Coal and Water News | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

Coal and Water News

EPA sues coal companies, alleges burying streams without permits

June 7, 2012
Lexington Herald-Leader
Enforcement, Big Sandy

Frasure Creek Mining, one of the largest mountaintop removal companies operating in Kentucky, has been sued by the U.S. EPA for burying more than 2 mles of streams at two eastern Kentucky mining operations without permits to do so.

Read more

KFTC members put focus on Beshear, not EPA

June 6, 2012 at 08:00pm

Bev May emceed the press conference that included KFTC member Doug Doerrfeld; Matt Wasson of Appalachian Voices; John Patterson, a physician from eastern Kentucky; Nick Mullins, a former coal miner; and Kentucky State Senator Kathy Stein.KFTC members delivered a strong message Tuesday evening that the Beshear administration needs to be accountable for failing to enforce the Clean Water Act, and that the U.S. EPA should be allowed to do its job.

By not enforcing the law, there are serious health consequences for people who live near coal mining operations and downstream, members emphasized.

"Each time a [water pollution] permit is issued, the Beshear administration is killing citizens," testified Samantha Cole of Beattyville.

Read more

EPA action targets illegal valley fills

June 6, 2012 at 08:00pm
Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining, Big Sandy

Essar Minerals, an India-based company that operates Frasure Creek Mining and other subsidiaries in Kentucky, illegally buried more than two miles of streams in eastern Kentucky, according to legal action taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Read more

Kentuckians arrested today now released

June 5, 2012 at 08:00pm

Staging a sit-in at Hal Rogers' DC office todayThe seven people who were arrested today to help expose the complicity of Rep. Hal Rogers with those who are pillaging Appalachia have now been released.

They are Carey Henson, Erika Skaggs, Stanley Sturgill, Mary Love, Kat Wallace, Tress La'Ree and Teri Blanton.

They and other members of the Kentucky delegation, along with more than 100 other residents of Central Appalachia participating in the Week in Washington to End Mountaintop Removal, are waiting for the release of others who were arrested for refusing to leave the offices of members of Congress from other states.

Read more

Support members taking action in DC

June 5, 2012 at 08:00pm

UPDATE, 9 pm June 6th: 

Seven Kentuckians protesting mountaintop mining were arrested today in Congressman Hal Rogers' office for taking part in a non-violent a day of action called Appalachia Rising. In all, 22 citizens were arrested in congressional offices from West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Kentuckians arrested included Stanley Sturgill, Teri Blanton, Tress Spencer, Mary Love, Carey Henson and Erika Skaggs. As of a few moments ago, all have been released. 

Photos and more details are available on the Facebook page of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth and at appalachiarising.org.

Read more

Members lobbying, taking action on Capitol Hill

KFTC member Stanley Sturgill
June 4, 2012 at 08:00pm

Seventeen KFTC members are part of a group of about 150 participating this week in the annual Week in Washington to End Mountaintop Removal, coordinated by the Alliance for Appalachia.

Members are participating in meetings with the offices of members of Congress and agencies that enforce mining and clean water laws. Tomorrow (Wednesday), they will join a rally and Day of Action organized by Appalachia Rising at the capitol.

"I'm a senior citizen and while I should be working on my bucket list and enjoying my retirement," said Harlan County member Stanley Sturgill. "But instead I'm back in Washington, D.C. again because I am so displeased with the horrific health conditions as a result of all the mountaintop removal.

Read more

Many voices needed to support Clean Water Act enforcement

May 30, 2012 at 08:00pm

 

gIMG_8090Right now is a critical time for Kentuckians to stand up for clean water and for honest, effective enforcement of the laws that are supposed to protect our health and environment from corporate polluters.

Please join KFTC members and other Kentuckians in telling the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to stand strong for our health and water! Governor Beshear and the Kentucky Division of Water have systematically failed to enforce the Clean Water Act. The EPA must hold the line and do its job.

Read more

American Electric Power sees the light

May 29, 2012 at 08:00pm

null

American Electric Power made big news today about what to do with its Big Sandy coal-burning power plant located in Louisa, Kentucky. 

This morning, the New York Times published a front page article about the debate over the future of that plant. By late this afternoon, AEP announced that it will scrap plans to sink about $1 billion into the pollution control equipment necessary to keep operating that plant.

Read more

Kentucky is No. 1 in delinquent fines for mine-safety violations

May 28, 2012
The Courier-Journal

Coal companies operating in Kentucky are delinquent in paying more than $29 million in fines for mine safety violations – some dating back nearly 20 years – including violations that led to the deaths of miners. The analysis by The Courier-Journal found that many companies continue to operate and get new permits while their fines go unpaid.

Read more

Not 'frivolous' for state to save Benham, Lynch

May 1, 2011
Lexington Herald-Leader
Harlan County

In 1999, the then-Gov. Paul Patton administration was part of a negotiated settlement in which the state paid $4.2 million for the timber and coal rights to preserve the state's highest peak. Extending the protection farther down Black Mountain would protect the state's earlier investment. Instead, the Beshear administration found local efforts to do just that "frivolous."

Read more

Page