WV MINING RECLAMATION DIRECTOR FIRED - "Never Return To Building"

(08/26/2003)

Fired State Mining and Reclamation Director Matthew B. Crum won't be staying on through November. EPA Secretary Stephannie Timmermeyer has ordered Crum from the building. Crum says he was not given a reason for his firing other than "management incompatibility." Coal River Mountain Watch says Crum had three key policy changes he was working on. Regulations to improve reclaimed mining sites' ability to grow hardwood forests, developing a better policy for handling mine permits at sites that are likely to develop acid mine drainage and finding ways to minimize valley fill sizes. DEP said in its news release early Friday that Crum would stay on as mining director until September 5th, and continue with the agency as an adviser until November 1st. By Friday evening, Timmermeyer had ordered Crum to clean out his Nitro office over the weekend, and never return to the building. Crum headed the division for two years. He was named to the post in June 2001. Timmermeyer said "I'm actually going to be involved in managing the division myself with the assistance of Joe Parker."

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