Kentucky

In October, 2000, Kentucky was the site of the the worst recorded environmental disaster in the southeastern United States. A coal waste impoundment, or slurry pond, operated by the Massey Energy Corp., accidentally spilled 306 million gallons of coal sludge into two Martin County mountain streams, Coldwater Creek and Wolf Creek. The spill was over 25 times the size of the Exxon Valdez spill.

All aquatic life in the two streams was obliterated, and drinking water supplies were affected all the way to the Ohio River. The Big Sandy River between Kentucky and West Virginia was so polluted that it ran black for weeks, and the Ashland Oil plant 80 miles downstream of the spill in Catlettsburg, Ky had to import water in barges to continue operation of their refinery.

Coal in Kentucky: Dispelling the Lies

Coal & Kentucky's Economy

Kentucky Utilities & You & coal alternatives

MTR mining & water pollution

Kentucky authors statement

Devastating view from the mountaintop: Strip-mining method wrecks land, lives of its people; a personal story.

Action: KFTC May 18th, 2005 Action Report in the News

For more information contact:

Dave Cooper
davecooper928@yahoo.com

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC)
"We are working for a day when Kentuckians — and all people — enjoy a better quality of life. When the lives of people and communities matter before profits. When our communities have good jobs that support our families without doing damage to the water, air and land. When companies and the wealthy pay their share of taxes and can’t buy elections. When all people have health care, shelter, food, education, clean water and other basic needs. When children are listened to and valued. When discrimination is wiped out of our laws, habits and hearts. And when the voices of ordinary people are heard and respected in our democracy."

"Copyright Joel Pett, Lexington Herald-Leader, reprinted by permission"