Reclaiming mountains

McConnell pushes plan to force EPA action on surface-mining permits

Sen. Mitch McConnell, right, talked Monday with Kentucky coalfield lawyer John R. Triplett in Pikeville, where McConnell unveiled legislation to help the coal industry.

PIKEVILLE — The federal government would face a deadline to issue or deny surface-mining permits under legislation Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said he will file next week.

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Archive by category ''Reclaiming mountains

BUSINESS

Eastern Kentucky program awarded $5.2 million to help laid-off coal miners

An Eastern Kentucky jobs program has been awarded $5.2 million to help laid-off coal miners get jobs.
DIDUCIT?

As world demand for coal surges, Eastern Kentucky output plunges

China, India want more coal, but U.S. demand drops and Kentucky loses jobs.
PUBLIC SAFETY

Harlan coal company, 2 supervisors to plead guilty to federal mine-safety violations

Attorneys for Manalapan Mining Co. and two employees filed court motions, including two on Monday, saying they will plead guilty to willfully violating federal mine-safety laws.
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Feds want Kentucky to charge coal industry more for cleaning up mines

Kentucky fails to make the coal industry pay enough to clean up the environmental wreckage it leaves behind, according to the U.S. Office of Surface Mining.
RECLAIMING MOUNTAINS

Safety agency fines Harlan coal company $594,100 after miner's death

The federal mine-safety agency has fined a Harlan County coal company nearly $600,000 for alleged safety violations that played a role in the death of a miner last year.
RECLAIMING MOUNTAINS

Harlan County mine is among nine nationwide cited during special inspections in May

K and D Mining Inc.'s Mine No. 17 in Harlan County was shut down for nine days last month because of U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration special inspections in May, the agency announced Wednesday. K and D was among nine mines nationwide cited during the inspections.
GREENSPOT

Environmentalist asked about photo of naked Pike County child in discolored water after testimony to Congress

A photo of a Pike County girl taking a bath in discolored water, which an anti-strip mining advocate wanted to use in congressional testimony, led to the activist being questioned by an officer about child pornography.
GREENSPOT

Coal activists arrested at Rep. Hal Rogers' Washington office

About 20 environmental advocates are waiting in U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers' Washington office to push for an end to mountaintop removal coal mining in Eastern Kentucky.
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Dueling rallies precede EPA hearings on 36 surface mining permits

FRANKFORT — Hundreds of people in favor of mountaintop mining in Eastern Kentucky started congregating for a rally in the state Capitol before 5 p.m. Tuesday. While that rally went on, a group of about 75 people opposed to surface mining held a news conference nearby.
RECLAIMING MOUNTAINS

Federal mine safety head pushes for tougher tools during Kentucky trip

Regulators need tougher tools to go after coal operators who thumb their nose at health and safety laws, putting miners at risk, the nation's top mine-safety official said during a trip to Kentucky this week.