Strip Mining on Black Mountain

Strip mining has been a much-debated issue in recent decades in Appalachia. The latest chapter in the conflict between proponents and opponents of this controversial method of mining coal has focused on Kentucky's Black Mountain. The controversy began when Jericol Mining, Inc. recently requested a revision of an existing mining permit which would have allowed them to use the controversial mountaintop removal mining method on a knob adjacent to Kentucky's highest point, the 4,139 foot Black Mountain summit.

"Highpointers" and hikers have long criticized Kentucky's treatment of its highest point. While most other Appalachian states have built monuments and trails at their highest point, hikers scaling Black Mountain have been greeted with rusted cars and debris.

The Jericol proposal to begin mountaintop removal on Black Mountain met with particularly harsh criticism, leading the company to withdraw its initial mountaintop removal proposal and begin contour mining on the side of the mountain instead. The issues of surface mining in general and mountaintop removal in particular remain controversial topics. The scarring that Jericol's contour mining will continue to produce is likely to continue fueling the fires of debate for some time to come.

Of course, strip-mining has been a hotly debated issue throughout the Appalachian region, particularly in West Virginia, for decades. The process requires the stripping of topsoil and rock from mountains so that coal seams can be exposed and extracted at the surface. The process produces acidic runoff and fills streams with debris, critics observe. Despite reclamation measures, many fear that such environmental damage at Black Mountain could be long-lasting.

Proponents of mountaintop removal and strip-mining point to reclamation successes such as Lover's Leap in Pikeville and various other industrial, residential, and commercial developments that have sprung up on reclaimed strip mines. The problems of these developments are hotly contested, with critics pointing to the poor agricultural value of such lands and the limitations of development.

There are currently twenty-six permitted mining operations on Black Mountain, covering about 6% of Black Mountain's 70,000 acres. Jericol currently has a permit to surface mine 1,000 acres of Black Mountain. Jericol's request for a revision of its current permit would allow the company to mine an additional 450 acres.

If you are interested in more information on alternate proposals for Black Mountain development, or wondering what you can do to help please contact Tom Fitzgerald (Kentucky Resources Council), Linda Brock (Kentuckians for the Commonwealth), or Teri Blanton (Kentuckians for the Commonwealth).

 Appalachian Center at the University of Kentucky