In the communities of Benham and Lynch, Ky clean water supplies are endangered by a proposal for a mine that would be 812 underground acres. Harlan Reclamation services which will soon be owned by Massey Energy wants to mine the coal there. This mine would be very close to a clean water reservoir, and it greatly endangers the risk of this water that is clean enough to be placed in a bottling agency.

Below is a letter that I sent to Mr. Campbell, Kentucky's director of Natural Resources. It is based off a standard model provided by Kentuckians for the Commonwealth.

Here is my letter

April 14, 2010

Commissioner Carl Campbell
Department for Natural Resources
#2 Hudson Hollow
Frankfort, KY 40601

Dear Commissioner Campbell,

I am writing to object to the state permit #848-5458. The proposed Massey mine threatens the water sources and the quality of life for residents of Benham and Lynch in Harlan County. Lynch and Benham have high quality public water. They will mine over and around Lynch’s water source. This proposal comes within 150 feet of the Benham underground water reservoir. Benham’s water quality is good enough to be considered for a water bottling facility. Residents want at least 1,000 feet buffer zone to ensure the protection of the underground water reservoir.

A third of Lynch’s water reservoir is fed by Gap Branch. This deep mine would go close to that water intake and underneath the creek. Mining should not go on east of Gap Branch to ensure the protection of Lynch’s drinking water.

Residents are concerned that workers and their community are in danger. Harlan Reclamation is the process of being sold to Massey. This company has highly questionable mine safety and environmental practices. They endanger the lives of workers and community. In light of the recent mine disaster in West Virginia and Massey’s history of water and mine safety violations, the state should not issue a new permit because the company has a pattern of violations and has many unabated violations. For the record, at the Upper big branch mine, the mine has had 1,342 safety violations since 2005. They are looking at fines totaling $1.89 million.

You need to look at this from a citizen's standpoint. Massey Energy has been cited for more than 1,300 violations. Nothing except fines are being dished out. Massey is responsible for the death of 29 people, and very little has happened. If the Average Joe commits as many as 6 traffic violations, they could see a loss of their license and possible jail time. However, Massey is a strong corporate company and the punishments based on this irresponsibility is dangerous to your community

Often times, people are just learning about mining proposals in their community when a permit conference happens. People deserve the opportunity to express their concerns. Since there is only one public comment period, we request a 30-day extension after the permit conference to allow for any concerned citizen to make a comment.

I stand with concerned residents of these communities. Given the dangers to the water systems and Massey’s history it is clear that permit # 848-5458 should be denied in its current form.

I have a history of family in Kentucky. My Great grandmother grew up in Richmond and my grandmother grew up in Bowling Green. I care about the health and safety in Kentucky as much as my college town Buckhannon, WV. Clean water is not common in the Appalachian region, and to allow for more dirty water that could be prevented, you are hurting your people in the interest of a mighty dollar. You need to take a step back and look at what is best for the people of your state before taking a big risk and allowing Massey Energy into your state.

The Kentucky Department of Natural Resources has a responsibility to protect the water and workers in this community and to ensure that mining is done responsibly. Please do the citizens of Benham and Lynch a favor. Keep them safe, and do not allow Massey Energy to mine underground.

Cordially,

Billy Astrove

You can take action and send the director of natural resources an email too. Just follow this link

http://kftc.e-actionmax.com/editalert-ckbox.asp?aaid=4637

Massey Energy has committed many corporate crimes, and they are not getting punished the way an Average Joe would get punished for committing serious crimes. It is important that we keep Massey out of Lynch's water source, and bring Massey under equal justice of the law. It will take work of the everyday citizen to get corporate crime the same attention under law that murder or robbery may receive. Here is a history of mine safety violations committed
http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=10-P13-00015&segmentID=1

Thanks for your participation

Most sincerely,
Billy Astrove