I dont know what all this fuss is about there has been only 4 MTR permits issued in KY in the last 20 years. As I understand it there has been no streams buried only gullies that carry water when it rains.

Yes, this is what the coal industry would have one believe. Here’s what the Kentucky Division of Water reported in 2004:

"As of 2002, approximately 730 miles of streams have been permanently buried by these practices in Kentucky (U.S. EPA 2002a). However, this figure takes into consideration only those blue-line streams that are shown on USGS 1:24000 scale topographic maps. Hundreds of miles of other headwater streams not shown on these maps have likely been filled." (pg 19)

Were these filled by MTR the 4 MTR permits. Also dont the side drains of the hollow fills replace the drains that were filled.

Leon - As you can see, this rally and House Bill is about stopping people from burying streams by dumping into them - not about stopping "mountaintop removal."

But on the topic of mountaintop removal, if you've spent any time in the coal fields, you know that coal companies knock the tops off mountains every day - they just don't "file a permit" to do it.

Tricky, eh?

everything i see says STOP MTR so need to reword some thing.glad to see so many not working to attend this rally.maybe when coalminers are out of work more than what they are now you can get your checks from some other taxable source

Maybe I missed something, but I believe in this cause so much, I took a VACATION day from work to attend. I do work!!

glad you do work but you are 1 of how many of the crowd

I also believed in the cause so much that I took the day off work to attend. It would be great if everyone had good jobs with living wages and worked for companies that were socially responsible, so that we wouldn't have to debate these types of issues.

i work for a surface MTR mine so this is against my way of making a living.can i ask what you work for so maybe others and I can look for a way to put you all out of work.the company i work for does things right to workers and community.i am proud of what i do,can you speak up and say the same.i have meet with Kevin from here and still wanting to show him there is fish in the strip mine ponds.

What if you didn't have to put food on your table by working for an industry that views you and your family and your community as disposable "human resources"? What if you didn't have to provide for the present by ravaging your heritage and plundering your childrens' futures? You say you're proud of what you do--and you should be proud that your hard work and long hours are able to provide for you and yours--but if you're proud of how you do it, then I'd suggest a bit of introspection is in order.

'Cuz mark my words, fella-me-lad, the day will come when the coal runs out, 'cuz they ain't makin' any more primeval swampland. It may not be in your lifetime, but it won't be all that long geologically speaking, and when the coal is gone and the company has made its money and left, then the jobs will be gone, and the streams and hollers and mountains besides, and our children's children and every generation of Appalachian young 'uns that follows after will be able to see clear from Hazard to Harlan to Hindman, with nary a mountain peak in sight...

And when they look at us and ask us, "Why did you pillage this land you say you loved?", we can tell them it was because stupid wankers like you and me needed cheap electrics so we could post our flaming blog comments at each other.

A mountain gone is gone forever. Think of what we're leaving behind, and consider whether anyone will ever thank us for it...

This was my first "I love Mountains Day". It was wonderful! KFTC did a great job organizing the event. Thanks a million!

Is the video of Ashley Judd's speech available? If so, post on KFTC web site and send to Al Gore, Repower America.

Wonderful rally yesterday!