Coal & its supporters suppress health impacts evidence

Despite a growing body of evidence that links coal mining – and particularly mountaintop removal – with lower life expectancy, higher rates of cancer and other life-threatening diseases and increased birth defects, coal companies and their supporters – from Gov. Beshear to local legislators and our Congressional delegation – continue to be silent and even work to suppress this research.

The same thing happens in other coal-impacted communities across the region. Alpha Natural Resources, facing a legal challenge to one of its new mining permits in West Virginia, is trying to keep important health impacts studies out of the courtroom.

The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition has asked a judge to include West Virginia University studies linking mountaintop removal to birth defects and cancer among residents in its lawsuit challenging the permit for a 235-acre mine proposed by an Alpha subsidiary.

But Alpha lawyers argue the studies should not be considered. From The Charleston Gazette:

Alpha lawyer Bob McLusky argues in a court filing that the environmental groups waited too long to raise the studies, that the health impacts cited have nothing to do with the water pollution permit at issue in the case, and that general health studies shouldn't be used in a case over a specific mining permit.

To read the full story, click here.

Dr. Michael Hendryx, a co-author of the three studies in question, testified before a legislative committee on the health impacts of mining during the 2010 Kentucky General Assembly. To read that story, click here.

To learn more and take action:

• <!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]-->Join KFTC for a webinar on the health impacts of mining at 7 p.m. February 6. For details, click here.


• <!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]-->Come to I Love Mountains Day on February 14 in Frankfort. To register, click here.


• <!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]-->Write letters to the editor of your local or state newspaper and say you care about the impacts of mining on human health. For tips on writing letters, click here.