Monday, December 3 was a momentous day for KFTC members and particularly for residents of eastern Kentucky living in the shadows of mountaintop removal coal mining.  About a dozen state legislators, most members of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee, got to see and hear firsthand the devastating consequences of mountaintop removal as they toured sites in Perry County with KFTC.

KFTC member Evelyn Gilbert testifies to a packed church.

The day began with KFTC staff and members gathering with legislators at the Wendell Ford airport in Hazard. KFTC Chair Doug Doerrfeld kicked off the fact-finding trip with a statement concerning KFTC’s position on coal.  KFTC Fellow Teri Blanton followed up with an eye-opening presentation about the mechanics of mountaintop removal and why it is so devastating to people and the environment.  Kentucky author Silas House was also present and gave a powerful argument about why this type of mining has gone too far in its destructiveness.

While legislators did not get to participate in a fly-over of mountaintop removal sites because of adverse weather conditions, they were able to see a valley fill up close in Vicco.  Traveling to the fill site in a caravan of cars, legislators passed three enormous coal trucks on Vicco’s narrow roads, a visual testament to what those in eastern Kentucky face every day.  John Roark of Montgomery Creek, a retired coal truck operator, spoke to the crowd atop one of the valley fills surrounding Vicco.
 

They [coal companies] take advantage of people in eastern Kentucky.  They just want the money.  To me, the biggest problem is our water.  They’re hurting for water downstream, and we’re up here destroying it.      -John Roark

Echoing those sentiments, Teri Blanton spoke against the damaging effects of mountaintop removal and valley fills to Kentucky’s streams, and why legislators ought to support the Stream Saver bill.

Water is a natural resource we should be protecting.  We’ve allowed one industry to come in and destroy those waters.   -Teri Blanton

Legislators listened to community testimony at the Kodak Church of the True and Loving God concerning the importance of stopping the dumping of mines wastes in streams and enforcing current coal-related laws.  Pastor Truman Hurt impressed upon the legislators that, “…all they [people of eastern Kentucky] want to do is live a normal life, raise their kids, and make a decent living; just like all of us. We need to save our streams; we need to save our water. We understand people have different thoughts and points-of-views, but we all want to live,” urged Hurt.

Others gave their personal stories about coal mining and how it has impacted their quality of life.  Legislators seemed to be affected and impassioned by what they witnessed and heard throughout the day.  Representative Charlie Hoffman voiced continued support of the Stream Saver bill, and Rep. Arnold Simpson claimed he would, “…side with the people on this one.”   Committee Chairperson Rep. Harry Moberly had this to say about his experience of the day:

I was very affected by what we saw today.  It's one thing to hear it in testimony and another thing to see it up close and hear from the people directly affected.  What I think it demonstrates is that there's been a lot of failure on the part of the government of Kentucky both in the Executive and Legislative Branch.  And that legislators should have been here before, but better late than never.  I think that what we have seen and heard today from these affected people will give us great inspiration as we move forward with the Stream Saver Bill.

House A & R Chair Moberly welcomes committee members

The tour came about because of the powerful testimony about the consequences of mountaintop removal given by KFTC to the House A&R Committee in August.  Representatives were so informed and moved by that testimony they decided to come see firsthand the devastating effects of strip mining in eastern Kentucky.

Overall, the day was a great success for KFTC and, more importantly, for members of eastern Kentucky. KFTC hopes to make the Stream Saver Bill an issue of vital importance in the upcoming legislative session. Yesterdays’ events were a milestone toward that goal.