Gorezilla’s White Mountains

White mountains of mining waste, that is. The Tennessean hammers Al Gore for his zinc strip mining interests in Tennessee. He made a bundle of money off it until it closed in 2003. Now, new owners want to resume operations. Frankly, I think the mine can be run with minimal - but not zero - environmental impact. But this is one more thing where the public persona of Al Gore as environmental savior runs afoul of his pedestrian money-grubbing. I'm sure he'll assuage his guilt by buying a few more indulgences for himself, from himself.

New owners plan to start mining again later this year, after nearly four years of inactivity. In addition to bringing 250 much-needed jobs to rural Middle Tennessee, mine owners will resume paying royalties to some residents who, like Gore, own land adjacent to the mine and lease access to the zinc under their property.

Gore has yet to be approached by the new owner, Strategic Resource Acquisition, said his spokeswoman Kalee Kreider, and he and wife, Tipper, have not decided whether they will renew their lease. It was terminated when the mine closed in 2003.

Last week, Gore sent a letter asking the company to work with Earthworks, a national environmental group, to make sure the operation doesn’t damage the environment.

“We would like for you to engage with us in a process to ensure that the mine becomes a global example of environmental best practices,” Gore wrote.

Victor Wyprysky, the company’s president and chief executive officer, did not respond to requests for comment on the letter.

The letter was sent the week after The Tennessean’s Washington bureau posed questions to the former vice president about his involvement with the mine.

Previous mine owners released toxic substances into waterways above the allowable levels several times in the eight years before the mine closed.

Much like Gorezilla's mammoth appetite for electricity and private jetting about spouting about his movie, his being party to strip mining makes a lot of what he preaches ring very hollow, indeed. Do read the details of how Gorezilla acquired the interest in the property in the first place. It is a classic, with his daddy making a sweetheart deal for him. It kind of defines just how different life and economics are for the professional political class. (Regardless of party, incidentally).

UPDATE: Others: Maggie's Farm, ShopFloor, Instapundit, Scared Monkeys, PoliPundit, Bill Hobbs,

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  By Quilly Mammoth, Sunday, 18 March , 2007 @ 2:45 pm

  The part that really gets me is how he acquired the land.

  Former U.S. Sen. Albert Gore Sr. bought about 88 acres along the Caney Fork River from Occidental Minerals, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum, for $160,000. Included in the deal was the subsurface area. The rights to the minerals below ground were then leased back to Occidental.

  On the same day, Gore Sr. sold the land and subsurface area to his 25-year-old son and daughter-in-law for $140,000. The mineral lease to Occidental was put in their names.

  This sort of shell game with land is a favorite of leading Democratic Senators. Look at Harry Reid.

  Al is also bought cheap. Through his efforts Occidental bought the Elk Hills oil patch outside of Bakersfield. This 3.2$B sale was the largest privatization of Federal land ever. The former Naval Petroleum Reserve is the third largest oil field in the US and the largest “sweet oil” reserve in the country.

  And they call Cheney an Oil thief???

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