The West Virginia Young Democrats have called for an end to new mountaintop removal mining permits, adding to a debate that pits factions of the Democratic coalition against each other in the country's second-largest coal-producing state.

But party leaders say they welcome the resolution as a contribution to the public discussion, and shrug off suggestions that it points to rifts among Democrats.

The Young Democrats -- with more than 30 active chapters for party members 36 and younger -- adopted a resolution at its state convention earlier this month calling for a moratorium on new mountaintop removal mining permits.

The move came after considerable debate and changes to the language, according to Rod Snyder, the group's president.

"We know this is very controversial,'' he said.

The resolution was the product of a new Young Democrats' strategy by which smaller caucus groups work within specific policy areas. The Young Democrats have a large and active environmental caucus that offered the resolution, Snyder said.

"Among younger people, the perceptions are slightly different,'' he said. "A lot of people have taken a look and said, 'Are there better ways of mining? Is this shortsighted?'''

In mountaintop removal mining, rocks and dirt are blasted and scraped away to reveal coal seams. The debris is dumped in valleys and the land is reclaimed after mining finishes.

Opponents say it damages the environment and leads to polluted streams and drinking water.

Supporters call it a safe and effective way to mine coal, and its defenders include not only coal companies, but the United Mine Workers of America labor union and high-ranking members of the Democratic Party.

While the mines produce about 13 percent of the coal mined annually in West Virginia, they account for roughly 5,400 jobs, about 14 percent of which are unionized.

Debate over mountaintop removal mining in the Democratic Party has potentially far-reaching implications for West Virginia, where the party has dominated state politics since the Great Depression. In addition to both houses of the Legislature, Democrats occupy the governor's mansion and the majority of state Supreme Court seats.

But party leaders say they welcome the resolution as a contribution to the public discussion, and shrug off suggestions that it points to rifts among Democrats.

The Young Democrats -- with more than 30 active chapters for party members 36 and younger -- adopted a resolution at its state convention earlier this month calling for a moratorium on new mountaintop removal mining permits.

The move came after considerable debate and changes to the language, according to Rod Snyder, the group's president.

"We know this is very controversial,'' he said.

The resolution was the product of a new Young Democrats' strategy by which smaller caucus groups work within specific policy areas. The Young Democrats have a large and active environmental caucus that offered the resolution, Snyder said.

"Among younger people, the perceptions are slightly different,'' he said. "A lot of people have taken a look and said, 'Are there better ways of mining? Is this shortsighted?'''

In mountaintop removal mining, rocks and dirt are blasted and scraped away to reveal coal seams. The debris is dumped in valleys and the land is reclaimed after mining finishes.

Opponents say it damages the environment and leads to polluted streams and drinking water.

Supporters call it a safe and effective way to mine coal, and its defenders include not only coal companies, but the United Mine Workers of America labor union and high-ranking members of the Democratic Party.

While the mines produce about 13 percent of the coal mined annually in West Virginia, they account for roughly 5,400 jobs, about 14 percent of which are unionized.

Debate over mountaintop removal mining in the Democratic Party has potentially far-reaching implications for West Virginia, where the party has dominated state politics since the Great Depression. In addition to both houses of the Legislature, Democrats occupy the governor's mansion and the majority of state Supreme Court seats.

This month, UMWA President Cecil Roberts found himself restating the union's refusal to oppose mountaintop removal mining after a spokesman's comments were interpreted as meaning the union might change its mind.

None of this means that differences between the environmentalists and other members of the Democratic coalition is causing the party any grief, according to state party Chairman Nick Casey.

"From what I've been told, the idea and the goal was, let's get this out in public debate,'' he said of the Young Democrats' resolution.

The Young Democrats draw their members from a large cross-section of the state's population, Casey said, making their contribution to the debate important.

"I don't know that they're extremists by any means, in either direction,'' he said. "They're taking part in a discussion. I hope the coal companies get into the discussion with them.''

A call to the West Virginia Coal Association, which represents coal companies, was not immediately returned today.

Casey's sentiments were echoed by the Democratic Party's titular head, Gov. Joe Manchin, who has called for "balance'' on mountaintop removal mining.

Manchin's focus is on how land where surface mines are located is used after the mining operations conclude, spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg said. Manchin thinks that land can be used profitably for purposes that include renewable energy resources.

As for the Young Democrats' resolution, Ramsburg said Manchin thinks differing opinions within the party should be encouraged.

"That's what he's always said is great about the party, that it's a big tent and there's room for many different opinions,'' she said.