Residents in Pike County are working to pick up the pieces from last week's flooding.  Although there was certainly a lot of rain, some areas of the county were much worse than others.  People are starting to ask the question, "why?"

Near Raccoon Creek, people are talking about the impact of the construction of Hwy 119.  In Harless Creek, people are talking about the impact of strip mining.

"I think everybody up this holler would say that there wasn't enough rain to cause all of this," Bo Sayler, Harless Creek resident shared.  He described the flooding as coming in 2 waves shortly after the rain started and has concerns about the sediment ponds at the head of hollow. 

"The creek has been getting higher and higher since they started stripping," Freddie Coleman shared who grew up in the community and is helping several family members rebuild. 

Apex Coal is actively mining on the left-hand side, and there is an abandoned strip mine on the right-hand side. 

Both are retired coal miners and acknowledged how a lot of the companies do. 

"I think the mining contributed to it. It's not fair that people be put in this situation," Freddie added.  Folks are working to figure out what can be done as they continue to rebuild.

Check out photos

KFTC, the Sierra Club and the Appalachian Citizens Law Center have joined outdoor enthusiasts and paddlers to challenge a mining permit granted in April to Cambrian Coal that allows the company to add to the pollution levels in several streams in Pike County.

Under the permit, Cambrian Coal will discharge mining waste into tributaries of Elkhorn Creek, Marrowbone Creek and Pond Creek, all of which are tributaries of Russell Fork, a major tourism attraction and destination for many paddlers.

“For the past 7 years, I have participated in the Russell Fork Whitewater Rendezvous,” said Bill Pierskalla, a Sierra Club member and whitewater paddler.  “If the proposed mine goes forward, I am concerned that people like myself will stop visiting Elkhorn City and paddling Russell Fork out of concern that the mining has polluted the water beyond safe limits.” 

The 792-acre Cambrian Coal surface mine, located near Elkhorn City, would severely jeopardize creek quality as well as land preservation, making recreational use of the area a less attractive option for tourists. The operation will create seven new valley fills and significantly expand two existing ones in order to dispose of 15 million cubic yards of mining wastes.

“I grew up along Elkhorn Creek, I’ve hiked and fished in that area for years. As a child I used to swim in the creek, but now I am concerned that surface mining in this area has started to degrade the water to an unsafe level,” said aquatic biologist and local resident James Stapleton.

Recently the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new water conductivity standards in order to protect water and the health of surrounding communities. Water testing downstream of Cambrian’s existing mines in the area has found the water to be far above EPA’s conductivity standards.

The state's granting of the permit did not take into consideration that more pollution would add to the cumulative levels of the impacted streams, some sections of which are already too polluted to support their designated uses.

“I see no way this proposed mining operation could meet the requirements of the recent EPA guidance concerning conductivity.  Already the area is above the recommended federal clean water standards,” said Rick Clewett of the Cumberland Sierra Club.  “We should not be adding pollution to the area but cleaning it up.  Additional mining could potentially eliminate the prospects for that community being able to succeed in their current efforts to develop and expand an economy based on water recreation and fishing”.

“Water is the back bone of our economy here in Elkhorn City. And at the end of the day, we need people to keep visiting our area to recreate and support our local businesses,” said Stapleton.

A copy of the Petition is available here.

It was 28 years ago that KFTC became "official."  According to the book Making History: The First Ten Years of KFTC,

"Twenty-six people from 12 counties formally organized and named the Kentucky Fair Tax Coalition on August 17, 1981. They also agreed on a statement of purpose:

The Kentucky Fair Tax Coalition is a group of community based organizations and individuals promoting more effective and efficient community services through a fair and equitable taxation system throughout the state of Kentucky, with a particular interest in coal counties.

Also at that meeting, members "passed the hat for the first time. They netted KFTC's first funds, $38.

This Hazard meeting was not the first meeting of this group of people who were coming together from across eastern Kentucky. The group had met on several prior occasions to explore the possibilities of working together on common issues. Shared concerns included the quality of (or lack of) community services and public education in coal counties (which suffered from gross inequalities in the tax system) and the rights of landowners.

Many of the people involved were organizing in their respective home counties around these and related issues. The decision to launch a new organization was based on the understanding that the issues were all related and shared a common underlying roots cause: "the inequality of life with a single dominant industry – coal – that was not contributing its fair share."

