Closplint Residents Meet with Coal Workers

Residents of Closplint and other communities above Evarts on Hwy 38 have started to organize around issues of coal dust, diesel smoke and overweight trucks in their community.  People are concerned about the impact on their health and the damage to their homes.

"I worked in the mines for 29 and half years.  My problem was when one day I went up the road, and my porch was covered up with mud," Wayne Dean, a resident reflected.

At the most recent meeting, coal company representatives and workers came out and had a positive dialogue about possible solutions to the coal dust problem.  Rex Coal Company is one of the companies affecting the community, and they are in the process of paving the entrances.  They also just recently purchased a truck washing system. 

"All we want is a healthy environment.  I think this meeting was an important first step.  We look forward to working with this company and the others to address this problem," Chuck Taylor another resident shared.

Harlan Daily story about recent meeting.