Kentucky River | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

Chapter: Kentucky River

Do you want the absolute best for your family and our community? So do we. The Kentucky River chapter of KFTC includes Perry County, Knott County, and Letcher County. If you live in this region, then we invite you to be part of our local KFTC chapter.

We are a diverse group of people – teachers, retired coal miners, students, unemployed, moms, grandparents and many more. We work together – as we have for many years – to protect our water and land, bring new energy and new jobs to our area, share our vision with elected officials and make sure our region is a safe place to call home for everyone.

We support each other, have fun and get things done. Come join us at our next chapter meeting!

Recent Activities

Water testing workshop planned for Floyd County

Jessie Skaggs on June 19, 2013 in Coal and Water, Communities Taking Action, , Community Science & Public Health, , Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining, Big Sandy, , Kentucky River, Water Quality, , workshop

Advanced Water Testing Workshop

On Saturday June 22, from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, KFTC will offer the second of four additional water testing workshops planned for this year as part of the ongoing Community Science and Public Health project. At this workshop, which will be held in Floyd County, we will learn how to do basic tests of local streams, learn how to get others in your community involved, and learn about other water quality issues we face in the mountains. We will spend a portion of the day out in streams, practicing what we’ve learned and testing local water sources.

AEP/Kentucky Power should be forward looking

Tanya Turner on May 21, 2013 in , Just Transition, , Energy Democracy, , Sustainable Energy, Kentucky River, Power Plants

In order to comply with new clean air standards by 2015, American Electric Power/ Kentucky Power has put forth a request to the Kentucky Public Service Commission to shut down their coal-burning Bi

Another legal round in the campaign for clean water

KFTC on May 17, 2013 in Coal and Water, Enforcement, , Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining, Big Sandy, , Kentucky River, Water Quality

Continuing their campaign to make sure Kentucky's water is safe for everyone, KFTC and allies have challenged plans by the Beshear administration to let Frasure Creek Mining "off the hook" for repeated violations of the Clean Water Act.

Appalachian Voices, Waterkeeper Alliance, Kentucky Riverkeeper, KFTC and several individuals (the petitioners) asked the Franklin Circuit Court Thursday to vacate an Agreed Order signed in April by Environment and Energy Cabinet Secretary Len Peters that claims to resolve all recent water quality violations by the company.

Great resources and videos from Appalachia's Bright Future conference now online

KFTC Staff on May 8, 2013 in New Energy and Transition, Just Transition, Big Sandy, , Kentucky River, , Rowan County

The Appalachia’s Bright Future conference, held in Harlan, KY April 19-22, brought together more than 200 people for conversations about shaping a just transition in eastern Kentucky and Central Appalachia.

Appalachia's Bright Future

KFTC is pleased to now make available a large number of videos, presentations, notes, media coverage about the event, suggested next steps, and other documents that were shared or created during the weekend.

The collected information can be found here.

We appreciate all of the speakers, workshop presenters, artists and conference participants who shared stories and provided important information and perspectives. Even a brief review of the conference web pages makes it clear that this was a pretty extraordinary gathering and conversation.

As KFTC chairperson Sue Tallichet said during her opening remarks, “…it is difficult to envision more than a coal-based economy in our region. But I believe we have the opportunity, today, to build a diverse and healthy economy here in the mountains. Eastern Kentucky has many assets. We have a rich culture, an abundance of natural resources, and innovative, serious-minded, hard working people. Those things give us a foundation on which we can build.”

Justin Maxson, president of the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, underscored the point. “…if you take anything away from what I say here today, I hope it is this: We know a lot more than we think we know. We have many more assets to build from than we often believe. And despite our many challenges, including rapid changes to our local and regional economy, there are innovative people providing hopeful examples all around us. What we need now is to knit these pieces together with a vision for Appalachian renewal and help grow them to scale.”

KFTC members and many of our allies in the region are spending time this month reflecting on the conference and developing key next steps. We encourage all KFTC members to bring your ideas and questions to the next chapter meeting in your area. You may also leave comments and questions on the conference web pages. And conference participants are invited to join a phone call on May 30th to discuss ways forward.

Together we can build Appalachia’s Bright Future.

Review of research adds support for moratorium on mountaintop removal

KFTC on April 24, 2013 in Coal and Water, Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining, Big Sandy, , Kentucky River, Air Quality, , Water Quality

Two media events Tuesday helped focus attention on the Appalachian Community Health Emergency Act, legislation in Congress that would place an immediate moratorium on new permits while the health impacts of mountaintop removal mining are studied.

Known as the ACHE Act, H.R. 526 was introduced earlier this year by Reps. John Yarmuth of Kentucky and Louise Slaughter of New York, who was born in Harlan County, Kentucky.

“I’ve talked to citizens in the area – towns were 25 percent of the people suffer from some kind of disease, way beyond the national average,” said Yarmuth in an afternoon Congressional briefing. “I’ve talked with teachers whose students color creeks orange.

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Chapter Feature:

Russell Oliver"KFTC empowers residents to bring about positive changes in their communities. It gives members confidence that they can make a difference. You are not one person, but part of a statewide organization of thousands supporting you and your cause."

-Russell Oliver, KFTC member

Regular Meetings:

Hazard, KY 41701
Monthly chapter meeting

Join us every  month for the Kentucky River chapter meeting. We rotate meeting locations so please check the KFTC calendar for most up to date meeting information.

Chapter meetings are a great time to plan local work, discuss local and statewide work, meet new people, and much more. Everyone is welcome and invited to attend! Hope to see you there!

Chapter Organizer:

Hazard, KY 41701

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