Massive boulder rips through a Floyd County home

Last Friday Billy & Eileen Tussy arrived home to find a massive boulder had crashed into their bedroom and destroyed their home on Caney Fork in Floyd County. The Tussys lived at the foot of a mountain now being strip mined by Frasure Creek Mining.  The state Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement has determined the boulder was dislodged by a blast from the mine and stopped work pending an investigation and "mediaton" at the site.  The Tussys and three other families were evacuated to motels. 

The family was quickly contacted by several nearby chapter members and Floyd County organizer Brittany Combs to see what help was needed. The Tussys, who are both deaf, requested help in meeting with the company so the Appalachian Citizens Law Center was alerted. Today ACLC attorney Mary Cromer met with the family and representatives of Austin Powder, who set the blasts at the Frasure Creek job, to negogiate a fair settlement. The family is afraid to live again on their property and hope to resettle in Floyd County. When asked if Austin Powder planned to apologize to the Tussys, the company's Corporate Risk Manager Constantine Toscidis responded, "We don't really go there."

A year ago the company asked to lease the Tussy's mountain side for mining but the couple refused. Since that time, "mine debris has been pushed over their property line and has covered the boundary fence," according to the Tussey's daughter Laura. In December a severe blast from a Frasure Creek mine cracked the foundation of a home on nearby Wilson Creek. In January , the company was issued another permit and shortly after was cited for releasing black water into Alum Lick from the same strip job which destroyed the Tussy's home. 

Floyd County chapter members plan to meet with the Tussey's neighbors and to make every effort to push for a fair settlement for the Tusseys. A fair and just resolution would be for Austin Powder to provide the Tusseys with a new modest home to replace their destroyed home.

Billy and Eileen Tussy want nothing more than to be safe, which is exactly what they had before Frasure Creek Mining became their neighbor. 

The Tussy Family will be meeting with the company again on Wednesday. Before then, we need to demand the company quickly get the family a new home on land away from the mining and offer them an overdue apology.