Kentucky's coal industry has dropped its opposition to legislation that requires emergency plans for action in the event of coal slurry disasters. "We recognize the need. It's the right thing to do," Bill Caylor, president of the Kentucky Coal Association, told Bill Estep of the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Kentyucky has 64 coal-slurry impoundments that are considered "high-hazard," meaning that a dam break would pose high potential for death or serious structural damage. Many residents at risk began lobbying for legislation requiring emergency plans after a dam broke in Martin County in 2000. Though the damage was largely to creekside property, many believe it could easily have been much worse, because residents were not immediately notified of the breach.
Caylor says coal-industry opposition has never been to the implementation of emergency plans, but to legislation that unfairly targets slurry impoundments. He says that legislation should apply to all high-hazard dams. Kentucky is one of 10 states that do not yet require such plans. (Read more)
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