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Mountaintop Removal & Valley Fills

by jerry — last modified April-25-2006 03:58 PM
Kentucky's Valuable Headwaters Streams are Used Indiscriminately by Coal Companies to Dump Their Mining Wastes. This Practice Must Stop!

KFTC opposes mountaintop removal and supports the preservation and protection of the state's waterways and communities that depend on these streams for drinking water, recreation and economic activity. We oppose the destruction of these streams that results from valley fills that commonly accompany mountaintop removal coal mining operations. To help meet this goal, in the 2006 General Assembly we pushed for the passage of House Bill 83.

House Bill 83

KFTC's position: FOR

Summary

HB 83 was introduced by Rep. Don Pasley with 10 co-sponsors. It would have controlled the use of valley fills by prohibiting the dumping of mine wastes into "an intermittent, perennial, or ephemeral stream or other water of the Commonwealth" -- Kentucky's essential headwater streams. The bill directed that mine wastes be placed back on the mine site as part of the reclamation process already specified in state and federal law -- rather than pushed over the side of the hill into valleys and streams below.

History

HB 83 was assigned to the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee, chaired by Rep. Jim Gooch, who refused to allow a hearing and vote on the bill.

Action

Contact members of the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee, especially chair Rep. Jim Gooch, during the legislative interim to urge an end to mountaintop removal and valley fills. Tell them it's time to stop allowing coal companies to use our creeks and rivers as their dumping grounds at great cost to coalfields residents, communities downstream and all taxpayers.

HB 83 co-sponsors: Reps. Don Pasley, Charlie Hoffman, Jim Wayne, Reginald Meeks, Lonnie Napier, Harry Moberly, Rick Rand, Tom Burch, Gerry Lynn, Mary Lou Marzian, Tom Riner

Click here to download a copy of HB 83.