Tuscaloosa, Ala. (WIAT) -
"Condemn the proposed Shepherd Bend mine, and promise the land will never be used for mining."
That's what protestors of the University of Alabama System, say it will take to quiet them down. Students and environmental groups are trying to get the message to UA President Robert Witt. Protestors spent the day on campus, and say inviting them to a meeting to talk about the sale or lease of the land, would not be enough. They add that the university could stop the mine, since it owns the majority of the land in Walker County, plus the mineral rights. They fear the Shepherd Bend mine will pollute drinking water.
"We want to keep the pressure on UA and let them know, we're watching them and we want them to do the right thing. You know, this isn't a situation where UA and Black Warrior Riverkeeper are on opposite sides. They're just not saying anything, and we're frustrated about that and we want them to take a firm stance against this mine," says Charles Scribner with the Black Warrior Riverkeeper.
Black Warrior Riverkeeper is suing ADEM for issuing a permit to mine at Shepherd Bend, which is across the river from a Birmingham Water Works plant.
