Two weeks ago Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) led a congressional hearing on the dangers of mountaintop removal. That, and recent studies about the dangers of mountaintop removal, may have been why mountain top removal and health tied as the most discussed theme at the conference, along with coordinated school health programs, Estep writes. Other discussed topics issues included: the need for more physical and health education in schools, transportation to get people to health facilities, more substance-abuse treatment, and laws to ban smoking in public places.
Dr. Nikki Stone, who practices in Hazard, "said she was surprised that mining was one of the top issues broached at the health sessions," Estep writes. "She said many people in the region have long been reluctant to talk about the possible link between mining and health problems because the coal industry was the backbone of the economy. Even now, they brought it up gingerly in the health committee meetings, Stone said." She said the decline in coal has created an opening to address the concerns.
The head of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Thomas Frieden, is taking part in SOAR sessions this week at the invitation of Rep. Hal Rogers (Ky.-R), who started SOAR along with Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, Estep writes. "Asked whether he would support having the CDC study the public health effects of mountaintop mining in Central Appalachia, Frieden said the agency 'only goes where it's invited.'" He told Estep, "If invited in, we could certainly look at it." (Read more)
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