Victory For Eolia Residents !

Cumberland River Coal Company Agrees to Revise Permit for Hollow Fill 

    Cumberland River Coal Company has pledged to withdraw its permit application for a valley fill that would have buried Rocky Branch and Joe Day Branch in the Eolia community in Letcher County.  The company announced this decision during a packed hearing on May 23 before a special meeting of the Letcher Fiscal Court.

    It was a great victory for Eolia residents who felt like their community had been divided over the company’s plan to add 390 acres to its existing operation, burying two miles of streams not yet disturbed by mining.

Thanks to all the KFTC members who supported Eolia residents!

 
   Overall, KFTC members came out in numbers to support the community of Eolia — through attendance at the special meeting and through letters opposing the permit expansion and backing the fiscal court.  Open discussion allowed for community members to talk together and diffuse tensions caused by the fear of loss of mining jobs and threats made to those opposing the valley fill. And the fiscal court stood behind its original resolution to oppose the valley fill expansion.