Residents of Lynch, Ky. Speak Out About A & G Strip Mine

A & G Coal Corporation has proposed a strip mine on Looney Ridge, above Lynch, Kentucky. It is a continuation of their Appalachia, Virginia strip mine that was recently put on hold by the US EPA because of concerns related to damaging water.

A & G mine permit calls for 18 settement ponds on Looney Ridge, just above Lynch.

The mine permit area contains more than 10 gas wells. It is directly above 2 active mines and abandon mines.

The Lynch City Council has requested a permit hearing. They want to protect their water and the water of nearby communities!

The stip mine pictures in this video were taken of the existing A & G mine in Appalachia, Va. This mine will be a continuation of their existing strip mine.

For More Information: http://www.kftc.org/blog/archive/2009/06/16/take-action-to-halt-a-proposed-mi...
www.kftc.org

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Strip Mining
• Water Quality
• Historic Preservation

[roysilver]

The Virginia mine is a permitted mine. In 2005 , while clearing a road they pushed a bolder over the mountain and killed a 3 year old boy while he was sleeping in his bed. The destruction on the Virginia side is much worse today.

[wturner0018]

@roysilver thank you

[roysilver]

You can find the documentation for this in the March 10, 2011 edition of Bloomberg/Businessweek or searching google news

[roysilver]

Nally & Hamilton, the operator of the other strip mine has been found to have 12,000 violations of the clean water act. The reports they filed with the state were copied and only the dates and registration number changed. 

[roysilver]

The state does not provide adequate scrutiny to these permits. The A & G strip mine on the Virginia side killed a boy in his sleep in 2005. The death, as with the almost certain destruction of the water is unacceptable.

[roysilver]

@wturner0018

The key phrase is "supposed to." The great water we have in Benham and Lynch is largely due to the fact that sources of the water for the two towns has been protected. In recent years five mining permits have been challenged because they do not provide an adequate buffer. As one of the retired coal miners has said the water is "more valuable than the little bit of coal." Without water you cannot have life.

[wturner0018]

@roysilver I agree that it is very important to take care of our water as I too live in Harlan County. However these type of problems are supposed to be planned for and avoided in the permitting process. There really isn't a way to maintain these jobs in our area without water being involved in some way. The water plant worker here seems to believe the benham and lynch water plant maintains a great water quality despite the amount of mining in the area.

[roysilver]

Your question presupposes that the permitting process adequately protects people and the environment. I have talked with many state inspectors over the years. When asked about their role they will respond by saying that their role is to permit mines. The pictures from the Virginia side of Black Mountain were taken a couple of years ago. The proposed strip mine on the Kentucky side is by A & G, the same company that wants to strip Looney Ridge above Lynch.

[wturner0018]

@roysilver so if proper settlement occured this problem woulnt be solved? I don't understand how the permit didn't address these issues if proper planning and permitting processes were followed

[roysilver]

If a more significant problem occurred the reservoir, homes and other structures could be severely damaged. In Virginia, A & G had their permit revoked by the US EPA because of the discharges they releases. One problem coal field residents all to frequently encounter relates to the burden of proof. It is very difficult to prove that the company is responsible.