mining — and drafted the nation’s first law setting up safety measures for coal miners.
"There have been many uphill fights that have come out successful, and I wish we could see it for the fight to end mountaintop removal mining. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, but the tougher it gets, the more exciting it gets when you can see victory."
Read Ken's Story -
James Tawney
The son of a coal miner, James grew up on a small farm on Daupinspeck Mountain, in the scenic Gauley River canyon. Now, this area famous for its whitewater rapids is being trashed by mountaintop removal.
"To me, nothing is worth the loss of our mountains and streams. Without drinkable water, there is no life."
Read James's Story -
Donetta Blankenship
Donetta and her family's only source of water was contaminated with toxic chemicals. Hospitalized twice for liver problems due to the poisonous water, Donetta's resolve to stand up against mountaintop removal has only strengthened.
"I am going to do all I can to try to help, to save people's lives, and help them so that they won't have to go through this with their water."
Read Donetta's Story -
Teri Blanton
Teri has been fighting mountaintop removal mining and toxic pollution in her home state of Kentucky for 20 years. Along with thousands of her Kentucky comrades, Teri is at the forefront of the movement for healthy communities in America.
"My children didn’t get to enjoy the creek the way I did; they grew up in the midst of coal muck in the ’80s and early ’90s."
Read Teri's Story -
Mickey McCoy
Mickey is the former mayor of Inez, Kentucky, a town that captured the nation’s attention when a massive coal waste dam failed and flooded it in 2000.
"You have just got to give the human race a big high five when you see some of these people who are getting involved in this peaceful movement to stop mountaintop removal, many of them young people — it’s just wonderful ... To all my brothers and sisters who are in this movement and to those who are ready to join us, I cry, 'Hoka Hey!'"
Read Mickey's Story -
Jane Branham
Jane is vice president of the Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, a citizen group in southwest Virginia that is working to protect communities from coal pollution and end mountaintop removal mining.
"My hope is that we start rebuilding our community to what it used to be before coal ever invaded our lives."
Read Jane's Story -
Cindy Rank
Cindy is the humble backbone of decades of efforts to hold accountable the agencies whose responsibilities are to strictly enforce federal and state mining laws.
"I do believe that even what appear to be small victories make a difference, slow the tide of destruction, and are worth whatever improved mining practices that occur as a result. People in Appalachia are still suffering greatly, but were it not for those small victories many more communities would already be gone."
Read Cindy's Story -
Allen Johnson
With his strong faith and his generous heart, Allen reaches out to Christians and their congregations to educate and motivate them on injustices of mountaintop removal mining.
"These areas where they are extracting all this coal are the poorest in the country. It’s take, take, take, and not give back...Answering this call involves rebuilding central Appalachia, with a sustainable, clean, vibrant economy; a renewal of our culture of hospitality and neighborliness."
Read Allen's Story -
Karen Woodrum
Karen is proud of her work as an underground miner and wants to make her message clear: she is not against coal; she is against mountaintop removal coal mining.
"There would be more jobs if they would mine it underground, and I think people’s lives would not be disrupted as they are with mountaintop removal going on. And there’s less damage done to the earth."
Read Karen's Story -
Sid Moye
Sid never considered himself an environmentalist—just a regular mountain man who loves his family, loves his garden, and loves life in the mountains. But that all changed when he went to fulfill his lifelong dream of a retiring to fish in nearby mountain streams.
"When they leave, after the coal company is done with this, we'll not have any resources, we'll not have any land, we'll not have any water, the air is already poisoned."
Read Sid's Story -
John Slattery
John Slattery is an actor and director, best known for his role as Roger Sterling on AMC's series Mad Men. In joining this Earthjustice campaign, John Slattery is standing with all Mountain Heroes in opposition to mountaintop removal mining.
"My name is John. Some things are better with their tops left on. I stand with the Mountain Heroes. Let's stop removing the tops off mountains."
Read John's Story -
Wendell Berry
The author of more than 40 books of poetry, fiction, and essays, Wendell Berry is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. He has dedicated much of his energy and time to the cause of saving mountains and waters.
"My connection to mountaintop removal mining is the Kentucky River, beside which I live, and I know that surface mining in the mountains of Kentucky damages the river."
Read Wendell's Story -
Lisa Henderson
Born in a town that went vacant because of pollution from mountaintop removal mining, she was raised under the wing of one country’s most ardent voices for environmental justice, Judy Bonds.
"We traced the polluted creek to mountaintop removal mining. We started talking to community members from the other side of the mountain, and the more we talked to people, the more we heard, "Oh, you just wait. There’s more in store for you." They were right."
Read Lisa's Story -
Junior Walk
From living with contaminated water in his own home as a child, to being kicked out of the house for speaking out against the coal company, Junior has had to muster courage at every step along the way.
"I knew I couldn’t live with myself if I just sat on my hands, knowing that my friends and family were being poisoned, so I started to speak out against mountaintop removal mining."
Read Junior's Story -
Julian Martin
In 1999, Julian walked across the state of West Virginia with another Mountain Hero, Larry Gibson, in protest of mountaintop removal mining. He hasn’t stop marching since.
"Mountaintop removal mining is just a one-shot deal. It kills everything and then leaves. These mountains will never be replaced, and nothing good is ever going to happen on these mountains again. They’re finished."
Read Julian's Story -
Debbie Jarrell
Co-director of Coal River Mountain Watch, Debbie brings her caring spirit and indomitable dedication to the movement to end mountaintop removal mining.
"I have two grown children and three grandchildren. What’s similar about their experience is the amazement and the enjoyment that they get from being out in the woods and around the rivers. But a major difference is that my grandchildren can’t kneel down and get a drink in these streams whenever they want to, because of the pollution and contamination from mountaintop removal mining."
