Kevin's Letter to the Editor of the Lexington Herald-Leader

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Apr 20, 2001 Source: Lexington Herald-Leader Submitted By: Justwithin ReachKY Published Thursday, April 19, 2001, in the Lexington Herald-Leader Settlement school a treasure we can't afford to lose Growing up in the mountains of the Daniel Boone National Forest, I gained a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors and the lessons nature has to offer. The Pine Mountain Settlement School is a treasure that helps teach those lessons. Besides a history dating back to 1913, an undisturbed view of the Appalachians and a clean drinking-water source originating at Pine Mountain, the school has a tradition of providing a year-round retreat and education center for Kentuckians. Unfortunately, the school's very existence is now threatened by pending surface coal mining operations around its perimeter. Noise, vibrations, flyrock, potential contamination of drinking water and loss of trails and scenery could damage the school's ability to provide a high-quality educational experience to the 3,000 kids who attend its programs each year. While creating a few temporary jobs, a surface mine threatens to wipe out more steady jobs at the school. I understand that coal plays a vital role in meeting the energy needs of Kentucky and the nation while providing important jobs. But before we blast off mountaintops at Pine Mountain and other Kentucky treasures, we need to look at the long-term effect such actions will have on our land for the one-time economic gains of small, short-lived surface mines. Kevin Richardson Lexington Los Angeles Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: Antony Submitted by: Paulo Submitted by: Eugene Comment on this item. Next Item: More Than That - What the DJs are saying. Prev Item: Kevin's Letter to the Editor of the Louisville-Courier-Journal