As most of you all know in past post i have been a big supporter of MTR.it dont matter who you are when this happens it dont help nobody and the persons who did it needs something done to them not the whole industy.Coal mining has it faults along wiht any other industy.i am willing to stand up to anything that needs fixing but to not single out one thing and go for it.all i see on here is against the coal industy.i know its the biggest thing going but other stuff needs it to.so why not go for them also.this is discrimanation [sorry if its misspelled i am just dumb coal miner] and in some things a good lawyer could make a lot of money.i see where the KFTC stands up for rights of people.what about the rights of coal miners will you stand up for them.the right to work and so forth

have a good day

KFTC has stood up for miners and their communities. During the early years KFTC was instrumental in returning more tax and severance dollars to the coal fields. Among other activities to support miners KFTC has recently support health and safety legislation for miners at the state and national level.

What good is all that if they have no place to work

It's true not all coal companies are bad. The country needs this industry for jobs and energy until we find a better alternative. Some companies try to mine with the least damage that they can do, but there are some out there that all they do is try to make the most money they can and do things in hopes they don't get caught. The ones that aren't doing it right are causing the industry to have a bad name, and people in our communities are paying the price for the damages while companies are claiming that they're not at fault.

Hey Fats, If you will just keep listening and researching the activities KFTC is involved in,I have faith you will understand a large number of us(kftc members) are coal miners and care very deeply how coal miners and their families are treated unfairly by the industry. one example: in 1989 coal sold for appox 30.00 ast on the spot market I was making approx 17.75 an hr. today coal is selling 100 plus dollars a ton, coal miners are making approx. average of 18 bucks an hr, no retirement,no sick pay, no nothing except a pay check. If we could wake you guys up and get you thinking about what we are for and not what the companies are telling you we are against, there would be more jobs and more benefits available for everyone. Just keep up the good work my friend, you are getting there. We will have you signed up before you know it!

I know what all the kftc does and they have helped a lot.but all we the miners see is the word STOP and that means to put a end to.what we are getting now is better than nothing if it is STOPPED so why not put it we need to change the laws instead of STOP

What I understand about this pond was the company was going to take the pond out until it was determined that the pond was on someone else's property and this landowner would not let them on the property.

That's a powerful video.

Thanks for sharing and I look forward to seeing the other videos in the series.

Alexa Mills did not get the fact right! first pond is not on Elmers property. He did build it but without permission. also people that live around here know that Elmer's just trying to get another payday just like he has in the past. Alexa good reporting starts with the facts!! I hope your next story you do a better job. You sure did not do your homework on this one. I bet all the info came from Elmer.

I did do my research. The company claims that the pond is not on Mr. Lloyd's property, but this has not been proven in court. Two separate surveys claim that the pond is on Mr. Lloyd's property.

Furthermore, it does not matter whose property the pond is on - it is obviously polluted, and leaking into the Cumberland River.

by my personal involvement in Mr lloyds fish pond destruction from a mining company,of which,3 off permit violations were issued,I can assure anyone and everyone the facts that are being questioned by Ally and Woodson will be brought to the publics attention in the near future, and another unlawful tactic used by a company who has no remorse for property damage will be unvailed.
My God Bless our Mountain Tops!

First of all Alley, (whoever you are). The First fact is that this is Elmers land. He has paid taxes on it for years. Second of all, He had it surveyed and it is his property and the company stole the survey and that is against the law. If this is not his land the other land owner needs to be made by the state to reimburse Elmer for over 20 years of taxes that he has paid on it. Ky. Law states that this is his land. Another thing is Alley. I grew up around this land. Also use to live in a house that was almost exactly where the pond sits. Known Elmer All my life and is a hard working honest man that doesn't deserve to be criticized the way that you have done. So Alley, whoever you are, GET YOU FACTS STRAIGHT!!

like i saud before i am for MTR but this shouldnt have happened no matter who owns it.this is why everyone is aginsst coal mining.banning coal mining wont fix these things.some gas or logging company will do something next.a gas cpmpany turn a mud pit loose on the place i live killed all the minnows so its not only the coa;; companies

have a great day

Hey F, thank you for your thoughtful comments. I think we agree on many things, probably more than we would disagree on.

I'd enjoy talking with you some time over a cup of coffee about some of the things that are going on in eastern Kentucky. If you are interested send me an e-mail, kevin@kftc.org.

Thanks again,
Kevin Pentz

Hey F, thanks for taking the time to sit down and talk with me. I learned a lot and enjoyed the conversation.

It's nice to see that even though we may not agree on everything we are still able to find a lot of common ground. Like you I hope to see a day when laws are enforced and those coal companies that are mining are doing it responsibly.

I look forward to talking with you again sometime. When talking on blogs like this it's easy to forget that people on all sides have families and friends. We need to find more ways for all points of view to be heard.

Please stay safe on the job. Take Care,
Kevin Pentz

Thanks to both F and Kevin for showing that we can all work together, take time to hear eachother and work for a better world together. Much respect.

I think people need to sit down and talk and not try to do just one thing.a lot of my co workers thought this was a good thing that Kenvin and I done.and hope he could probaly do more of it and with them sometime.both sides need to be heard and try to work something out;
thank you Kevin for taking the time and thanks Dave for the comment

evryone have a safe and happy lador day

This is sickening. A coal company can come in and destroy the land underneath in which it is blasting? It is bad enough that the fish are dying, but what about the heritage? The Kentucky Heritage? If this water drains into the Cumberland River, how do you know that it is safe to drink? Do you believe the white collar man in the big office of the coal company? Men work very hard in these mines, some of them have gone to work, never to return, just like another poster said, no benefits, no retirement, nothing. Both of my Grandfathers died as a result of black lung, and they had to FIGHT to get a pension check from black lung. The coal companies know quite well that our Fathers, Sons, Brothers, Grandfathers, were and are breathing in this poison, but they turn a blinded eye to it, sadly, a dollar is worth more than the life of a man.
To destroy life in any form is a crime against nature itself, now, Mr. Coal Company, You have destroyed a man's dream.

It will be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the gates of heaven. Remember: A fool and his money are soon parted, Mr. Coal Mine Co.

If this pond were in a city where much industry was there would be a huge investigation to find the cause and the safety of the surrounding area would be determined. All of the people in Harlan County need to be concerned because the water they are drinking could be effected by the same chemicals that are killing the fish. It's not about a payday for anyone. It's about life or death for the people in that region.

I am proud of this organization. I care a lot about people and nature everywhere, especially my home (Ashland, KY). Kentucky is a great place but its greatness is being jeopardized by the coal industry. The people there are in the unfortunate position of having to depend on an industry that helps them get by in the short run but causes immeasurable damage in the long run. There is no easy solution to this problem, but there is a better way. It is the unity of voices like these people who commented on the video that will bring about this important change. Coal is a livelihood for many. But what is a livelihood worth if the people receiving it have to sacrifice home, health, and community? Thanks for your hard work!