Read Debbie's Story -
Bo Webb
A no-nonsense Vietnam War veteran, Bo is determined to fight for the health of communities near mountaintop removal mining. He won't give up until protections are brought to Appalachia.
"After mountaintop removal is over we will work to build sustainable economies within our communities. For now, we must focus on this fight, because we are fighting for our survival. We and the mountains are connected; one and the same. As they are being destroyed, so are we."
Read Bo's Story -
Amber Whittington
Amber's younger brother is only five years old, and he will spend his entire childhood growing up next to a mountaintop removal mining site. For his sake, she's pledged to work to end mountaintop removal mining.
"It seems hopeless at times, but it’s not. I have to remind myself that it will get better as long as I keep fighting. I’m inspired by the amazing people I’ve met who won’t back down on this. We need more people from all over the country fighting to stop this."
Read Amber's Story -
Terry Tempest
Highly celebrated and decorated literary icon Terry Tempest Williams stands firmly against mountaintop removal mining. Williams' writings and books have earned her critical acclaim, and now she is using her vaunted name to try to stop this devastating mining practice and protect families across Appalachia. Join her.
Read Terry's Story -
Jerry Cope
Writer, filmmaker, designer, and activist Jerry Cope is standing up for justice, clean water, healthy communities, and mountains by standing against destructive mountaintop removal mining. Will you join him?
Read Jerry's Story -
Daryl Hannah
Award-winning actress Daryl Hannah has thrown herself into the fight to stop mountaintop removal mining. She stands in solidarity with all Mountain Heroes. Will you join her?
Read Daryl's Story -
Warren Haynes
Widely considered one of rock & roll’s greatest guitarists of all time, Warren Haynes has performed on stage and in the recording studio with a diverse array of musicians including Phil Lesh & Friends, James Hetfield, Bob Dylan, John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt and many more.
Read Warren's Story -
Alex Honnold
World-renowned climber Alex Honnold, whose famed record-setting climbs are unrivaled in the climbing world, joins thousands of Mountain Heroes in standing up to defend Appalachia's mountains and communities.
"My name is Alex. Climbing mountains is my life. We should protect them."
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My Morning Jacket
"We are My Morning Jacket. We want to see an end to mountaintop removal. We care about our mountains and Appalachia."
Read My Morning Jacket's Story -
Mari-Lynn
Read Mari-Lynn's Story -
Silas House
I'm an Appalachian. And my homeland is being destroyed.
Read Silas's Story -
Joan Mulhern
Earthjustice mourns the passing of the strongest and bravest advocate for clean water and justice that we have ever known, our very own senior legislative counsel Joan Mulhern.
A fighter for the planet and for all people who suffered environmental injustice, Joan was a tireless advocate for the underdog in every situation, and she seldom if ever lost.
Read Joan's Story -
Maria Gunnoe
Maria's life has been threatened numerous times for her criticism of the coal industry, and she’s been assaulted and harassed, but she has refused to be silenced.
"We do not have to blow up our mountains and poison our water to create energy. I will be here to fight for our rights. My family is here, we’ve been here for the past 10 generations, and we’re not leaving."
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Edward Norton
An actor and filmmaker, Edward Norton is standing with all Mountain Heroes in opposition to mountaintop removal mining.
"Mountaintop removal coal mining destroys our natural resources, our communities, our health. It privatizes all the profit of dirty energy and socializes all the costs to the rest of us. It's a travesty and a scam and needs to be stopped."
Read Edward's Story -
Larry Gibson
Considered the father of the movement to stop mountaintop removal mining, he travels the country in his signature fluorescent shirts educating the public on through his Keeper of the Mountains Foundation.
"We didn’t know what it was, or if it was legal to blow up a mountain. I mean, who does that? I just didn’t believe it, I couldn’t fathom it. But I was hearing it, and I was seeing it in the distance, and then finally I could throw a rock and hit it."
Read Larry's Story -
Chuck Nelson
For nearly 30 years he worked as an underground coal miner. When mountaintop removal mining came to his area, Chuck watched the communities around him fall apart. And so his journey began.
"Being a coal miner, I depended on coal to raise the family. But I knew when I went into the underground mine, I was sacrificing my own health. It was my choice, as an underground coal miner. But mountaintop removal mining is different, because it affects whole communities — people who don’t get a choice in the matter."
Read Chuck's Story -
Alexandra Cousteau
A National Geographic "Emerging Explorer," filmmaker, and globally recognized advocate on water issues, Alexandra sees the link between our oceans and the waters that connect to them, including the important headwaters that begin in the Appalachian Mountains.
"We are drawn to the mountains like we are drawn to the sea. Could you imagine a world without either?"
Read Alexandra's Story -
Leilani Munter
A biology graduate who became a race car driver and environmental activist, Leilani is now directing her attention to the mining practice that is devastating Appalachia. She stands with all Mountain Heroes in opposition to mountaintop removal mining.
"Mountains are being destroyed for corporate greed. There is no Planet B. Let's save this one."
Read Leilani's Story -
Woody Harrelson
Woody Harrelson is an award-winning actor and longtime environmental activist, and a steadfast ally in the movement to stop mountaintop removal mining.
"Mountains, forests, streams, birds, fauna are sacred. The closest we get to God."
Read Woody's Story -
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is one of our nation's leading environmental advocates and litigators. Named one of TIME magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet," Kennedy works to defend our nation's clean waterways and oppose mountaintop removal coal mining.
Read Robert's Story
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Thank you Cindy. God bless you and keep you strong.
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