Benham, Lynch & Black Mountain
Lands Unsuitable for Mining
For decades the community has worked to protect Black Mountain from various forms of coal mining. In the late 1990s, KFTC, in partnership with Tom Fitzgerald and the Kentucky Resources Council, local students, and other residents filed a Lands Unsuitable for Mining Petition. We succeeded in convincing the state to purchase the timber and coal above 3,200 feet, thereby protecting the ridge of Black Mountain from mountaintop removal. But below that level, the mountain is vulnerable to strip and deep mining.
On May 19, 2010, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Black Mountain and the surrounding communities of Benham and Lynch one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in the United States for 2010.
Located in Harlan County, Black Mountain is the highest peak in Kentucky, at more than 4,000 feet. With diversity greater than virtually any other section of the U.S., it harbors a northern hardwood forest with at least 54 species of rare and endangered plants and animals, including red elderberry, Turk’s cap lily, and the Black Mountain dusky salamander.
At the base of Black Mountain are Benham and Lynch, two small towns established by the coal industry nearly 100 years ago. Proud of their coal mining heritage, Benham and Lynch are now looking to create a more diverse economy anchored by tourism, clean energy, and sustainable local jobs. But these plans are at risk from proposed strip, auger and deep mining that threaten the beauty and ecology of Black Mountain, the local water supply, historic buildings, the quality of life, and the potential for new economic development.
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| Benham, KY |
“Benham and Lynch are living illustrations of the cultural and historic significance of the Appalachian coalfields,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “If mining is permitted on and around Black Mountain, the quality of life in two communities will suffer, local economic development will be stifled, and the mountain’s scenic beauty will be forever changed. While it’s true that coal built these towns, coal shouldn’t be allowed to destroy them.”
"The Lynch City Council voted unanimously in support of this designation," said Bennie Massey, long-time Council member and retired UMWA coal miner. "Destroying the water will cost way more than what that block of coal is worth. If they're going to mine the coal, mine it underground away from communities. This designation will help us protect our water supply and other resources."
If you’d like to help protect Black Mountain, add your name to the form below. We’ll send you updates on the mine permitting process and ways to get involved.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a nonprofit organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter most to them. America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places has identified more than 200 threatened one-of-a-kind historic treasures since 1988.