Strip-mine permit application conflicts with desire for adventure tourism in Ky., mine opponents say

As state officials in Kentucky push for more adventure tourism in the state, some citizens say one popular destination is being threatened by the coal industry. Cassondra Kirby-Mullins of the Lexington Herald-Leader writes, "On Thursday, more than two dozen nature enthusiasts and Letcher County residents gathered to contest a permit sought by Cumberland River Coal Co. to strip mine a few miles upstream, which they say will harm the river and nearby areas."

Debris from strip mining often goes down the mountain filling, in the hollows and burying streams below. "Cumberland River is planning three hollow-fills, totaling more than 102 acres, and five sediment ponds covering more than 24 acres," Kirby-Mullins reports. "If this mining is allowed, we are going to bury one of the prime tourist destinations in the state. This stream will die," adds Tim Guilfoile, vice president of the League of Kentucky Sportsmen. "I can't believe the administration is going to promote Eastern Kentucky as a tourist destination and at the same time destroy one of the few Class 1 steams in the state. That wouldn't make sense."(Read more)

UPDATE, Sept. 15: In today's Herald-Leader, Gov. Steve Beshear and Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, the leading advocate of adventure tourism in the state, reply to a cautionary Aug. 22 editorial on the subject: "In seeking to encourage exploration of Kentucky's beauty, we must not destroy it. ... Some people have misinterpreted our enthusiasm. They hypothesize that we intend unrestrained ATV use in even delicate environments and at the expense of other activities. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our administration shares concerns about the unauthorized use of ATVs and believes we must strengthen the enforcement of laws protecting sensitive areas. We now lack resources to do so. As a result, public and private lands have been damaged. In addition, riders have been injured and killed because they don't use ATVs properly. We are undertaking a study to determine where ATV trespassing is a problem, how we can prevent it and how we can strengthen enforcement." (Read more)