"People, especially in eastern Kentucky, were getting to know each other. All around the region there was a loose network of people who had worked together with each other in various ways over the past 15 years or so. What we didn't have in those days was a structured connection between us. There was a no interlocking of these community-level efforts, until KFTC" — Herb E. Smith

Thanks to everyone who is helping KFTC continue to make history! If you're not a member click the here or Join button at the top of the page and become a part of the next 28 years!

As some folks are aware, there was a rally in Knott County last Saturday sponsored by several pro-coal industry groups. According to several first hand accounts, the main focus of many speakers was blasting members of Congress for working to address the dire issue of climate change.

Among the speakers was Roger Ford from Pike County, who spoke on behalf of Secretary of State Trey Grayson. Roger Ford has his own blog which he uses to promote ideas and positions about energy issues from the coal industry's perspective. And a reader recently sent us an interesting email pointing out a serious factual problem with Roger Ford's account of the rally.

First, our reader noted that Ford writes on his blog:

"On another note, I was proud to share the stage with Pike County Representative W. Keith Hall. As a coal operator and member of the House Appropriations Committee, Hall’s understanding of the importance of coal to the Kentucky economy for Kentucky families and to State Government in tax revenue more than most. Coal mining generates nearly $5 billion dollars in coal severance tax revenue to Kentucky annually. Much of this money comes back to individual coal counties to help fire departments, drug programs, and economic development, waterlines and sewer service. Without this coal-generated revenue, many programs and services that local government provides would not exist."

However, contrary to Ford's statement above, coal mining in the current year generated $292 million in severance tax dollars. (That amount set an all-time record.) Thus, the severance tax figure used by Ford is 17 times larger than the actual record-breaking amount. As our reader noted, "perhaps he rounded up."

Furthermore, a recent report issued by the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development concluded that the coal industry actually costs the taxpayers of Kentucky about $115 million annually. (The MACED study did not calculate other costs Kentuckians pay to host the coal industry, including health impacts and environmental degradation.)

There are a lot of serious issues to work through as Kentuckians grapple with the need to develop clean energy sources and jobs for the future. Reasonable people can disagree about the best policies and practices that are needed to make the transition to a clean energy economy. But let's stick to the facts. Our challenges are tough enough already.

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth strongly believes that we need better candidates if we want better decisions made in state and local government – and we want YOU to seriously think about what it would be like to run for office or to help one of your friends run.

Come to a powerful, energetic weekend at the beautiful Hindman Settlement School where we’ll build skills, connections, and confidence to work on elections or run for public office.

Led in partnership with Wellstone Action, a national center for training and leadership development for progressives, workshops topics will include campaign planning and budgeting, telling your story, grassroots voter contact, fundraising, base-building, stump speeches, developing a winning message and more.

For more information and to register online, Click Here.

     

On Thursday morning a school bus with a 60-70 students from elementary to high school age ran off the road while trying to avoid an on coming coal truck. The school bus traveling on Route 1499 in Pike County near the community of Biggs, slid off the road and scrapped a rock cliff next to the road.

The police reported up to 20 students were take to the hospital for minor injuries. The bus driver blamed the on coming coal truck, wet road conditions and mud on the road for accident.

You can read about the report on wlex18 website and watch the video news cast. You can also see a picture of the accident by visiting the Appalachian News Express website.

A quick search of the state Department of Mining Reclamation and Enforcement website under the interactive maps shows that there are about 35 active mines and 20 pending mine sites within a 2-3 mile radius of the community of Biggs. I can only wonder how many coal trucks are traveling daily on the curvy two lane road, route 1499.

The accident happened at about 8:00 AM on Thursday morning.

We are truly grateful this accident was not worse.

UPDATE: The EQC public hearing has been postponed due to the weather!!
From the EQC website:

Due to the inclement weather, the Environmental Quality Commission public forum for tonight (January 29) has been postponed.  A majority of the videoconferencing sites that were planned for the meeting are closed.  As soon as the meeting has been rescheduled, a notice will be placed on the Web site with the date, time and locations.

Tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. the Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission is hosting a public forum to discuss Governor Beshear's recently released energy plan.  Citizens from around the state will be able to participate in the forum via video conference at five locations (see below).  While there are some good ideas in the governor's energy plan, much of it will keep our state moving in the wrong direction, including proposals that would lead to huge increases in coal extraction and more mountaintop removal mining.  KFTC has just released a response to the plan with a point by point analysis of his proposals and how they fall short, and ideas for improvement.

