Crane and Teges Creek Petition

Two coal companies have applied for permits to surface mine nearly 400 acres on Crane and Teges Creeks in northern Clay County. If these permits are approved, a few landowners will be paid for leasing their coal, a few temporary jobs will be created, and some severance tax money will come to the county.

But area residents, property owners and others who have studied the proposals for this mine have concluded that, in this case, the disadvantages of mining outweigh the advantages, and have asked the state of Kentucky to declare the Crane and Teges Creek watershed unsuitable for mining for the following reasons:

• The South Fork of the Kentucky River is precious and irreplaceable (cleanest water in Ky. River system, threatened species, beautiful, good for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, tributary Ky. River, source of drinking water for much of the state)
• The South Fork of the Kentucky River belongs to all Kentuckians.
• This area has resources more valuable than its coal (unique history, rich culture, important to Kentucky writers, scholars, musicians and artists).
• The benefits of this mining will go to a few; possible harm to many.
• The benefits of this mining are temporary, but the harm long-lasting.