There is an overlook on the road that passes the highest point in Kentucky, on Black Mountain in Harlan County, where the view stretches for miles.
By Bill Estep, Lexington Herald Leader // February 6, 2023
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Last summer, SAMS was alerted to the prospect of a newly proposed mine on Ison Rock Ridge. After having fought and won the battle to save the ridge and the communities around it, we did canvassing and outreach to the folks living in the area who would be most immediately affected. This is the long-anticipated update.
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A&G Coal Corp. has settled a lawsuit by agreeing to the terms for reclaiming three Wise County strip mines.
The company, owned by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and his family, has agreed to complete reclamation of Looney Ridge Surface Mine #1 by Aug. 31 of this year, according to a press release from three environmental groups that sued the company last year. A&G agreed to reclaim the Canepatch surface mine by Feb. 29, 2024, and to reclaim the Sawmill Hollow #3 mine by Dec. 31, 2025.
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Plans to bring hot meals, food and hygiene items to the town are in the works.
LPMA provides a hot meal, household goods and a grocery distribution in Big Stone Gap once a month and Foley wants that to come to Pound. Foley said it would benefit the community.
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A donation of $1,000 was presented to Southern Appalachia ountain Stewards, also known as SAMS, on Dec. 16.
Moore said the contribution came about from a holiday bazaar held between All Saints and Christ Episcopal churches. Moore said: “Every year, we have a craft bazaar with food and hand-made crafts. This year, a thousand dollars was raised. We wanted to give that to SAMS because of all the work they do for the community, the environment and the people.”
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“During the past 10 years, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards has maintained steady pressure to ensure these A&G mining sites are properly reclaimed and prevent the cleanup costs from being dumped on Virginia taxpayers. With this settlement, the SAMS Board of Directors hopes to finally reclaim a semblance of justice for the impacted communities and begin the healing process for lands that will never resemble their former majesty.”
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In the wake of the sudden announcement that Gov. Youngkin plans to develop small modular nuclear sites in Southwest Virginia, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards has to question the intention behind the coercive measures taken without the inclusion of local community stakeholders, property owners, and directly impacted individuals. Glaringly, such impetus harkens back to the exploitative and divisive strategies employed by the extractive Appalachian coal industry of old, therefore drawing deep concern.
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