In addition to time for public comments, discussions of upcoming legislative issues and mountaintop removal mining are expected. If you would like to preregister to speak during the public comment portion of the agenda, please contact:

Johnna McHugh
Director of Operations
Environmental Quality Commission
(502) 564-2674 ext. 121
johnna.mchugh@ky.gov

If you are able, please read our response and attend the hearing so that our voices can be heard in this debate.  Kentucky needs bold, new ideas to be a player in this new energy economy.  We cannot afford to continue down the same path we've been on, laying waste to our mountains and polluting our water and air.

FRANKFORT
Kentucky State University
Academic Services Building, 5th Floor

PIKEVILLE
Pikeville College
Community Technology Center, Room 134
Hambley Boulevard

BOWLING GREEN
Western Kentucky University
Media and Technology Hall, Room 279

LOUISVILLE (this is a change from an earlier location)
University of Louisville
Miller Information Technology Center (MITC), Room 55.
Enter the campus from the Third Street entrance onto the circle. The West Information Center will be on your right. At the West Information Center you will be directed to the parking lot and will be given directions to the building, if needed. MITC is a 3-minute walk from the parking lot.

RICHMOND
Eastern Kentucky University
University Building, Room 135
University Drive

Thank you for taking action!

Mine shut down after boulder rolls through house
The Associated Press

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- State officials have ordered a mining company to stop work at a site in eastern Kentucky after a rolling boulder destroyed a house.

The Kentucky Department for Natural Resources says it shut down work at a Pike County site run by Central Appalachia Mining Kentucky, LLC.

The state says a rock from the company's Marion Branch mine at Island Creek tumbled 500 feet and crashed into a home below the site on Wednesday. No one was injured, but the home was deemed unlivable...

For the complete AP story, click Here.

In May of this year, four KFTC members visited the coalfields of Colombia with a Witness for Peace delegation to the area. During this trip, these Kentuckians spoke with both the communities affected by these enormous open-pit coal mines as well as labor unionists who work in the mines. Tomorrow, Jesús Brochero and Estevinson Avila, two trade unionists from the two different mines the KFTC members visited will arrive in Lexington to begin a week long tour of Kentucky.

Come out to the following public events to listen to Jesús and Estevinson speak about the labor and environmental issues in Colombia. During these events, KFTC members Sara Pennington and/or Rully Urias will also speak, drawing connections and distinctions among the coalfields of Kentucky and those in Colombia.

Here's the list of events, with further information below:

Thursday, November 13

5:00 PM
Oswald Auditorium
Cooper Campus of Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Lexington, Kentucky

Click for flyer

Saturday, November 15

3:00 PM
Grapevine Community Center
Phyllis, Kentucky, in Pike County

Call the Whitesburg KFTC office for further directions: 606.632.0051

Click for flyer

Monday, November 17

7:00 PM
Hindman Settlement School
Hindman, Kentucky, in Knott County

Click for flyer

KFTC will have a potluck dinner for our guests starting at 6:00. Call the Whitesburg KFTC office if you'd like to join the potluck or need directions to the Settlement School: 606.632.0051

All presentations will begin with a slideshow by KFTC members illustrating their trip to the Colombian coalfields before Jesús and Estevinson speak. In addition to the lax environmental regulations that affect both the workers in the mines and the communities near the mines, trade union leaders are also at risk daily as Colombia is the country with the most assassinations of unionists in the world. This year alone, more than 41 unionists have been murdered, and the company that owns the mine where Estevinson works has been accused in United Stated courts of hiring paramilitaries to kill three of its unionized workers. With the Bush administration pushing for passage of the Colombia free trade agreement--which is held up in Congress due to Colombia's poor human's rights record, including the assassinations of labor leaders--these presentations are timely, and ones you won't want to miss.

Estivenson Avila is President of the Sintramienergetica Coal Miners’ Union, which unites workers from the Drummond-owned and operated mine of La Loma, Colombia. Jesús Brochero is a top leader of Sintracarbón, the National Union of Coal Industry Workers, which represents employees of the multinational-owned Cerrejón Mine, Colombia.

We had a big Letcher County phone bank on Saturday evening, and an even bigger three-county (Pike/Letcher/Knott) phone bank from Hindman Settlement School yesterday in which we had lots of great conversations and connected a lot of people with rides.

Today, members are focusing on just physically getting people to the polls.

All of this ground work is despite most of Letcher County not having drinkable water for the last few days.